Man Utd 0 Liverpool 3: Erik ten Hag humiliated by Dutch counterpart Arne Slot as Reds give finishing masterclass

ERIK TEN HAG is convinced he will get his message across eventually, but is it all double Dutch.

There are enough of them from Holland in the coaching staff and on the pitch.

Reuters

Luis Diaz netted a first half brace against Man Utd[/caption]

EPA

Mohamed Salah put United to the sword to make it 3-0 after bagging two assists[/caption]

Rex

Casemiro had a game to forget and was hooked at half-time[/caption]

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Erik ten Hag’s side were second best throughout the clash[/caption]

But the only man orchestrating a beautiful game from the Netherlands here at Old Trafford was his opposite number Arne Slot.

This was a humiliation for Manchester United, a masterclass in ruthless efficiency from Liverpool.

Ten Hag said before the game that Slot had inherited a team already up and running, and his task had, therefore, been much easier than his own.

Yet in three games you can already see how he has stamped his character on the team.

While Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football was all thrills and spills this is a much more controlled style that has now brought three wins from three with seven goals scored and non conceded.

Luis Diaz got two of them in the first half assisted both times by Mohammed Salah.

What a game Salah had. The Egyptian would get on the scoresheet himself with a second-half strike taking his record tally in this fixture to 15.

It could have been more, United were woeful.

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This was as bad as anything we saw in the league last season as the team stumbled to a record low Premier League position of eighth.

There are new players, new coaches, a new management structure and, it was thought, a new hope but it is the same United that has stumbled from season to season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

The odd piece of silverware offers brief glimpses of what can be, and Ten Hag has two of them, but there are too many humbling days like these.

It was an absolutely shocking first period for United as Liverpool played the ball through them at will.

The Red Devils by contrast were relying on hopeful breaks in which the last pass always fell short.

Only one shot on goal in that whole period.

Liverpool thought they were ahead after only six minutes with a slick move that warned of what was to come.

Ryan Gravenberch stormed diagonally across the Old Trafford surface unchallenged before feeding the ball out wide to Diaz.

His cross shot through the six yard box getting a flick from Salah on the way and Trent Alexander-Arnold was there at the far post to fire goalwards.

It looked for a moment that Diogo Dalot had blocked it but his clearance was from behind the line and Liverpool celebrated.

While Alex-Arnold was onside, Salah had not been when he made the flick and the goal was cancelled out for offside.

The cheer that greeted the decision was the high spot for United fans.

That and a crunching tackle from Lisandro Martinez on Dominik Szoboszlai which earned him a booking.

That told you everything about what United were offering.

Liverpool meanwhile had their fans chanting in delight throughout a thoroughly one-sided opening period.

It was personal disaster for Casemiro who was at fault for both Liverpool goals before the break.

He looks leaner and fitter than this time last season but he just gives the ball away too much, or has it taken of him.

He did both here and it was no surprise when he was hooked at the break to allow Toby Collyer to make his Premier League debut at the age of 20.

The home fans were more than delighted about that change after what they had witnessed from the five-time Champions League winner. Really? Five times, him?

First in the 35^th minute the Brazilian’s loose pass was picked up by Gravenberch who fed Salah and his chipped cross was met by a thumping header from Diaz at the far post.

The same combination brought about the second as this time Casemiro was too easily dispossessed 30 yards out by Diaz.

The ball ran loose, Alexis Mac Allister picked it up and gave it back to Diaz to spread wide for Salah to return with the outside of his boot.

What a cross it was and what a first time finish from the Colombian international fizzing a curling shot into the bottom right hand corner.

When not long before half time new signing Matthijs de Ligt just smashed the ball aimlessly forward the boss began to ring out from the Red Devils faithful.

The frustration continued in the second-half which began with at least a shot from new striker Joshua Zikrzee which was well saved by Alison.

United’s heads would drop when Liverpool extended their lead in the 56^th minute.

Again the home side contributed to their own downfall when this time Kobbie Mainoo was too easily nudged off the ball just over half way by Mac Allister.

Give them a slight opening and this Liverpool just pounce.

Mac Allister fed Szoboszlai who helped it into the path of Salah for an exquisite first time finish.

He nearly had another moments later with a shot to the far corner which was deflected just wide.

‘Liverpool, Liverpool taking the p***’ was the chant from the away end and it was hard to argue.

The crowd were starting to get on Rashford’s back before he produced a cross that Zirkzee headed goalwards, Alisson again denying him.

When Ten Hag subbed Alejandro Garnacho for Amad Diallo on 69 minutes it would then be the boss getting it in the neck.

By the final whistle the ground was half-empty.

In one corner the Liverpool fans just kept on singing.

AFP

Sir Jim Ratcliffe had his head in his hands as United fell to defeat[/caption]

Getty

Joshua Zirkzee had two great chances to score but could not find his finishing boots[/caption]