Man Utd vs Liverpool, player ratings: Mohamed Salah perfect, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw shocking
Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick as Liverpool humiliated Manchester United, romping to a stunning 5-0 victory at Old Trafford.
It was a performance that prompted numerous United fans to leave the stadium before even an hour had passed. But which players shone brightest and who had a horror of an afternoon?
Manchester United (4-2-3-1)
David de Gea 6
No chance with the goals and saves from Firmino and Salah before the break delayed his side’s complete humiliation.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5
Full-back was pulled out of position way too often, missed tackles and had little to offer in an attacking role.
Victor Lindelof 5
United have looked better with Raphael Varane in the side and his stand-in continued to endure a torrid start to the season. He was simply unable to come with the mobility of Liverpool’s front three.
Harry Maguire 4
Collided with Shaw for the second goal and deflected the ball to Keita in the build-up to the third. Failed to provide the leadership United so badly needed.
Luke Shaw 4
Played Liverpool on-side for their opening goal and collided with Maguire to gift them a second. The errors kept coming but at least tried to drag United back into it with a low shot which flew just wide.
Scott McTominay 5
Swamped in midfield and unable to make any sort of impact on proceedings. Not helped by Fred’s poor play but looked well below the necessary standard.
Fred 4
Solskjaer persists with the Brazilian midfielder and questions persist why. His use of the ball was nowhere near good enough and his errors too frequent.
Mason Greenwood 6
Kept battling and running the channels in the hope of receiving the ball - which he rarely did. At least forced Alisson into his first meaningful action before being subbed.
Bruno Fernandes 5
Missed a great early chance, snatching at his shot, and his composure went as the game wore on. Taken off after an hour.
Marcus Rashford 5
Had little or no service and on the odd occasion he had the ball in the opposition area his control or touch let him down.
Cristiano Ronaldo 5
His late first half booking, for kicking the ball aggressively into , summed up a frustrating day which got worse when he had a “goal” ruled out for offside.
Substitutes
Paul Pogba for Greenwood, 45 mins, 4 - did not last even 15 minutes.
Edinson Cavani for Fernandes 62 mins, 5 - pointless half hour of chasing shadows.
Diogo Dalot for Rashford 62 mins, 5 - a damage-limitation sub.
Substitutes (not used)
Bailly, Lingard, Dalot, Cavani, Sancho, Henderson, Matic, van de Beek.
Liverpool (4-3-3)
Alisson 7
Made a good first half stop to deny Greenwood but would spend most of the game as a virtual spectator.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 7
Joined in the attacks - of which there were many - to good effect and his cross was turned in by Jota. Might even have scored with a late shot.
Ibrahima Konate 8
Second league start and preferred to Matip. Acquitted himself extremely well although the opposition rarely threatened.
Virgil van Dijk 7
Relatively quiet, given United’s shortcomings, but the Dutchman was unhurried and immaculate in everything he did - the exact opposite of Maguire at the other end.
Andy Robertson 7
Greenwood was, arguably, United’s most dangerous attacker but the full-back did a good job of keeping him quiet and was also involved in the fourth goal.
Naby Keita 8
Superb performance with hands in, arguably, four of the goals. Stretchered off after Pogba’s high foul earned the United man a straight red.
Jordan Henderson 7
Quietly efficient as he helped Liverpool strangle the midfield. His brilliant work for the fifth goal summed up a top afternoon’s work.
James Milner 6
Buzzed around nicely and showed composure during the frenetic start but picked up an early injury after slipping as he tried to deal with a Robertson pass and was replaced.
Mohamed Salah 10
Just keeps getting better every week. His peerless hat-trick made it 15 goals in 12 games this season and makes signing him to a new contract a must for Liverpool.
Roberto Firmino 8
Hard-working display and seemed to be at the centre of so many of Liverpool’s best attacking moments. Perfect complement to in-form Salah at the moment.
Diogo Jota 8
Good positioning for his goal and his general threat level in and around the area was high.
Substitutes
Curtis Jones for Milner 26 mins 7 - very busy and effective.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Keita 63 mins 7 - slotted into midfield seamlessly.
Sadio Mane for Firmino 76 mins 6 - early rest for Firmino
Substitutes (not used)
Substitutes (not used): Gomez, Adrian, Minamino, Tsimikas, Origi, Matip.