Two goals from Luis Diaz helped Liverpool stroll to an easy win over a self-destructive Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
An interesting first half swung the Reds' way when two Casemiro clangers allowed Luis Diaz to bag a brace, with Mohamed Salah getting the away side's third in the second half.
The Red Devils couldn't muster up the mammoth response needed to come back from 3-0 down as they slumped to a second defeat in a row, while Liverpool maintained their 100% record in the Premier League, with only reigning champions Manchester City matching their form so far.
How the game unfolded
Recent editions of this rivalry haven't always lived up to the billing but the desire to compete was quickly evident from both sides, with United looking sharp down the wings in the early exchanges.
The first blow looked to have been landed by the visiting Reds inside ten minutes. Ryan Gravenberch breezed forward and set up Diaz to fire a cross towards Trent Alexander-Arnold who forced the ball over the line, but an offside Salah got a flick and the goal was chalked off by the video assistant.
It was a quieter 20 minutes or so afterwards but United couldn't make the most of their opportunities on the break. Their play in central midfield was often sloppy, particularly when Liverpool took the lead.
Casemiro's errant pass was scooped up by Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder strode forward and slid in Salah, whose clipped cross found both Dominik Szoboszlai and Diaz waiting. It was the Colombian who connected with the header to put Arne Slot's side 1-0 up.
The visitors' lead was deserved but it didn't wake United up. Casemiro again dawdled in midfield and was munched up by Diaz, allowing Salah to cross from the right again, this time low with his left foot for his wing partner to grab his second of the game, picking out the bottom right corner.
Half-time saw the former Real Madrid star substituted with 20-year-old Toby Collyer coming on for his Premier League debut. He nearly made an immediate impact as he nodded down Kobbie Mainoo's lofted pass, but the striker saw his effort saved in the bottom corner by Alisson.
However, the third goal did not fall for the hosts, with Salah scoring after setting up two goals in the first half. Mainoo was bullied off the ball by Alexis Mac Allister before Szoboszlai picked out the Egyptian to curl past Andre Onana at the near post.
United did show they could create chances when they weren't imploding, with Alisson required to keep out a point-blank Zirzkee header which the summer signing should have converted.
However, Erik ten Hag's side were firmly second best throughout the contest and limped away from the match without anything to show for their efforts.
GK: Andre Onana - 4/10 - Positioning was quite rogue for the third goal but realistically couldn't do much about any of the goals.
RB: Noussair Mazraoui - 4/10 - Caught out by Casemiro's poor pass which ensured Diaz had a free header for his first goal. Bit too slow and ploddy in possession.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt - 6/10 - Showed good awareness by snuffing out a few attacks early on but was left high and dry by his defensive colleagues.
CB: Lisandro Martinez - 4/10 - A little sluggish when Diaz found space for his second. Booked for needlessly clattering Szoboszlai.
LB: Diogo Dalot - 5/10 - Out of position when Diaz headed in and didn't want to close down Salah before he set up the Colombian for a second time.
CM: Casemiro - 2/10 - Made two fatal mistakes with some sloppy midfield play reminiscent of his struggles last season and was hooked at half-time.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo - 4/10 - Was gobbled up by Mac Allister for the third goal. Turned up in this fixture last season but was overawed this time.
RW: Alejandro Garnacho - 4/10 - Had few opportunities to put his stamp on the game and was subbed midway through the second half.
AM: Bruno Fernandes - 6/10 - Started the game in bright form and played some gorgeous passes throughout, but mistakes behind him cost his side.
LW: Marcus Rashford - 5/10 - Another who looked sharp to begin but Rashford's influence definitely waned as the match went further and further out of reach.
ST: Joshua Zirkzee - 5/10 - Picked up an unnecessary booking and gave the ball away too often when trying to link play.
Substitutes
SUB: Toby Collyer (46' for Casemiro) - 5/10
SUB: Harry Maguire (69' for De Ligt) - 5/10
SUB: Amad Diallo (69' for Garnacho) - 5/10
SUB: Christian Eriksen (86' for Zirkzee) - N/A
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Antony, Jonny Evans, Ethan Wheatley.
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 5/10 - Wasn't helped by a Casemiro disaster-class but his changes did little to change the momentum of the game.
Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Alisson - 7/10 - Made the saves he needed to and got Liverpool's attacks moving forward quickly.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6/10 - Would have opened the scoring if not for Salah's offside. Some of his haymaker passes didn't come off but he largely got the better of Rashford.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - 7/10 - Nipped in well to win the ball frequently and was rarely tested by the pace of any of United's attackers.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - Was on hand to cut out United's wayward crosses and made sure Zirkzee was kept quiet for the majority of the contest.
LB: Andy Robertson - 6/10 - Was quiet in an attacking sense but his hounding helped Liverpool win the ball back in dangerous areas.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch - 8/10 - Showed elegance dribbling forward, looking a fair bit sharper than his midfield opponents. His powerful running gave the visitors a real sense of urgency in attack.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 7/10 - Crucial in closing down Mainoo before Liverpool went three goals ahead. Combative throughout.
RW: Mohamed Salah - 8/10 - Picked out Diaz with two precise assists and got in on the act with a goal of his own in the second half.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 8/10 - Pressed well and his neat pass set up Salah to make it 3-0. A strong outing from the Hungarian.
LW: Luis Diaz - 9/10 - Has been wasteful at times in his Liverpool career but was clinical at Old Trafford, heading in well before sending a low shot into the bottom corner.
ST: Diogo Jota - 6/10 - Didn't let United's defenders or midfielders settle as he chased the ball carriers, but the chance to score evaded him.
Substitutes
SUB: Cody Gakpo (66' for Diaz) - 6/10
SUB: Darwin Nunez (76' for Jota) - 5/10
SUB: Conor Bradley (76' for Alexander-Arnold) - 5/10
SUB: Kostas Tsimikas (83' for Robertson) - N/A
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, , Harvey Elliott.
Manager
Arne Slot - 8/10 - Liverpool made their dominance count thanks to some Casemiro mistakes and look a much more sound and solid outfit under Slot compared to Ten Hag's United.
Player of the match: Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
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