London, 5 Mar (Xinhua) -- Who would have thought that the "Double Red Meeting" on 5 March would present an astonishing score of 7:0? Manchester United, who are gaining momentum, visited Anfield on the same day, and were actually drugged seven goals by Liverpool, reliving the "tragedy" of the biggest loss in the team's history.
Liverpool's Salah (first from left) scores a shot during a match on March 5. Xinhua/Reuters
Although it is an away game, Manchester United has no reason for "stage fright". They won the League Cup not long ago, enjoyed their first trophy moment in six years, and then reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and finished third in the Premier League, 10 points above Liverpool, which has suffered a long slump since the beginning of the season.
In fact, United seemed to have more chances in the glued first-half matchup, but towards the end of the half, the defense was empty and Liverpool seized the opportunity to score from the far corner with a curved ball from new signing Gakpo.
Liverpool's Gakpo (left) celebrates a goal with teammate Elliott during a match on March 5. Xinhua/Reuters
How did I expect that in the second half, the situation suddenly changed, there was no strong dialogue, only Liverpool solo dance. Just two minutes into the game, Núñez's header from inside the box changed the score to 2-0. In the 50th minute, Salah burst down the right flank with a succession of feints to shake the defending Lima, and then went straight to Gakpo, who was inserted at high speed, and scored from a small angle by the Dutchman.
Liverpool's Salah (second from right) celebrates a goal during a match on March 5. Xinhua/Reuters
At this time, Manchester United's hope of a turnaround was slim, but they did not expect that further blows awaited them. In the 66th minute, Núñez's pass was disrupted by Manchester United, but the ball bounced to the feet of Salah in the middle of the penalty area, and the Egyptian striker turned and volleyed the ball into the crossbar and into the net. Núñez's header was then headed down as Salah pushed an empty goal into the scoring for his 129th Premier League goal since joining Liverpool. Before the end, substitute Roberto Firmino fired a low shot into the net to make it 7-0.
Liverpool's Núñez (top left) scores with a header during a match on March 5. Xinhua/Reuters
As a result, Liverpool, who have won 4 and drawn 1 in the last 5 rounds, jumped to fifth, only 3 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and one game less than their opponents. Their point gap with Manchester United has also narrowed to seven points.
Manchester United suffered a 7-0 defeat for the fourth time in their history, but the previous three were more than 90 years ago. Manchester United boss Ten Haag bluntly said the team's second half was unprofessional, "We didn't go according to plan, the players have lost their minds".
On the same day, Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Everton.