Liverpool outclassed a demoralised Manchester United in an embarrassingly one-sided game at Anfield to go top of the Premier League and keep their historic quadruple attempt on track.
Manchester City can regain their place at the summit against Brighton on Thursday night but Liverpool are making the champions fight every step of the way.
Mo Salah scored twice for the home side while United were missing Cristiano Ronaldo following the death of his new-born son. Both sets of supporters paid a moving tribute to his family with applause in the seventh minute.
Liverpool already were a goal to the good through Luis Diaz, who finished after a Salah pass. The Egyptian then ended his eight-game goalless streak from Sadio Mane’s brilliant assist on 22 minutes.
Mane made it three on 69 minutes while Salah capped the dominant display with a goal five minutes from time.
United, who could have moved level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, stay sixth. On Sunday they go to fifth-placed Arsenal.
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness, speaking on Sky Sports, said: “Under pressure Manchester United just couldn’t keep the ball. If you come to Anfield and want to have any chance of getting a result you have to be able to keep the ball and they just couldn’t do that.
“This is a truly fabulous Liverpool team and they are on the brink of true greatness.
“There isn’t a Manchester United player that would get in this Liverpool team. United are a truly enormous club but how far they’ve been allowed to drift was exposed tonight.”
Former United captain Roy Keane was morose.
“It’s not anger now, it’s sadness,” Keane said. “There are no leaders, they lack quality. There is disarray at the club from the top. They need a new manager, they need players in and players out. It’s so sad to see. It’s not the club I played for. It’s chalk and cheese. I don’t see a Manchester United team out there fighting and with pride.”
United legend Paul Scholes agreed.
“I’ve probably lost a little bit of anger towards it now, I feel saddened really,” Scholes said.
“They lack belief. They lack a way of playing. I think I’d prefer to talk about Liverpool. They’ve been sensational, an absolute masterclass on how to control a game of football. I love watching Thiago. I said I’m saddened by United, I’d like to see them give a little bit of effort. It looks like the last place in the world they want to be. They want the season to be over. They want to move on.
“Unfortunately, there is no hiding place. You can’t come to Anfield and be like that. A lot of fans have travelled a long way, it is disgusting to watch. That is where the club are at the minute.”
Meanwhile, Fulham have won promotion back to the Premier League after a 3-0 win over Preston North End.
It was plain sailing for the riverside west London club who scored all their goals before half-time.
Serbian striker Alexsandar Mitrovic took his goal tally in the second-tier Championship to 40 this season with two in the first half. Fabio Carvalho also struck as Fulham put successive defeats behind them.
Fulham now have scored 98 goals this season with four games remaining the bring up the century.
The success is a triumph for manager Marco Silva who was sacked by Everton in December 2019
Two more wins in their remaining four games will secure Fulham the title, though second-placed Bournemouth, in fitful form and nine points behind, are unlikely to catch them.
In the last five seasons Fulham have been promoted, relegated, promoted, relegated and promoted again. The task next season is to break that yo-yo pattern and stay up.
In their favour the previous two promotions were both through the play-off process after coming third, then fourth. Their dominance in the Championship this time suggests it really will be different.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have blasted a hole in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge as Everton powered their way to a priceless derby…
Manchester United have survived one of the most astonishing FA Cup semi-final comebacks to beat second-tier Coventry City 4-2 on penalties after a chaotic…
With a certain inevitability, Manchester City are suddenly in charge of the Premier League title race. Arsenal and Liverpool both produced lethargic performances under…
Liverpool have endured a humbling night after Atalanta left Anfield with a 3-0 victory that places the Serie A side on the brink of…
Over to you, Liverpool. Arsenal and Manchester City have done their bit in the latest chapter of the English Premier League's tight title race,…
Alexis Mac Allister scored a stunning goal to help Liverpool beat Sheffield United 3-1 and reclaim top spot in the English Premier League. Darwin…
