Manchester United suffered the ignominy of conceding seven goals as the side were routed by Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (March 5) night. It was a complete demolition job of in-form United, who very recently ended their five-year trophy drought when they beat Newcastle United in the final of the Carabao Cup.
Goals from Cody Gakpo (2), Mohamed Salah (2), Darwin Nunez (2) and Roberto Firmino scored for the Reds, with Salah setting a new record after going above Robbie Fowler as the most goals for the country. He is also the second Liverpool player after Ian Rush to score 20 goals in six straight seasons for the Reds.
The 23-year-old Gakpo, who joined the club in January from PSV, marked his first appearance in this famous rivalry with a pair of sublime goals, with Nunez and Salah adding to the humbling. Substitute Roberto Firmino also got in on the act, on what was a day of vindication for the under-fire manager Jurgen Klopp.
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This defeat was United's joint-heaviest ever in terms of margin, alongside 7-0 losses to Wolves in December 1931, Aston Villa in December 1930 and Blackburn Rovers in April 1926.
Meanwhile, their Dutch manager Erik Ten Hag had no explanation for his team's debilitating loss. He told Sky Sports, "I don't have an explanation. In the first half, we were quite a in control. At the start of the second half, we gave two goals away. There was no team anymore. We didn't stick to the plan. There were 11 individuals. I don't know, it's really bad. I have given my opinion [to the players]. It was unprofessional.
"You always have to stick together as a team. We didn't do that. There was no discipline. You have setbacks, but you have to stick together and do your job."
Liverpool are back in action next Saturday at Bournemouth. United have to pick themselves up for a Thursday night assignment as they tackle Real Betis at the Europa League last-16 stage, ahead of a league clash against Southampton on Sunday, with both games at Old Trafford.
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