Liverpool achieved a memorable victory on their visit to arch-rival Manchester United. For Arne Slot, his first Premier League clash was a big celebration, while for Erik ten Hag, the concerns grew again on Sunday.
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The match between Manchester United and Liverpool was a significant encounter, particularly for both Dutch managers leading their respective teams: Erik ten Hag for United and Arne Slot for Liverpool.
The presence of Dutch internationals on both sides added another layer of intrigue. For Manchester United, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee made their first starts. De Ligt, taking his place in central defense alongside Lisandro Martínez, was preferred over the experienced Harry Maguire. Up front, Zirkzee was paired with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, aiming to bring fresh energy to United's attack.
Liverpool, under Arne Slot, also featured two Dutch players in their lineup. Ryan Gravenberch, playing in midfield, was a standout performer, constantly troubling United's defense with his dynamic runs and clever positioning. His performance was a testament to Slot's trust in him, and he played a crucial role in disrupting United’s midfield and linking up with Liverpool’s forwards.
United struggled to find their rhythm from the start. The Red Devils' defense was frequently tested by Liverpool’s high pressing and quick transitions. The first warning came in the seventh minute when Virgil van Dijk, stepping up from his defensive line, executed a brilliant pass to Gravenberch. The midfielder accelerated past United’s midfield and, after a quick exchange involving Luis Díaz and a deflection from Mohamed Salah, set up Trent Alexander-Arnold for a potential opener. Although Alexander-Arnold's finish was superb, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for offside against Salah, a let-off for United but a sign of things to come.
Liverpool didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock. In the 35th minute, Casemiro, playing in a deep-lying midfield role for United, made a costly error. Attempting a simple pass, he was intercepted by the alert Gravenberch, who immediately drove towards United’s penalty area. Spotting Salah’s movement on the flank, Gravenberch played a perfectly timed pass to the Egyptian, who crossed for Luis Díaz to head home. This goal not only put Liverpool ahead but also highlighted the pressing and counter-attacking tactics that Slot had clearly drilled into his team.
Just seven minutes later, Liverpool doubled their lead. Again, Casemiro was caught off guard, this time by Díaz sneaking up behind him to steal possession. With Casemiro expecting more time on the ball, Díaz’s quick thinking and anticipation left him stranded. Díaz then combined swiftly with Salah, who laid the ball back for Díaz to finish with a powerful shot past United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana at the near post. Slot’s delight on the touchline was evident; he was on the brink of a historic win, set to become the first Liverpool manager since Bob Paisley in 1975 to win his debut match against Manchester United.
The contrast in the dugouts could not have been more stark. While Slot celebrated with his team, Ten Hag’s frustration was palpable. His decision to substitute Casemiro for the young Tobby Collyer at halftime underscored his dissatisfaction with the experienced Brazilian’s performance and perhaps was a desperate attempt to change the game’s momentum.
However, things only got worse for United in the second half. Liverpool came out with renewed vigor, immediately putting pressure on United’s backline. Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the many Liverpool players who had a chance to extend the lead early in the second half, as United struggled to contain the relentless Liverpool attack. In the 56th minute, a lapse in concentration from United's Mainoo, who was dispossessed by Alexis Mac Allister, allowed Liverpool another swift attack. The ball was quickly moved to Szoboszlai, who found Salah in space. The Egyptian coolly slotted the ball past Onana to make it 0-3, effectively putting the game out of United’s reach.
From then on, Liverpool dominated, controlling possession and toying with United, which led to mocking cheers from the visiting fans with every completed pass. United’s confidence visibly drained, while Liverpool, sensing their opponents were beaten, looked to add more goals. Zirkzee, one of the few bright spots for United, managed to get some chances, but his finishing was off target, missing a significant opportunity after good work from Rashford. Ten Hag’s introduction of Amad Diallo was a last-ditch effort to change the tide, but even a consolation goal seemed beyond United on this day.
By the final whistle, Liverpool had maintained their clean sheet for the third consecutive match, a testament to Slot’s effective organization and game plan. This result left Liverpool as one of only two teams, alongside Manchester City, to have a perfect record after the first three Premier League matches. For United and Ten Hag, the defeat meant more than just a loss; it was an early indication of another challenging season ahead, already trailing six points behind their city rivals and enduring yet another setback against their historic foes.
