Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, looked pitiable as Mohamed Salah-led Liverpool delivered a masterclass that left even the most diehard Red’s supporter in shock.
Salah hit a hat-trick as Liverpool humiliated Manchester United, romping to a stunning 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League yesterday that leaves Solskjaer’s future in serious doubt.
The United hierarchy has shown faith in Solskjaer throughout difficult periods in his nearly three years in charge of the club but will come under pressure to rethink their loyalty to their former player after such an embarrassing performance and result.
Manchester United’s Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (L) and Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) look on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 24, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, who are in second place, a point behind leaders, Chelsea, looked every bit at the title contenders they are with Salah continuing his remarkable run of scoring form — finding the target for the 10th game in all competitions.
Liverpool showed no such generosity a minute later when Luke Shaw sloppily played Salah onside and the Egyptian’s pinpoint cross was turned in by Naby Keita.
Manchester United’s Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 24, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Shaw was at fault again, eight minutes later, when he and Harry Maguire got in each other’s way and Keita took advantage moving the ball outside to Trent Alexander-Arnold whose low ball across the face of the goal was slid in by Diogo Jota.
Cristiano Ronaldo was then lucky to stay on the field after picking up only a yellow card for kicking out at Curtis Jones while the Liverpool midfielder was on the ground adjacent to the ball.
There was simply no authority or sense of discipline in the United defence and Salah made it four on the stroke of halftime with a near post-conversion of a low ball in from Jota.
It took just five minutes after the break for Salah to complete his hat-trick with a trademark clinical finish after Jordan Henderson won the ball from Pogba in midfield and curled a pass into the path of the forward.
United’s day got worse as they had a Ronaldo goal over-ruled for offside by VAR and then substitute Pogba was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Keita, 15 minutes after coming on.
It was a ruthless display from Liverpool, their biggest win at Old Trafford, and a calamitous one from their rivals and it remains to be seen just what the fallout from this humiliation will be.
