Doomsday at Old Trafford, as Casemiro dims the light of Manchester United, with Liverpool picking a vital win over their perennial rivals.
Casemiro appeared to be the weapon fashioned against Manchester United, as he was the architect behind both goals his team conceded in the first 45 minutes.
Erik ten Hag’s side started the first half in an electric manner, as they took the game to Liverpool.
However, the Red Devils became laid back as the opening 45 minutes progressed, with Arne’s Slot side capitalizing on their hosts’ lapses.
Liverpool Momentarily Went Ahead Through Alexander Arnold
Liverpool thought they had gone ahead in the 7th minute, following some defensive mishap by Manchester United.
Ryan Gravenberch ran at the Red Devils’ defense through the heart of Manchester United’s midfield.
Gravenberch subsequently spread the ball to Luis Diaz, with the attacker playing a cut-back which was flicked on by Mohamed Salah to Alexander Arnold.
His effort crept over the line, and although it struck a defender and came out, the referee, Anthony Taylor, signaled that the ball had gone in after confirming via the intervention of the goal line technology.
Unfortunately, the goal was chalked after Salah was adjudged to have interfered with play from an offside position.
Liverpool Pounced On The Mistakes Of Casemiro In Their Win Over Manchester United
Liverpool looked the more courageous of the two sides, and their pressure paid off in the 35th minute and 42nd minute.
Casemiro gave the ball away in a delicate position, and the Reds broke forward on an attack with Mohamed Salah driving the ball into the box and hanging it in the air for Diaz to head home.
Dominic Szoboszlai was also in position to nod the ball but he smartly left it for Luis Diaz, who was in a better position.
In the 42nd minute, Diaz shrugged Casemiro off the ball, with the Liverpool immediately igniting an attack.
Following a swift combination with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz curled the lovely first-time finish past Manchester United goalie Andre Onana.
Embarrassing Records Of Casemiro
After the mistake that Liverpool took advantage of, Casemiro became the first player to make multiple errors leading to a goal and to have dribbled past multiple times in a single Premier League game in the last 8 seasons.
The Brazil international has also committed more errors leading to an opposition goal than any other outfield Premier League player in 2024.
Casemiro also misplaced 8 of his 28 passes in the first period, as the former Real Madrid man produced a performance that he would want to forget in a hurry.
Liverpool went into the break leading their toothless arch-rivals, with Erik ten Hag’s side certainly aware of their underwhelming showing in the first half.
Toothless Manchester United Couldn’t Trouble Liverpool At Old Trafford
The Red Devils turned up the ante in the second period, but they failed to convert the opportunities that they created.
The away side increased their lead in the 56th minute, with Mohamed Salah brilliantly netting the third for Liverpool after he received an important pass from Dominic Szoboszlai.
Manchester United huffed and puffed with no end product all through the game and their attacking problem from last season evidently still persists.
Liverpool Only Premier League Team Yet To Concede In The 2024/25 Season
Liverpool are the only team after three league matches in the 2024/25 season to have not conceded, a testament to the good work boss Arne Slot is doing despite arriving just this summer.
Manchester United
It will be fascinating to see how the Red Devils will respond in the coming matches following their miserable showing against the Merseyside-based club.
The defeat to Liverpool also saw Erik ten Hag become the first Manchester United manager to lose two of the club’s first three games of a Premier League campaign on multiple occasions.
Their Positions On The English Premier League Table
Moreover, Liverpool will be looking to continue to unbeaten start to life under Slot, as the currently sit 2nd on the table with 9 points from 3 games, equal number of points as league leads Manchester City.
Manchester United occupy the 14th spot on the league table, with 3 points from 3 matches, and fans of the club are already calling for Erik ten Hag to be dismissed.