Easy winner of the England derby against Manchester United on Tuesday, in a late match of the 30th day (4-0), Liverpool put pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
It was a crucial game for both teams. Liverpool had the opportunity to temporarily take control of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City’s game against Brighton on Wednesday. The Red Devils could, in the event of victory, pick up fourth qualifying place for the Champions League occupied by Tottenham. They were light years away from being able to succeed.
It must be said that they were not helped by the absences of Raphaël Varane, Fred, Luke Shaw and Cristiano Ronaldo, grieving after the death of one of his newbornsand to whom the Anfield Stadium paid tribute in the seventh minute by singing ” You’ll never walk alone ” in his honour.
? WHAT A PICTURE ? In the 7th minute, Liverpool fans cheered in support of Cristiano Ronaldo, while chanting “You’ll never walk Alone”.
Football, what a family ?❤pic.twitter.com/TyG34SuYVr
— Squarefeet (@squarefeet) April 19, 2022
No shots for Manchester United at the break
An audience who had already had the opportunity to warm up their voices two minutes before, with the opener of Luis Diaz: the Colombian rookie on the reception of a perfect center from Mohamed Salah launched in depth by Sadio Mané ( 1-0, 5th).
We then found the magic duo to conclude a very high class action with a touch of the ball: a triangle game initiated by the Cameroonian defender Joël Matip who serves Sadio Mané, back to goal. The Senegalese, of a brilliant inspiration, handed over for Mo Salah who controls with the right foot in the surface before adjusting De Gea with the left foot (2-0, 22nd). Gorgeous.
Liverpool regale, asphyxiate an inoffensive Manchester United team weaned from the ball: 25% possession and no shots attempted in the first period.
The Reds recital
After the break, the Red Devils manage to deceive for 20 minutes, before the Reds’ third goal, a new jewel of spontaneity: Andrew Robertson recovers a ball, against on the left, relies on Luis Diaz who crosses back to Sadio Mané whose volley with the flat left foot leaves no chance for De Gea (3-0, 67th).
Not concerned by the previous action, Mohamed Salah came to end this evening in style with a very nice ball stung to push the Mancunians a little further (4-0, 85th).
A 4-0 victory against the rival with at least one goal and one assist for each of the three attackers: Liverpool were great and take the provisional lead in the Premier League, two points clear of Manchester City, who face Brighton tomorrow . What a perfect way to end this week marked by the qualification for the semi-finals of the Champions League and the FA Cup final at the expense of citizens. With seven games to go, the pressure is on City. And she is huge.