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.
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