Staff Reporter.
Liverpool moved top of the Premier League as they outclassed Manchester United at Anfield and dented the visitors’ hopes of a top-four finish.
The Reds, who started a point behind Manchester City, led when Luis Diaz stroked in Mohamed Salah’s low cross.
The home side continued to dominate and Salah slotted in a deserved second from Sadio Mane’s reverse pass.
United showed slight improvement before Mane swept in a third and Salah’s deflected effort sealed a routine win.
After their 5-0 win at Old Trafford in October, Liverpool are the first club to score at least eight Premier League goals against United in a single season.
The victory moves Jurgen Klopp’s side two points clear of defending champions City, who have played one game fewer and have seven matches left to play.
United, who could have moved level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, remain sixth. On Saturday, the Red Devils go to fifth-placed Arsenal.
Rangnick described his side’s heavy Premier League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield as “humiliating”.
“It’s embarrassing, it’s disappointing, maybe even humiliating,” Rangnick said.
“Especially in the first half, we were just not up to it,” Rangnick also told Sky Sports. “We were nowhere.
“We could have had a back line of six or seven, if you don’t try to win second balls first, not even to speak of first balls… we were second best in all relevant areas of the first half and that is just not good enough.
“They [Liverpool] just showed what kind of calibre they are. We are not up for it. We are not good enough to get points in a game against Liverpool.”
Asked how United can close the gap to Liverpool, he added: “We have to accept they are six years ahead of us now.
“When Jurgen Klopp came they changed at the club and lifted not just the team but the club and city to a new level. That is what needs to happen with us in the next transfer windows.
“There will be a rebuild for sure, that was obvious in the first three or four weeks for me. For us it is extremely embarrassing as a coaching staff to sit here and have a press conference like this. We just have to admit they are better than us.”
Ragnick added: “If you analyse the situation it is not difficult… for me, it is clear there will be six, seven, eight, maybe 10 new players. Before you sign those players you need to be aware how you want to play.”
The emphatic victory took Jurgen Klopp’s side two points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who can reclaim pole position when they face Brighton on Wednesday.
“I am not here to humiliate opponents – we did what we had to do,” Klopp said. “United are not in a good moment, but for our fans it was a big one and they deserve every bit of joy. Tonight they received a lot of joy.
“I did enjoy tonight. I don’t expect us to be for 95 minutes completely in charge of the game, but for 70 minutes we were in charge and for 20 minutes, while United weren’t in charge, they caused us problems.”
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness said: “This is a fabulous Liverpool team and they are on the brink of true greatness. This is the biggest game in English football and Liverpool were sensational.”
Meanwhile Manchester United and Liverpool supporters united in a fan-led minute of applause at Anfield in support of Cristiano Ronaldo and his family following the death of his baby boy.
A United shirt with Ronaldo’s name and number was held up in the away end.
The Portugal international missed Tuesday’s match between the two rivals.
On Monday, Ronaldo and partner Georgina Rodriguez announced the death of their baby boy, saying it is the “greatest pain that any parents can feel”.
Ronaldo, 37, and Rodriguez, 28, were expecting twins.
Their baby girl survived, and they said her birth “gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness”.
“Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you,” they wrote.
Both United and Liverpool players wore black armbands in a mark of respect to Ronaldo and his family.