LIVERPOOL, April 20: Liverpool is back where Manchester United is far from reaching: Top of the Premier League.
To know why there is such a deficit in quality now between English football’s most successful clubs, just look at how Liverpool’s forwards tormented United in a 4-0 rout on Tuesday.
It wasn’t just Mohamed Salah scoring twice at Anfield, following a hat trick in the 5-0 humiliation in the reverse fixture.
Salah also assisted Luiz Diaz’s opener. Salah’s first was set up by Sadio Mané. And Mané’s goal was provided by Diaz’s pass.
All before Salah compounded another night of misery for United with a chipped finish for his second provided by Diaz’s replacement – Diogo Jota.
The League Cup has already been collected and there’s an FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea next month. Before then there’s a Champions League semifinal clash with Villarreal. And there is the hope Manchester City does not regain first spot in the Premier League.
Regaining the Premier League trophy from City would see Liverpool match United on a record 20 English titles.
United’s five-man defense – featuring Phil Jones making his second league appearance of the season – was unpicked by a sweeping break launched from inside Liverpool’s penalty area.
By the time the ball reached the halfway line, Mané had Salah running forward to release a pass to. Then Diaz arrived unmarked centrally to strike beyond goalkeeper David de Gea.
It was another passing move that led to Liverpool’s second. Receiving a pass from Joel Matip, Mané lofted the ball to Salah, who had time to take it past Diego Dalot before slotting low into the net in the 22nd minute.
Any home anxiety was eased once Mané netted in the 68th. Andrew Robertson gained possession and ran with the ball unchallenged before feeding Diaz to cut-back to Mané to finish.
Then, Hannibal Mejbri replaced Anthony Elanga and within a minute he was giving the ball away. Robertson pounced and fed Jota whose pass to Salah allowed the Egypt forward to make it nine goals in six games against United. (AP)
