Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool: 5 hits and flops as Mohamed Salah hat-trick silences Old Trafford | Premier League 2021-22

Salah at the treble as Liverpool trounce United.
Salah at the treble as Liverpool trounce United.

Hit: Naby Keita (Liverpool)

Keita opened the floodgates in the fifth minute.
Keita opened the floodgates in the fifth minute.

Liverpool's opening goal of the match came from the unlikeliest of sources, Naby Keita. He was on target against Atletico Madrid on Thursday in the Champions League, though.

Keita ran into acres of space left behind by United's defence before lashing home a fine strike to break the deadlock. It only served to bolster him further; the Guinean then set up Salah's second of the night.

Effervescent and menacing at the same time, Keita saw his time on the field unfortunately cut short after he sustained an injury from Paul Pogba's foul that got the Frenchman sent off.


Flop: Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

Is Maguire the worst centre-back in Premier League currently?
Is Maguire the worst centre-back in Premier League currently?

Much of Manchester United's recent defensive lapses have been down to Harry Maguire's sheer ineptness. The centre-back is a pale shadow of his stoic Euro 2020 self as he put up another horror show at the back on Sunday.

The Red Devils captain was in no man's land whenever Liverpool drove forward. He was nowhere in sight for Keita's goal, but the enduring image of his torrid evening was the stuff of pure comedy. Maguire clashed with Shaw in the build-up to the visiting team's second goal.

Signed for a world-record fee of £80 million in 2019, Maguire has now become a liability for United. He needs to get his act together soon, for it's raining trolls on him on social media at the moment.


Hit: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

Jota was on fire on his Liverpool first XI return.
Jota was on fire on his Liverpool first XI return.

Back in the starting line-up and back among the goals, Diogo Jota played a starring role in Liverpool's historic win on Sunday. He was full of energy, making menacing runs to keep United's defence on their toes. Jota linked up play well, putting on a much-improved performance.

The young Portuguese was on target in the first half with a simple touch into an open net, which doubled Liverpool's advantage. Jota then assisted Salah for his hat-trick goal.

Jota now has four goals and an assist in eight league games. Could this spark another ruthless scoring run like the one last year?

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