PLAYER RATINGS: LIVERPOOL 4-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

Liverpool thrashed arch rivals Manchester United 4-0 to move top of the Premier League table. It was a systematic dismantling of Rangnick’s side as goals from Diaz, Mané, and Salah underlined the gulf in class between the two sides. Here are player ratings from the match.

Alisson – 7.5

Started off the evening’s festivities with a nonchalant Cryuff turn past Rashford. He faced no shots in the first half and gobbled up Sancho’s tame effort second half. A fantastic double save from Rashford and Elanga kept the clean sheet. His distribution was much more assured tonight.

Alexander-Arnold – 8

He was one on one with Sancho in the box early on and halted his progress with some good piece of defending. Similarly halted Rashford’s run down the left wing in the second half. Brilliant run into space for the first goal but Salah beat him to the cross. Not at his devastating best creatively but he didn’t need to be.

Matip – 7.5

Didn’t have much to do as United didn’t offer much going forward. Passed the ball around casually under no real pressure. One of the easiest nights he will have in a long while.

Van Dijk – 7

Another who was not tested much. Breezed through the first half and was guilty of letting standards slip at the start of the second period. He gave away possession needlessly and was on the receiving end of a glaring stare from Robbo.

Robertson – 9

Played his part in an absolutely dominant first half. He demanded the standards be kept in the second period and made sure himself by nipping in to win the ball, sprinting upfield and then laying it off for Diaz in the build up to the third. Full of energy as always.

Fabinho – 7

Helped squeeze play as he mopped up all the little loose balls in and around the centre circle. Got forward a fair bit and could have pulled the trigger once or twice. Managed the game well by just keeping possession and playing little one twos with Thiago. Was too easily beaten by Sancho in the box for the double save.

Henderson – 8

You can never fault his effort as he chased and harassed from first whistle till last. The few times they broke on the counter, he was the one tracking the run and more often than not dealing with the threat. He may not have the quality on the ball of a Thiago but he brings something to the side.

Thiago – 10

I said the other week that it seems like he plays a different sport and it was evident again tonight. The whole ground was in awe of some of his passes, and he isn’t just a flair player that shirks the dirty work either. He loves a tackle to win the ball back. He was unreal tonight. Hopefully he’s not hurt.

Salah – 9

Lots of talk about his drought and he ended it in style here. Started the scoring off by squaring to Diaz for a tap in. He then slotted two past De Gea to take him to 30 goals in all competitions for the club this season. He tops the goal and assist charts in the Premier League. He’s back in business!

Mané – 9.5

He is revelling in this new false nine role. He dropped deep to devastating effect when he played a fantastic ball in behind for Salah in the lead up to the opening goal. He topped that pass with a stupendous reverse through ball for Salah to make it 2-0. He added his name to the scoresheet with a sweeping effort into the bottom corner second half. He’s in stunning form at the minute.

Diaz – 9

The January signing was yet again electric. He tapped home Salah’s centre after just four minutes and returned the favour for Sadio in the second half with a pickout in the box. A goal and assist for the Kop’s new darling. We just can’t get enough of him.

Substitutes

Jota – 8

Incredible defence splitting pass for Salah’s second. Almost got in on the act in injury time when he headed Trent’s header onto Dalot.

Keita – N/A

Some lovely footwork.

Milner – N/A

Was half expecting him to volley Fernandes and/or Hannibal.

Jürgen Klopp

The gaffer made two changes to the side that took apart City last time out. Matip came back into the defence ahead of Konaté, with the skipper taking his place in midfield over Keita. The front three of Diaz, Mané and Salah started together again.

It was an excellent performance first half with the side going in at the break 2-0 up, and it could have been more. Standards slipped at the start of the second half but he was quickly on his boys to step it back up. Step it back up they did. The Reds are top of the league!