Liverpool, March 6 (US): For Liverpool, this was the wildest dream.
For Manchester United, it was the worst nightmare of manager Erik ten Hag’s promising first season, the Associated Press reports.
Liverpool’s 7-0 defeat of United in the Premier League on Sunday is likely to have a lasting impact on both clubs’ ambitions this season.
It was United’s worst competitive defeat in over 90 years, having lost by the same scoreline on three previous occasions the last coming in 1931 against Wolves.
The result also surpassed Liverpool’s previous best victory against their fiercest rivals, which had been a 7-1 win in 1895.
Coach Jurgen Klopp said: “A few months ago everyone thought it was a good moment to play for Liverpool, you can’t say it publicly but everyone thought it was because they felt we were suffering a lot.” “But now it’s not a good moment, we look more like ourselves. It’s important for everyone to know we’re here and we’re still alive.”
The historic win could be the stepping stone to a strong finish to Liverpool’s campaign, and a push towards Champions League qualification and perhaps more.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag must hope to repay his players the way they have after humbling losses to Brentford and Manchester City this season sparked impressive undefeated runs.
A four-sided trophy pursuit now appears highly unlikely, with third-placed United 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal. But after winning the League Cup last week, Ten Hag’s side are still in contention for the FA Cup and Europa League, in what remains likely to be a winning season.
Not that the Dutchman was in the mood to look for the positives in the wake of what was also his worst defeat as a manager.
“This is unprofessional to me,” he said. “I’m really disappointed and angry. Our fans let us down. As a team as a team, you can’t allow that.
“You have to stick together and support each other and fight for each other. You have to defend. We didn’t and it’s unprofessional to me.”
Ten Hag endured his share of difficult days in his first season while managing the 20-time league champions.
United lost 4-0 to Brentford in only the second game of the season and went down 6-3 in their first Manchester derby.
“I know this team is going to reset and we have to recover and we’ve shown in the past that we can,” he said.
Klopp has had his own problems this term as his side struggled to deal with the departure of Sadio Mane last summer.
Until recently, even the end of the Champions League qualifiers was in doubt, as Liverpool suffered painful losses against Brentford, Brighton and Wolverhampton since the start of 2023.
However, this victory narrows the gap against fourth-placed Tottenham by three points, with a postponed match.
This was also evidence of the growing understanding between Liverpool’s new attack as Cody Jacobo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah each scored twice, with Roberto Firmino adding the other.
“It was one of the best performances for a long time,” said Klopp. “Everyone saw how good the players were.” “No one doubted Darwin’s influence in the future. Cody plays in the toughest area of the field against a man defense side, which is very tough. Mo ho mo.”
With fourth place now closing in, Liverpool fans may dream of an unexpected comeback in the Champions League last 16 tie against Real Madrid later this month.
As European champions Madrid lead 5-2 after the first leg at Anfield, it was the kind of performance that made the Merseyside club believe anything was possible.
Klopp’s assessment of Sunday’s match was succinct: “Strange result, great performance”.
Salah broke the record
Salah became Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 129 goals in 205 matches.
The Egypt international surpassed Robbie Fowler’s tally in the Premier League with his second goal.
“It’s very special, I can’t lie. This record has been on my mind since I came here,” Salah told Sky Sports.
Earlier in the week, Salah became only the second Liverpool player after Ian Rush to score 20 goals for the sixth consecutive season.
Forests fill Everton
If Nottingham Forest want to avoid relegation this season, it will depend on Brennan Johnson’s goals, as well as their form on City’s ground.
Johnson, 21, scored twice in Forest’s 2-2 draw with Everton to take his five goals in his last seven league matches.
Meanwhile, Forest have gone unbeaten in their last nine home league matches.
Demare Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure twice put Everton ahead, but Johnson responded on both goals to keep Forest four points clear of the relegation zone.
“Right now he’s doing really well and getting numbers,” said Forest manager Steve Cooper. “But, as always, it is about continuing to improve. I know how committed he is and how much he wants to improve.
“There’s always a level to be reached and a long way to go, which is normal for his age in his first year in the Premier League.”
Everton missed out on getting out of the bottom three.
“We have to keep the points on the board, but you have to have a way of getting what you’re doing and there are very satisfactory references to what the players give and how they approach these matches,” said Everton manager Sean Dyche. . “We need points, of course, but there has to be a plan, a way and a reason to get them.”