Slot had won his first two games in charge of Liverpool - against Ipswich and Brentford-but this was supposed to be an acid test. It was not, United so obliging, their first-half woes epitomised by a terrible performance from Casemiro. Things did not get any better thereafter, the only consolation being they avoided a real pasting, one to rival the 7-0 at Anfield from two seasons ago. Liverpool had the chances to rack up a similar number of goals.
A manager can beat only what is in front of him and Slot and his players did the job with a flourish. Their superiority in every area was pronounced and when Luis Díaz scored his second goal for 2-0 at the end of the first half, it became nothing more than a question of the eventual margin of victory.
They contented themselves with one more from Mohamed Salah - the perennial thorn in United's side-and Slot could reflect on more than a fluid attacking performance. His team were remorseless without the ball and it was a third clean sheet in three games for them. At the end of it all, the message was clear: Slot intends to be in the title shake-up.
Old Trafford was half empty by full-time, those who remained too stunned to jeer. The TV cameras had made the obligatory cutaways to a grim-faced Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the stands and United's minority owner has plenty to ponder. As does everyone connected to the club.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 02, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 02, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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