Mohamed Salah scored and set up two Luis Diaz goals as Liverpool inflicted another heavy defeat on rivals Manchester United, this one a 3-0 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Casemiro made two big errors that led to Diaz’s goals and was substituted at halftime, as would-be starter Manuel Ugarte was not registered in time for the game.
Ten Hag defended Casemiro after the game, saying the Brazilian would still contribute to the club’s success.
Salah would then make some waves after the game by saying that ‘it is my last year at the club’ and that Liverpool had not spoken to him about a new contract.
[ MORE: Ten Hag — ‘We will will go for trophies’ ]
It’s a brilliant result for Arne Slot, who delivers a commanding 3-0 win over a rival in his third Premier League game as Liverpool boss. The Reds are 3-0-0 and have yet to concede a goal under Slot.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, will be left to lament “What ifs?” into an international break that finds his Red Devils with a win over Fulham and losses to would-be top four rivals Brighton and Liverpool.
More of the same from (Man Utd and Liverpool)
Ten Hag can lament Ugarte’s late addition and Hojlund’s injury but he can’t say much for himself about both what happened with Casemiro and once he took the Brazilian off the pitch. Simply put, his system needs two excellent holding midfielders to allow Bruno Fernandes the freedom to do his best. He has a 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo — an excellent prospect but not the finished project — and his next option after Casemiro’s two errors was a 20-year-old without Premier League minutes. He needed a better plan, and none of his attacking players bailed him out (though Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui again impressed at the back.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool took some time to get their feet under them, ceding 67% possession over the first 15-20 minutes, but it was all dominance from that point forward. Mohamed Salah wasn’t named Man of the Match but both he and Luis Diaz were fantastic while Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch were near-perfect in the midfield. Three games, seven goals, and none conceded for the Reds against Ipswich Town, Brentford, and Manchester United is a decent start.
Bruno Fernandes: Don’t pin the blame on Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo
“Goals are always self-inflicted,” Fernandes said on Peacock Premium after the game. “Every goal most of the time, you need to commit a mistake to give them the goal. We don’t have to be pointing fingers to everyone. It’s not going to help us now, so that’s not the point.”
“When you concede a goal you can’t point at one mistake. It’s more than that. We can say if you lose the ball in the middle. What’s the point in saying Casemiro lost the ball or Kobbie lost the ball. They lost the ball because they took the ball and wanted to be brave.”
"[Casemiro] is more experienced than me so I don’t need to tell him anything. He know what football’s about. He’s played for the two best clubs in the world. And Kobbie’s an excellent kid. I want him to be more times on the ball and be brave. I don’t want them to now stop and think about a mistake.
Manchester United vs Liverpool player ratings
Zero saves from Andre Onana and a disappointing day with long passes. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo lost the midfield, while Joshua Zirkzee couldn’t convert his chances and Alejandro Garnacho was poor.. Almost every player from Liverpool was very good apart from Diogo Jota, who had gotten on the score sheet in Liverpool’s first two Premier League matches this season. (Graphic, stats from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
International break, then Liverpool host Nottingham Forest at 10am ET Sept. 14 (Saturday) before a midweek League Cup visit from West Ham. Manchester United kick off the next PL matchweek with a 7:30am Sept. 14 visit to Southampton, then host Barnsley in the League Cup third round.
How to watch Manchester United vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11am ET Sunday (September 1)
Venue: Old Trafford
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester United vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester United vs Liverpool final score: 0-3
Luis Diaz 35', 42'; Mohamed Salah 56'
Zirkzee close again
Collyer lays off for Marcus Rashford, who does well with a pinpoint cross between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
But Zirkzee is unsighted and his path to the ball necessitates a slide. The contact is there but the ball skitters wide of the far post.
Liverpool subs
The final 15 minutes will happen without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota.
Conor Bradley and Darwin Nunez take their places.
Red Devils subs
Off go Matthijs de Ligt, on yellow from a crunching tackle on Luis Diaz, and an off-kilter Alejandro Garnacho.
Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo enter for the final 21 minutes.
Alisson again
Joshua Zirkzee rises high and central to meet a half-speed cross.
It’s headed goalward but Alisson reacts quickly to block it.
Sad planning from United contributed to this
Toby Collyer is being forced to find his way out there with a 19-year-old next to him — even if it is Kobbie Mainoo — because United waited to seal the Ugarte deal.
Now Casemiro’s bad first half led to a forced change and a relatively-green midfield against one of Liverpool’s strengths. Bad week for this.
Mohamed Salah goal — Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (56th minute)
Another bad giveaway from the Reds.
Kobbie Mainoo dawdles on the ball. Alexis Mac Allister turns him over and quickly finds an advancing Szoboszlai.
