Liverpool reasserted their dominance over Manchester United by beating their great rivals 3-0 on Sunday as Mohamed Salah enjoyed another dreamy visit to Old Trafford.
For United’s Casemiro, it was nothing short of a nightmare.
Salah scored for the seventh straight game at Old Trafford and also provided two first-half assists for Luis Diaz in United’s latest humiliation at the hands of their fiercest opponents in what is historically the biggest match in English football.
Make that 15 goals in all competitions for Salah against United since he joined Liverpool in 2017 and he was regaled with songs by the vocal visiting contingent in the final moments of a one-sided match.
By that time, Casemiro was off the field — and maybe wondering what his future holds at United.
The 32-year-old Brazil midfielder was at fault for both of Diaz’s goals — first because of a sloppy pass, and then after being dispossessed — and he was substituted at half-time for a 20-year-old rookie in Toby Collyer.
His performance came two days after United spent $55 million on Manuel Ugarte, a Uruguay defensive midfielder who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain as likely the long-term replacement for Casemiro.
That was part of a summer outlay of $240 million by United after deciding to keep Erik ten Hag as manager, despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
On this evidence, nothing has changed for the team that was once the biggest in Europe but which hasn’t won the league since 2013, the last season of Alex Ferguson.
United have lost two of their three league games so far this season, winning the other one — against Fulham — thanks to a late goal.
In contrast, Liverpool have won all three matches without conceding a goal. It’s quite the start to life at Anfield for Arne Slot, with Liverpool enjoying a seamless transition after nine trophy-laden years with Juergen Klopp.
He is the second Liverpool manager after George Kay in 1936 to beat United on his first trip to Old Trafford.
Hint of angst?
Salah said this season will be his "last year" at Liverpool, adding that "nobody has talked to me" about his expiring contract.
Speaking after the match to Sky Sports, the forward said: "I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive. As you know, it's my last year at the club. I just want to enjoy it and I don't want to think about it. I feel like I'm free to play football and then we'll see what happens next year. Coming into the game, I thought it could be the last time I play here (Old Trafford) with Liverpool.
"Noone at the club has spoken to me about contracts, so I'm just like: 'OK, I'm playing my last season' and see what happens at the end of the season. It's not up to me, but nobody's talked to me from the club. We will see."
Salah, whose contract expires next summer, has been at Anfield since the summer of 2017 when he signed from Roma for a then club-record fee.
Palace hold Chelsea
A second-half equaliser by Eberechi Eze gave Crystal Palace their first point of the season as they secured a 1-1 draw away to Chelsea, bouncing back from a poor start to grab a share of the spoils.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 25th minute after Palace defender Marc Guehi made an ill-advised raid forward and lost the ball, and the visitors’ defensive frailties were exposed.
Isak shines
Alexander Isak scored the winner for Newcastle United with a simple tap-in as they weathered a storm from visiting Tottenham Hotspur to secure a 2-1 win in an entertaining game at St James’ Park.
Harvey Barnes’ first-half opener for Newcastle was cancelled out by a Dan Burn own goal. Joelinton’s defence-splitting pass was perfect for Jacob Murphy who, after drawing out keeper Guglielmo Vicario, laid the ball on a plate for Isak to secure the three points for manager Eddie Howe’s side.
With inputs from Reuters, AP/PTI
