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Liverpool kept up their momentum to move top of the Premier League overnight by inflicting a damaging 4-0 defeat on rivals Manchester United.

Liverpool took the lead within five minutes when Luis Diaz got on the end of a low cross from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian was then on hand to double the lead after a fine set-up by Sadio Mane.

Manchester United regained their composure in the second half, not that it took much to improve upon what came before the break. But Liverpool took control again when Mane made it 3-0 after an assist from Diaz.

With all three forwards getting a goal and assist, substitute Diogo Jota also got in on the act to set up Salah for a fourth goal.

Thanks to their win, Liverpool have moved top of the Premier League until Manchester City play Brighton on Wednesday. Man Utd, meanwhile, remain three points outside the top four but time is not on their side.

Liverpool

Alisson Becker: Did well to survive a couple of scares on the ball early on and went on to use it well to build from the back. Rarely tested in the first half, which was in part thanks to him commanding his area. A strong presence again after the break. 8

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Given more to think about when United brought Sancho on in the second half. Stood up to some pressure. 7

Joel Matip: Played his part in the second goal with direct passes in the build-up. 6

Virgil van Dijk: Made his presence known at the back from the outset, outmuscling opponents. Wasn’t as commanding towards the start of the second half but was well aware of the standards required. 7

Andy Robertson: Kept close to his opponents at all times and by doing so helped set the third goal in motion. 8

Fabinho: Drove forward – either by dribbling or passing – more often than usual. Was a beating heart at the base of midfield. 8

Jordan Henderson: Popped up in the right place at the right time when Liverpool needed to keep the ball under control. Decision-making admittedly sometimes faltered. 6

Thiago Alcantara: Conducted the play with useful footwork and a fine range of precise passing. Dominant and a candidate for man of the match. 9

Mohamed Salah: Made the right decision to cross for the opening goal – and placed it perfectly, just as he would with his first goal. Capped his performance off with a dinked finish for his brace. 8

Sadio Mane: Enjoyed himself in a central role. Expertly picked out Salah with an outstanding reverse pass to set up the second goal. Finished his goal well when the ball was on the bounce. 9

Luis Diaz: Gratefully received Salah’s assist to score the opener with a composed first-time finish. Also recorded an assist by teeing up Mane shortly before his withdrawal. 8

Substitutes:

Diogo Jota (on for Diaz, 70 mins): Carried the ball well before providing an assist for goal number four. 6

Naby Keita (on for Thiago, 80): Lucky to escape serious punishment for a studded collision. N/A

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Manchester United

David De Gea: Resisted some further pressure from Liverpool after the second goal and before the break with decent handling. Being breached a total of four times, though, was not positive. 6

Victor Lindelof: Began to put in a couple of interceptions in the window between the second goal and half-time. His loose pass, although not the only contributing factor, led to Liverpool making it 3-0. 5

Phil Jones: Given just his second start of the season, couldn’t quite keep up with the Liverpool runners when it became 1-0. Withdrawn at half-time. 4

Harry Maguire: Taken out of the game by Liverpool’s passing for the first goal. Won a couple of headers but was generally out of range. 4

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Started at right wing-back but became a left-back after the break and did better in that role than Dalot. 5

Paul Pogba: Wasn’t able to last 10 minutes before having to limp off. N/A

Nemanja Matic: Given a lot of work to do in midfield and wasn’t able to stop the tide of Liverpool pressure. 5

Diogo Dalot: Often overloaded as Liverpool built their attacks down United’s left-hand side, which happened for each of the goals in the first half. Ended up swapping sides with Wan-Bissaka after the break, when United switched to a back four. 3

Bruno Fernandes: Had to adapt his role and couldn’t be as influential as usual. Let his frustration loose with a poor challenge that earned him a late booking. 3

Anthony Elanga: Sometimes tried to spread the play, but United didn’t get the ball upfield often enough for that to be impactful. Wasn’t strong enough when Robertson beat him to the ball before Liverpool’s third goal. 5

Marcus Rashford: Miscontrolled a tricky ball to deny himself his only half-chance of the first half. Saw slightly more of the ball in the second half but it was tough to find space. 4

Substitutes:

Jesse Lingard (on for Pogba, 10): On for longer than some starters but wasn’t able to have a big influence. 5

Jadon Sancho (on for Jones, half-time): Provided United their first shot on target in the 10th minute of the second half. Generally gave them more impetus. 6

Hannibal Mejbri (on for Elanga, 84): Lost the ball when United conceded their fourth. Struggled with the pace of the game and was punished for some fouls. N/A

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