The ball’s to Salah on the right and he makes a tricky finish look easy. 3-0.
Promising for Man Utd
Collyer knocks down a ball for Zirkzee, whose low shot is parried by Alisson.
United is keeping the ball now, down two, but as I type that it’s another bad giveaway from the Red Devils in their own third and Liverpool is on the ball.
Casemiro off at the break
It had to happen, really, and Casemiro’s exit will mean a very young center midfield as 20-year-old Toby Collyer joins 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield.
Noussair Mazraoui is down with an injury early in the second half. There seems to be a long talk about whether he should be allowed to stay on with a perceived head injury. He will continue for the Red Devils.
Halftime — Manchester United 0-2 Liverpool
Moments make games, and a pair of Casemiro mistakes — the second prodded by Luis Diaz contact but a hard-to-overturn non-call — have led to Luis Diaz goals.
Obviously Manuel Ugarte has not been registered in time for this but Erik ten Hag will wish he had him. Alejandro Garnacho has also been a liability on the right wing. Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo?
For Liverpool, it was a dodgy start but a near-perfect response as they reclaimed possession and may well skate to another win. 2-0 for a third time?
Diaz again! Manchester United 0-2 Liverpool (42nd minute)
Casemiro thought he was fouled but there’s no whistle because Luis Diaz got a piece of the ball.
The ball is quickly atop the 18, and Salah again cues up Diaz. This time it’s a low cushioned finish inside the near post.
2-0, 42'
United get a chance through Mazraoui
Man Utd produce a big opportunity with a long diagonal ball that leads to a first-time Bruno Fernandes cross that is deflected onto the path of Noussair Mazraoui about 22 yards out from goal.
Alisson saves the Mazraoui’s low drive through traffic and Liverpool clear the danger.
Luis Diaz goal! Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool (35th minute)
Ryan Gravenberch has been so good this season and he runs in front of a risky Casemiro pass and Liverpool are off and running into the United end.
Mohamed Salah chips a big cross to the back post where both Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz can head home, with Diaz calling the former off to nod home.
1-0, 35'.
Matthijs de Ligt starring on full debut
The new United center back has thwarted multiple Liverpool attacks and looks very comfortable.
That’s not a huge surprise given his familiarity with his right back Noussair Mazraoui and keeper Andre Onana, but still impressive given the occasion of a big rivalry fight at Old Trafford.
We’re still here
This game is being played in the midfield, with just one shot attempt and 0.07 xG.
United’s possession is still well above 60 and Liverpool have had a moment or two but the penultimate or final balls have been absent.
Intriguing start for Man United
The visitors have had their moments but Erik ten Hag’s hosts have had nearly 70% possession.
Still just one shot attempt and it’s Liverpool, but the Red Devils have early control at Old Trafford.
Disallowed goal
Trent Alexander-Arnold thinks he has Liverpool in front but VAR spots an offside touch on the ball from Mohamed Salah.
It’s a slight touch and a close offside, and it negates really good work from Ryan Gravenberch and Luis Diaz.
Scoreless after eight minutes.
What’s at stake?
Liverpool can join Man City as the only 3-0-0 teams in the Premier League, while Man Utd would join fifth-place Liverpool on a 2-0-1 record and climb above Brentford and Aston Villa with a win.
Manchester United vs Liverpool team news
How will Erik ten Hag challenged Arne Slot? We’re waiting on lineups but Joe Prince-Wright predicted the XIs with a new starter for Manchester United. Read more here.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Robertson, Konate, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jota, Salah, Diaz
Manchester United focus, team news
The same defensive issues have cropped up to hurt United early in the season, while losing Rasmus Hojlund is a blow and really impacts their attacking setup. Erik ten Hag will likely play with Bruno Fernandes as a false nine and have the likes of Diallo, Garnacho and Rashford making runs on the counter. Joshua Zirkzee has looked dangerous in his first few outings and could start as United will look for more control and may not get as many counter attacks.
OUT: Victor Lindelof (undisclosed), Luke Shaw (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), Rasmus Hojlund (hamstring), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Mason Mount (undisclosed)
Liverpool focus, team news
New addition Federico Chiesa will not feature, while Liverpool will likely go with the same lineup which beat Brentford last time out. That means Salah on the right, Jota up top and Diaz on the left, with the likes of Gakpo, Nunez and Elliott ready to jump off the bench if needed. Liverpool’s midfield has been the biggest change under Slot as Gravenberch has dictated the tempo with Szoboszlai and Mac Allister roaming free ahead of him.
OUT: Federico Chiesa (fitness) | QUESTIONABLE: Curtis Jones (undisclosed)