Manchester United suffered yet another devastating loss to usual foes Liverpool FC on Sunday in a litmus test for who is a real title contender this season.
Liverpool were by far a better side throughout, exposing Manchester United’s weakness in every department of the field and the score talked it all. Mo Salah continued his scoring form that saw him snatch a hat-trick to become the league’s top scorer (10) and the first player to score at old Trafford in three consecutive Premier League matches.
Naby Keita and Diogo Jota scored the other goals but the former was harshly tackled by Paul Pogba and was stretchered out with the France international shown matching orders. James Milner was also substituted after getting an injury.
The loss left Manchester United shapeless and looked the worst side of this season’s premier league title contenders as they slipped to 7th ahead of a harsh fixture. Man UTD have Totenham, Atalanta, Manchester City, Watford, Villarreal, Chelsea, Arsenal as their next fixtures.
Mohammed Salah became the highest scoring African player in the Premier League with 106 goals overtaking Drogba (104). Sadio Mane (98), Emmanuel Adebayor (97), and Yakubu Ayegbeni (95).
Manchester United’s Worst Premier League Defeats.
New castle 5:0 Manchester United, 1996
Southampton 6:3 Manchester United, 1996
Chelsea 5:0 Manchester United, 1999
Manchester United 1:4 Liverpool, 2009
Manchester United 1:6 Manchester City, 2011
Manchester United 1:6 Spurs, 2020
Manchester United 0:5 Liverpool, 2021
Statistics as by Opta Joe
5 – Sunday was only the second time in 617 top-flight league appearances that Cristiano Ronaldo ended on the losing side by 5+ goals in a match, with the other a 5-0 defeat as a Real Madrid player against Barcelona in November 2010. Humbled.
5 – Liverpool have won consecutive league games by 5+ goals for only the second time in the top-flight, and first time since winning 5-0 vs Stoke City and 6-0 vs Chelsea on consecutive days in April 1935. Spectacular.
5 – Manchester United have suffered their heaviest ever defeat at home to Liverpool, whilst it’s the first time they have lost to-nil by 5+ goals at home since February 1955 (5-0 v Man City). Erosion.
17 – Only Everton vs Liverpool (22) has seen more red cards in Premier League history than Manchester United v Liverpool (17). Shocker.
3 – Mohamed Salah is the first away player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford for over 18 years, since Ronaldo did so for Real Madrid back in April 2003 in the Champions League. Ballon.
As it stands
The other Premier League Weekend Results:
Friday 22nd October,2021
Arsenal 3:1 Aston Villa
Saturday 23rd October
Chelsea 7:0 Norwich City
Crystal Palace 1:1 Newcastle United
Everton 2:5 Watford
Leeds 1:1 Wolves
Southampton 2:2 Burnley
Brighton 1:4 Manchester City.
Sunday 24th October
Brentford 1:2 Leicester City
Westham 1:0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United 0:5 Liverpool