Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table with a cruising win over Manchester United.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring for Jurgen Klopp’s side on six minutes when he met Mohamed Salah’s cutback to beat David de Gea from close range.
That lead was doubled just a quarter of an hour later as Sadio Mane expertly teed up Salah to score his first goal in seven games with a sweeping finish.
Mane further extended the advantage midway through the second half, meeting a low cross from Diaz to comfortably dispatch in front of The Kop.
Salah added a fourth in the closing stages when substitute Diogo Jota played a threaded pass for him to lift the ball over De Gea to complete the rout.
The Reds sit two points clear of Manchester City at the summit ahead of the reigning champions entertaining Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Who can stop the Reds?
This was supposed to be the sternest test of Liverpool’s title credentials.
It was a plausible theory for a Manchester United side who, despite their problems, had lost just three of their past 10 Premier League visits to Anfield.
But they were still never likely to offer any resistance to Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple hopefuls as they temporarily ascended to the summit with ease.
A win for Manchester City on Wednesday would restore the previous status quo, yet the Reds continue to show that no one holds any fears for them.
Granted, there are no easy games and the champions’ run-in appears more favourable on paper. Try telling that to Klopp and his players, though.
The Anfield crowd, too, has justifiable reasons to believe that they will pip City at the post, typified by a borderline European night atmosphere at the outset.
Only time will tell if they do but in this form, who can realistically stop them?
Salah’s finally back in business
Reports of Mohamed Salah’s demise appear to be greatly exaggerated.
Six game without finding the target led to premature denouements in some quarters that the Egyptian’s powers in front of goal were starting to wane.
Barely 25 minutes into Tuesday’s encounter, Salah set about correcting that particular record with an exquisite finish to hand Liverpool a comfortable lead.
Meeting an inch-perfect floated pass from Sadio Mane, his first touch to bring the ball under control was as impressive as the ensuing sweeping effort.
Fab 4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/S6yHXCENJC #Salah #LFC #LIVMUN
— Liverpool FC news (@ClickLFC) April 19, 2022
His follow-up, five minutes from time, was one to savour even more; lifting the ball over David de Gea with remarkable ease in front of a rapturous Kop.
All the key ingredients had still been there throughout the 29-year-old’s recent dry spell, from his off-the-ball movements to a killer burst of pace.
Now he is over that hurdle, however, it is only a matter of time before the goals again begin to rain from the Premier League’s leading top scorer.
Thiago continues his masterclass
Thiago Alcantara at Liverpool was once mythical for all the wrong reasons.
A common jibe during a muted debut season at Anfield was that he produced performances which could not be deduced or even seen by the untrained eye.
The Spain international is still doing things which are scarcely believable but now matches that early hype after another truly composite midfield display.
He followed up a would-be Man of the Match outing in the FA Cup semi-final by putting United to the sword through beguiling passes and heavy pressing.
Bruno Fernandes’ influence for the visitors was downgraded to a casual observer as he lost out during countless battles in the middle of the park.
When a hamstring concern forced him off in the final 10 minutes, Anfield rose to its feet in unbridled appreciation for the 30-year-old’s latest handiwork.
It took a while but Thiago’s midfield masterclass is officially in full swing.