Liverpool vs Man United | 2022/23 PL | Three Crucial Things Learnt

Liverpool Vs Man United, Manchester United

We learnt three things as Man United suffered the club’s worst-ever Premier League defeat as they got thrashed 7-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.

Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, Man United — Image Obtained via GOAL

Cody Gakpo was the star of the show as the Reds secured an outstanding victory over their long-time rivals. In addition to Gakpo’s two magnificent goals, forwards Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both found the back of the net twice.

Roberto Firmino also scored, coming off the bench, as he rounded off an important win for the team and its fans, particularly given the current circumstances. The triumph also saw Jurgen Klopp’s men climb up to fifth place in the Premier League, a remarkable accomplishment given their form this season.

Liverpool scoreboard at Anfield, Manchester United Liverpool things learnt — Image Obtained Via Sporting News

Following the 7-0 loss to Liverpool, Man United manager Erik ten Hag expressed his frustration with his team’s “unprofessional” performance, describing himself as “angry.” United’s captain Bruno Fernandes shared the sentiment, expressing his disappointment with his own subpar display at Anfield.

1. Cody Gakpo Shows Why United Should Have Signed Him

When Cody Gakpo broke through Man United defence on Sunday, it must have been a disheartening moment for the supporters, considering the fact that the Dutchman almost joined United last summer, and had also considered a move to Old Trafford in January before eventually signing with Liverpool.

United shifted their attention away from the Dutch forward and opted to invest over £80 million on Brazilian winger Antony, a decision that the Red Devils probably right now regret as Gakpo played a crucial role in Liverpool’s monumental victory over Ten Hag’s men.

The 23-year-old Dutch attacker scored a brace against the Merseysiders’ biggest Premier League rivals, Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock late in the first half and then added another goal shortly after the break to solidify the hosts’ position in the game.

2. Mohamed Salah Showcases His Ability

Mohamed Salah didn’t have anything to prove to anyone, but he did require better support from his teammates – just as the team needed him to step up and perform at his highest level. In this match against Man United, we were reminded of why the Liverpool forward is such a valuable player. He was simply unstoppable.

More Reds history written by @MoSalah 💫 pic.twitter.com/E6WZ0IEzT2

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 5, 2023

The opposition defence couldn’t get close to him when he had the ball and couldn’t keep up with him when he was off it. With two well-executed goals, including a thunderous strike, Salah has now scored 22 goals across all competitions this season and has reached double figures in the league.

Additionally, the Egyptian has become Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 129 times since joining the club in 2017. To top it off, Salah also provided two assists.

3. United Capitulated In The Second Half

Erik ten Hag identified a lack of composure as a significant issue with regard to his team’s second-half performance. In the span of just one week, Manchester United experienced both the thrill of winning their first trophy since 2017 with the Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United at Wembley, as well as the agony of a crushing defeat at the hand of their arch-rivals.

7 – Manchester United's 7-0 defeat at Anfield was the heaviest of Erik ten Hag's managerial career, with today being the 481st match he has taken charge of across all competitions. Rocked. pic.twitter.com/1laEgE2LOL

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023

Man United managed to keep the game close against Liverpool for 43 minutes, with missed opportunities from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford before Cody Gakpo’s goal signalled the beginning of the end for Ten Hag’s team.

The senior players of United were described as “embarrassing” by the Dutch manager and lacking in leadership skills, with the goals they conceded being particularly shocking. It was a tough day for the Red Devils, to say the least.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was delighted with his side’s “super-dominant” performance against Man United in response to the recent criticism they have faced.

In the second half, Erik ten Hag’s side were thoroughly humiliated, conceding six goals and displaying a lack of effort. Despite this, Raphael Varane ordered his teammates to applaud the visiting fans, even though the players were desperate to leave the pitch at full-time.

Manchester United face Real Betis next in the Round of 16 of the Europa League while Liverpool have to play the reverse tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

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