DERBY DAY DEMOLITION

The Liverbird takes flight as Slot’s men breeze through Old Trafford test.

"Everyone knows the derby is important for the fans and the city.”

Manchester United versus Liverpool. To many, this is English football’s biggest fixture. Two giants of the global game, they share 39 top-division titles between them. While separated by only 34 miles, any trip that the Redmen make to Old Trafford feels seismic. While the blue half each city may claim otherwise, the red portion still look for their neighbouring city rivals first when the league fixtures are announced. This is a rivalry steeped in tradition, success, and perhaps even a little respect. For Man Utd, a bounce back was needed. While dominating this fixture last year, the previous week had seen them slump to defeat on the south coast. A last minute loss to Brighton, the Red Devils had licked their wounds are were ready to go again.

Down the M62 and Arne Slot’s side have started their season well, with solid 2-0 victories over Ipswich and Bournemouth. Some would argue that these are expected results and today would be the first real test, however it’s never a bad thing to pick up the maximum points available. Transfer deadline day saw the addition of Federico Chiesa for the shrewd price of £12.5M, as Liverpool gear up for another hectic season. While the Italian wasn’t to feature in today’s fixture, the front three of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Mo Salah would. Enough to cause any team trouble.

Into a raucous atmosphere at Old Trafford, and the Red Devils looked to flood forward the earliest opportunity. Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot combined down the left flank to win the game’s first corner, and the home faithful sounded their appreciation. However, the stadium would soon fall silent. Ryan Gravenberch surged from the halfway line, blistering past Kobbie Mainoo. His pass out wide found Diaz, who smashed across the six yard box. At the backpost lurked Trent Alexander-Arnold, who’s finish flew into the goal before Dalot could clear. 1-0 Liverpool.

Well, it would have been, if not for a deft Salah touch. Reviewed by VAR, it was judged that the Egyptian had, ever so slightly, diverted the the ball towards his right back from an offside position. Goal disallowed. John Brooks was the man handed such responsibility at Stockley Park’s operations room, and he had another call to make when Casemiro collided high with Alexis Mac Allister. The latter went down holding his gut, claiming his Brazilian opponent had caught him studs up. The replay did show an arguably reckless follow through after the Man Utd man had won the ball, but the match continued on without Anthony Taylor being sent toward the pitch side monitor.

Erik ten Hag had decided upon changing his team selection after the defeat at Brighton last week, but after twenty minutes there was little to show for it. New signing Matthijs De Ligt replaced Harry Maguire, Alejandro Garnacho was in for Amad Diallo, and out-and-out striker Joshua Zirkzee took the place of an injured Mason Mount. Even with these adjustments, the Liverpool goal was yet to be threatened. Distribution to the backlines seemed to be a central focus for both Alisson and his opposite number in Andre Onana, with a visible tetchiness to this contest.

Transitions were stopped by sloppy passes and indecision, both sides harming themselves when half chances were presented. Man Utd’s mistakes would rob them dear. Casemiro was the man costing his team, as a slack ball to Mainoo was intercepted by an impressive Gravenberch. Played towards Salah, the winger floated his cross towards a charging Luis Diaz. Much like Joao Pedro last week at the Amex, Manchester United had left an opposition player completely unmarked. The Colombian, centred in the six yard box, had the simple task of making a clean contact to header into an empty net. 1-0 Liverpool, and this time it wasn’t going to be disallowed.

An angry Lisandro Martinez then clattered Dominic Szoboszlai, earning himself a booking. Tenacity was something the home side had been lacking so far, but it would be better administered in a more controlled manner. Liverpool were stretching their legs, and Manchester United couldn’t keep up. Casemiro, having a horrid time, was dispossessed by Diaz. Claiming a foul that was not forthcoming, the Selecao international splayed himself out on the turf as the Redmen attacked. A one-two with Salah arrived back at the feet of Diaz, who swept a delicious, near post finish past the outstretched arms of Onana. 2-0 Liverpool.

It was a goal of ruthless quality, showing the continually impressive style of new manager Arne Slot. Liverpool’s front three appeared hungry in their want to reclaim possession and the current scoreline evidenced such. Diaz was now one goal away from his first career hattrick, and a bet against that outcome would be a brave one. Casemiro and Mainoo had been overwhelmed throughout, with Bruno Fernandes doing little bar protest about the heavy challenges he faced. Rashford, Garnacho and Zirkzee were complete non-factors, with the names of Ibrahima Konate and Andy Roberston likely barely mentioned by a commentary team around the globe. As Taylor blew up for the break, Liverpool were strolling down easy street.

Casemiro’s disasterclass would last no longer, replaced by Toby Collyer. The youngster made his first team debut in the Community Shield only weeks back, and was now thrown into the fire for his first Premier League outing. Alongside Mainoo in Man Utd’s engine room, ten Hag was now relying on youthful exuberance to embrace a rather large second half test. Yet, the first real opportunity of the half came from the substitute’s good work, a knockdown finding his forward outside the box. Zirkzee manufactured space, but his curling shot was ultimately pushed away to safety by Alisson.

However, the respite was minimal. After all, Mo Salah is Mo Salah. The man who constantly appears in Man Utd’s nightmares would strike again. Alexander-Arnold stole the ball from Mainoo and released Szoboszlai on the counter. The pass through to Salah was simple, and his strike was never in doubt. The Red Devils’ shape was embarrassing and allowed Liverpool to use their free man with hilarious ease. Slot was completely outcoaching his Dutch counterpart in every aspect, and the away support inside Old Trafford were, rather loudly, letting their rivals know. 3-0 Liverpool.

The Redmen were rampant, and bar a tame Zirkzee header at goal, totally dominating proceedings. De Ligt found himself caught in transition and concluded it was best to bring down Diaz with a crunching slide. Yellow card. Before the Colombian could decide whether he was injured on not, Slot called for Cody Gakpo. There would be no three piece for the imperious winger today. On the other side, Harry Maguire relieved his booked teammate, and Diallo replaced the increasingly lively Garnacho. The latter was a change the Old Trafford support did not appreciate one bit, booing ten Hag’s decision. Many could suggest the overprotection of a lifeless Rashford was becoming detrimental to his managerial cause.

Amad did impress upon arrival, his fizzing cross met acrobatically by Martinez. The Argentine tried something spectacular with a twisting scissor kick, but the ball travelled wide of Alisson’s far stick. A flurry of substitutions followed, Darwin Nunez and Conor Bradley taking the place of a relatively quiet Jota and Alexander-Arnold. There were smiles from the removed men however, knowing the job against their biggest rivals was all but completed. Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch had dictated tempo in the central area for Liverpool, and even with Man Utd’s late push, there was little to worry about.

Rashford’s cross found Zirkzee, but the big forward was stretching and couldn’t quite find the necessary control to angle past Alisson. Szoboszlai had a great chance to add to Liverpool’s substantial lead when he found himself in acres of space, but took far too long to pull the trigger and was dispossessed. On his 300th club appearance, Robertson earned a rest when switched for Kostas Tsimikas, the Liverpool faithful cheering their dependable Scotsman towards the bench. The 3,000 strong broke into song, mocking ten Hag’s stewardship of their rivals. It was a noise home fans didn’t want to hear, heading for the exit gates early. Another sobering day for Red Devils, who are nowhere near the required standard.

Full time, Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United.

DERBY DAY DEMOLITION

The Liverbird takes flight as Slot’s men breeze through Old Trafford test.

ALL GUNS BLAZING