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FIVE STAR REDS

By Ratul Ghosh

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291
Manchester United vs Liverpool report

Liverpool recorded a historic 5-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League – a result that raises several questions over manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position. Old Trafford was the setting as Liverpool came to visit in a crunch clash for early supremacy of the table.

Bruno Fernandes got the first chance of the match within four minutes as the ball made its way to him on the right. Unmarked and inside the penalty box, the Portuguese blazed his shot over. That miss proved crucial as the Reds went upfield and Salah had all the time in the world to slid the ball onto Keita who slotted it home.

 

 

Rashford had a quick effort from distance but it drifted wide. It soon got worse for the Red Devils. A horrible mixup between Maguire and Shaw saw Keita win the ball and offload it onto Alexander-Arnold whose fizzing cross was poked home by Jota. Ronaldo skied a good chance minutes later as the match crossed the 20th minute mark.

 

 

Shaw was the next to have a pop, putting it just past Alisson’s right hand side before Milner had to go off with an injury. Greenwood’s deflected shot off of Henderson had the goalkeeper diving full length to push it behind. Rashford’s back pass helped Salah run in behind but his shot from a tight angle was kept out by De Gea. The third did indeed come.

 

 

Delightful play from Liverpool’s front three saw Salah take a shot that was blocked by Maguire but the ball broke kindly for Keita. His cross was tapped home by the Egyptian to score in his 10th consecutive game.

 

 

Things got even more heated just before halftime, with Ronaldo kicking out at Jones after his shot was saved. Players from both sides got into a melee for a few seconds with Ronaldo getting booked before Fred was also shown a yellow for a high boot. The misery did not end there however.

 

 

Brilliant footwork from the Reds’ front three saw Jota carry the ball into the box and find Robertson whose simple pass to Salah with acres of space. The attacker beat De Gea at his near post as it ended 4-0 at the break.

 

 

It took five minutes of the second half for it be five. Pogba was robbed in midfield and Henderson’s pass bypassed Maguire as it reached Salah who dinked the ball past De Gea to complete his hattrick. Mo Salah is slowly climbing into the upper echelons of the game. 

 

 

Ronaldo thought he had pulled one back after a neat finish cutting inside but was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. It did not seem possible but it got even MORE worse. Pogba, sent on at the break, was sent off after a VAR check at the hour mark for a two-footed challenge on Keita.

 

 

Alexander-Arnold thought about adding his name to the score sheet with a peach of a strike that was tipped over the bar by De Gea. The bar prevented at least a consolation goal as Cavani’s attempt from a McTominay knockdown rattled against the woodwork. That was that as Liverpool sealed a very comprehensive win in front of a stoic home crowd.

Here are the three key takeaways from the match:

 

MANCHESTER…UNITED?

Lightning does not strike twice and it has been proved emphatically. After coming back from 2-0 down to win against Atalanta, fans for the home side would have been forgiven to wish for that kind of a match after 15 minutes. It was never going to be that kind of a match. United’s disjointed nature all across the park was ruthlessly exposed within the next 30 minutes.

 

 

Maguire and Lindelof having no idea whom to pick up, Shaw getting outnumbered time and again, no defensive workrate from the forwards, midfielders struggling to keep up…the list goes on. The scoreline could have been worse but for De Gea and Old Trafford emptying after an hour says all that needs to be said.

 

REDS LAY DOWN A MARKER

Granted their opponents had not been playing too great of late but this performance by Jurgen Klopp’s side still felt special. Keita was involved in everything good his side did while Konate shook off some early game nerves to dominate himself. The front three, with Jota for Mane, was still just as lethal with Firmino thriving in his play making duties.

 

 

Salah was just his imperious best, notching up a hat-trick and showing his world class abilities once again as edges closer to Jamie Vardy’s goal scoring record. The most eerie thing was Liverpool did not even need to get out of third gear with United’s defence being their worst enemies most of the time. Nevertheless, they stay hot on the heels of Chelsea for the top spot and are still to taste defeat in the league.

 

#OLEOUT?

Six yellows, one red, Sancho on the bench, no plan B…is time finally close to running out for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? The board have steadfastly maintained that he is the man for the job after given him a longer contract this year but these kind of results are hard to take. Sir Alex Ferguson was visibly shaken in the stands while the coaching staff on the ground remained stone-faced. The walkout of fans was another definitive sign of things looking as bleak as they can. The pressure is not even close to lessening and with a daunting fixture list set to continue, the clock is ticking down.

Ratul Ghosh
His name means Red and a fan of devilish food, which equals to his favourite team being Manchester United. Can be found sleeping or in front of the TV otherwise. Hates waking up early but loves staying up late for football.

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