Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United: Player ratings as Reds run rampant at Anfield

Liverpool moved top of the Premier League with a resounding 4-0 win over rivals Manchester United.

Ralf Rangnick's Red Devils put in one of their worst performances of the season even by their own standards and missed the chance to move level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham.

But Jurgen Klopp's men were able to move two points clear at the top of the table ahead of Manchester City's clash tomorrow.

The hosts took a fourth-minute lead after cutting apart United at will. Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold dragged Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot out of position, allowing Mohamed Salah to cross for Luis Diaz for the simplest of tap-ins.

Liverpool added their second midway through the first half at the end of a sumptuous team move, with Mane clipping the final pass over the top of a helpless United defence for Salah to meet and poke past David de Gea.

Diaz had the ball in the net again after Fabinho's cut-back was touched on by Salah and into the path of the Colombian, but the former Porto winger was flagged for offside.

United tightened up after the break but still threatened to trouble Liverpool, who at this point looked like they were trying to conserve precious energy in pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple.

Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford had close-range shots saved by Alisson though the offside flag was later raised, and just when it seemed like Liverpool's recent streak of complacency had crept in again, Mane added a third when he picked out the bottom corner from Andy Robertson's low cross.

Salah added a fourth when substitute Hannibal Mejbri was robbed of possession, with Diogo Jota turning and slipping through for the Egyptian to slot over De Gea via a deflection from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Here are your ratings from a one-sided affair...

Liverpool vs Manchester United player ratings

1. Liverpool (4-3-3)

GK: Alisson - 7/10 - His composure and ability on the ball helped Liverpool play from the back with considerable ease.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 9/10 - United had no idea how to cope with his range of passing or general menace when roaming forward.

CB: Joel Matip - 6/10 - A quiet first half but did get into some mild trouble after the break.

CB: Virgil van Dijk - 8/10 - Shut down every United attack that came down his side.

LB: Andy Robertson - 8/10 - A couple of hairy moments but was a plus point when going forward.

DM: Fabinho - 8/10 - Quite easily won the physical battle in midfield.

CM: Jordan Henderson - 7/10 - Some of his passes would have made you believe he was a clone of Alexander-Arnold. Lost his concentration a little in the second 45.

CM: Thiago - 9/10 - Ran rings around United and danced his way between the lines. A gracious midfield performance.

RW: Mohamed Salah - 10/10 - Played with such precision in the first half but was much quieter after the break, yet was still able to cause United headaches even at walking pace.

CF: Sadio Mane - 10/10 - Back to his best. Really suits playing through the middle, aptly linking play when dropping deep while also providing an aerial threat

LW: Luis Diaz - 9/10 - One goal, one assist, umpteen no-look passes and a series of United defenders dribbled past. Job done.

SUB: Diogo Jota (70' for Diaz) - 6/10

SUB: Naby Keita (80' for Thiago) - N/A.

SUB: James Milner (86' for Fabinho) - N/A.

2. Manchester United (3-5-2)

GK: David de Gea - 4/10 - Not much he could do about another United humiliation.

CB: Victor Lindelof - 2/10 - Meek in the challenge and consistently lost the run of his men. A truly disastrous defensive display.

CB: Phil Jones - 3/10 - Awful on only his second start of the season but at least that's understandable. Hooked at half-time.

CB: Harry Maguire - 2/10 - Caught in no-man's land for the first and was generally hopeless.

RWB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 2/10 - Dribbled the ball out of play under mild pressure from Mane. Otherwise anonymous but that's hardly a compliment.

CM: Paul Pogba - N/A - Substituted after ten minutes with a knock.

CM: Nemanja Matic - 2/10 - No desire to press. Looked every bit of his 33 years of age.

LWB: Diogo Dalot - 1/10 - Way out of his depth, though could possibly be excused as he was out of position. Nevertheless, this was a pathetic attempt at playing this role.

AM: Bruno Fernandes - 2/10 - Was unable to release any of United's pacy attackers against Liverpool's high line and gave away the ball in some dangerous areas.

CF: Anthony Elanga - 3/10 - Threatened to stretch Liverpool but never really did.

CF: Marcus Rashford - 3/10 - Ditto, bar one first-half chance where he couldn't bring a lofty ball down. Has to be making more of those in a game like this.

SUB: Jesse Lingard (10' for Pogba) - 2/10 - Liverpool found it far too easy to simply play around him.

SUB: Jadon Sancho (46' for Jones) - 4/10 - Registered United's first shot on goal. Otherwise was also awful.

SUB: Hannibal Mejbri (84' for Elanga) - N/A.