Sunday's game was a tale of two Dutch coaches who are having very different experiences in charge of the two biggest clubs in England
Manchester United fans might have thought they had witnessed their worst-ever results against Liverpool, the 5-0 in 2021 and the 7-0 last season. But if the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has taught us anything, it's that things can always get worse.
Yet again on Sunday, United were blown away by their hated rivals from down the East Lancashire Road, and although the 3-0 scoreline was not as bad as those previous maulings, the performance was on a similar level. Virgil van Dijk said that Liverpool should have scored five or six goals, and it was difficult to disagree.
Liverpool bossed the game, and there was also a bloodbath on the touchline, where the two Dutch managers cut very different figures. Arne Slot was in his element and said the game had gone as well as he could have hoped. He has had less than two months to work with the squad, but Liverpool already look close to the finished article, solid in defence and frighteningly good in attack.
United, however, look dishevelled and out of sync with each other in their third season under Erik ten Hag. To say they are still a work in progress would be being too kind. Instead, it is tempting to recall Ralf Rangnick's assessment in 2022 that the club needed "surgery of the open heart".
Rangnick uttered those brutal words just as Ten Hag had been named as United's next manager, but nearly two-and-a-half years later, they still ring true.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Old Trafford…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Liverpool's flying wingers
United once prided themselves on their wing-play, but Liverpool showed them how it's done on Sunday. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were electrifying, and the Red Devils had no response to their breakneck speed and trickery.
Diaz had Noussair Mazraoui tied up in knots from the get-go, skipping past him to set up Trent Alexander-Arnold's disallowed goal. He then combined with Salah to eventually break the deadlock, making the most of a peach of a cross.
Diaz again demonstrated his new-found love for scoring with an expert finish for his second goal, which was served up by Salah. The Egyptian could not end the game without scoring against United, though, bagging his 15th goal in 16 games against the arch-enemy – and 10th in his last seven visits to Old Trafford – early in the second half.
Salah and Diaz are working up quite the partnership already, notching a combined six goals and four assists in 2024-25, while all seven of Liverpool's goals this season have had their fingerprints on them.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Casemiro
There was some hope among United fans that Casemiro's extended summer break had led to a reboot. He came back looking trimmer for pre-season and was impressive in the Community Shield, as well as in the opening Premier League game against Fulham.
The revival, however, is over already. Casemiro was back to his worst here, looking utterly unfit for purpose when facing a truly top team.
The Brazilian misplaced 10 passes in the first half, and his sloppy ball that was cut out by Ryan Gravenberch could not have come at a worse time, as United's full-backs had committed themselves down the pitch and it was all to easy for Liverpool to break and score. The Brazilian was then too easily felled by Diaz in the build-up to Liverpool's second goal.
The former Real Madrid star was a liability, and it was no surprise that he was hauled off at half-time, even if it was for Premier League debutant Toby Collyer.
Jamie Carragher, who caused a storm when he urged Casemiro to quite elite football last season, must have been enjoying himself in the commentary box as he gloated: "Two goals from two Casemiro mistakes."
Getty ImagesWINNER: Manuel Ugarte
United's latest signing was not registered in time to play on Sunday, but Manuel Ugarte got a taste of the Old Trafford atmosphere when he was presented to the supporters before kick-off. However, he may well have been alarmed by what he saw from the stands and how his new side were ripped apart, but he would also have sensed an opportunity.
He should be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up in United's next game at Southampton as Casemiro looks to be at his lowest ebb. All the Uruguayan has to do to improve on the hapless Brazilian is keep the ball and be able to keep up with the pace of the game.
His capacity to win the ball cleanly and frequently will also be vital, as Liverpool were able to play their way through United's midfield time and time again with little resistance.
Unfortunately, Ten Hag suggested Ugarte will need time to bed in and will not be put straight into the starting line-up after the international break. The former Paris Saint-Germain man must try and settle as quickly as he can as his new side clearly need him badly after this humiliation.
Getty ImagesLOSER: United's local heroes
Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo both scored against Liverpool last season at Old Trafford, but this was a very different story for United's homegrown players, who were the team's second-worst performers behind Casemiro.
Mainoo looked incapable of influencing proceedings, perhaps smarting from the early bang on the head he took. He had the excuse of getting no support from Casemiro and then having to work with the inexperienced Collyer, but it was his mistake which led to Liverpool's third goal, going to ground after being challenged by Diaz.
Mainoo's patchy display was surprising given his usual level, but Rashford's performance was achingly familiar. He kept misplacing passes, with his only good ball coming when he teed up Joshua Zirkzee, and every time he attempted a run down the left wing, he ran into a Liverpool player.
When Amad Diallo was brought on, many supporters expected to see Rashford come off. The sight of Alejandro Garnacho being replaced instead was, therefore, met with a chorus of boos, which was a telling comment on Rashford's dismal display.
