Liverpool showcased their tenacity and skill in a commanding 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, proving that Arne Slot, the new Liverpool manager, is off to an impeccable start. The triumph was powered by Luis Diaz, who netted twice, and Mohamed Salah, whose goal sealed the deal. This win places Liverpool alongside Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League, boasting a perfect record from their opening three matches.
This decisive clash marked Slot’s first major challenge as Liverpool manager, and he passed with flying colors. Succeeding the legendary Jurgen Klopp was always going to be a daunting task, but Slot has shown that he is more than capable. With this victory, he extends his perfect Premier League record, a feat that cements Liverpool’s strong start to the season.
The contrast between the teams couldn’t have been starker. Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is already feeling the heat after back-to-back defeats. The Dutch manager managed to keep his position after a thorough internal review last season, following the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish of eighth. An unexpected FA Cup victory over Manchester City had briefly lifted the gloom, providing a glimmer of hope, particularly after the club’s substantial summer spending spree, which saw them invest £200 million ($262 million) in new talent. However, against a rampant Liverpool side, United’s old flaws were brutally exposed.
The home side found themselves in trouble early on, with Casemiro being the unfortunate scapegoat. The experienced Brazilian midfielder’s errors led to both of Diaz’s goals, leading to his substitution at halftime in favor of youngster Toby Collyer. Meanwhile, United introduced their new £42 million signing Manuel Ugarte before the match, in hopes that he would soon reinforce a beleaguered midfield.
In contrast, Liverpool refrained from entering the transfer market for a defensive midfielder. Instead, Slot made the bold decision to reposition Ryan Gravenberch into that role—a decision that has already started to pay dividends. Klopp, despite his dominance over United during his tenure, managed only two wins out of 11 visits to Old Trafford. This match, however, marked a clear departure from Liverpool’s previous struggles against United.
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Liverpool’s dominance was clear early on. Despite an initial VAR decision that ruled out a Trent Alexander-Arnold goal due to an offside call against Salah, Liverpool remained undeterred. Casemiro, who had appeared revitalized in the season’s opening matches after a difficult previous season, once again showed signs of decline. His errant pass was intercepted by Gravenberch, who then set up Salah’s beautifully crafted cross for Diaz to head home.
As if to compound United’s misery, Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a crucial save, denying Noussair Mazraoui’s powerful attempt. From there, the home side’s day only worsened. Less than three minutes before halftime, Salah received another gift from Casemiro, whose lapse in concentration allowed Diaz to pounce, race into the box, and make it 2-0.
Salah got his customary goal against United, slotting home a stunning finish from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass in the 56th minute. This was Salah’s 15th goal in 16 appearances against Manchester United, including scoring in each of his last seven visits to Old Trafford. He could have had more if not for missing a close-range effort, much to the chagrin of his teammates who were anticipating a pass.
United lacked any coherent response and could have conceded more if not for another series of impressive saves from Alisson. Notably, Joshua Zirkzee’s effort was parried away, ensuring that Liverpool maintained their run of clean sheets under Slot’s leadership.
Critics have touted Arsenal as the most likely contenders to dethrone Manchester City and end Guardiola’s dominance, but Liverpool’s early-season form has been nothing short of spectacular. Their performances so far dispel any notions that they would struggle without Klopp at the reins. Under Slot, Liverpool are shaping up to be genuine title contenders once again.
In conclusion, while early days in the season, Liverpool’s statement win over Manchester United sends a clear message to their rivals. The Reds are not merely aiming to participate; they are here to compete and challenge for the Premier League title under the watchful eyes of their new manager, Arne Slot.
