Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as the Reds beat Manchester United 5-0 in an away Premier League game. Paul Pogba was sent off for the Red Devils in the second half for a poor challenge on Naby Keita.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job at United wasn’t already in jeopardy, then the manner of his team’s defeat against Liverpool surely put him at risk.
It took Jurgen Klopp’s men just five minutes to open the scoring. A sweeping move from back to front stretched the entire right-side of Manchester United out of position. Salah received the ball in a dangerous position as Liverpool poured numbers forward and sent through Keita to open the scoring with a perfectly weighted through pass.
Liverpool doubled their lead just eight minutes later through Diogo Jota. Calamitous defending from Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw – who ran into each other while attempting to clear the ball – allowed Keita to play in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who crossed for Jota to convert at the back post.
Salah joined in on the fun before half-time, as he scored two goals in quick succession; he blasted home the first from close range in the 38th minute before crisply finishing another chance in first-half stoppage time to turn the scoreline 4-0 in favour of the Reds.
With hopes of a comeback all but dashed, Solskjaer sent Paul Pogba on for the second half to wrestle some of the control back from Liverpool. Five minutes later, Pogba lost the ball in the middle of the park for Liverpool’s fifth, scored by Salah to cap his treble.
The Frenchman’s display was summed up when he received his marching orders on the hour-mark for a reckless challenge on Keita – who had to leave the pitch on a stretcher.
The defeat leaves Manchester United seventh with fourteen points – and without a win in four. Liverpool, meanwhile, are back to second, just a point behind league leaders Chelsea.
