Luis Diaz starred as Liverpool routed arch-rivals Manchester United 3-0 to extend their perfect start under new boss Arne Slot on Sunday.
Hired from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp in the close season, Slot has overseen three successive wins in a flying start to the new era at Liverpool.
The Reds sit second in the Premier League, behind champions Manchester City on goals scored, after handing United an embarrassing loss that finished with thousands of empty seats at Old Trafford.
Diaz and Mohamed Salah were United’s chief tormentors as the Liverpool forwards tore Erik ten Hag’s side to pieces with their pace and predatory finishing.
Diaz put Liverpool ahead with a 35th-minute header from Salah’s cross after United midfielder Casemiro carelessly conceded possession.
Casemiro was guilty of surrendering the ball too easily again when Diaz converted another Salah assist with a cool finish seven minutes later.
Salah put the result beyond doubt in the 52nd minute, netting for the third time this season with a fierce strike from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass.
The Egypt star has scored 10 goals in nine appearances at Old Trafford for Liverpool in all competitions.
Slot is the first permanent Liverpool manager to win his first league game against United since Bob Paisley in 1975.
The Dutchman is also the first manager to win each of his first three Premier League games without conceding a single goal since Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City in 2007.
While Slot soaks up his dream start, United boss Erik ten Hag is under pressure after a woeful display that came hot on the heels of their 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend.
Ten Hag survived a close-season review of his job, which included United speaking to former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel about potentially replacing him.
But while last season’s surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City saved his job, he cannot afford another poor league campaign after finishing eighth in 2023/24.
AFP