Calamitous Collapse: Manchester United Humiliated at AnfieldCalamitous Collapse: Manchester United Humiliated at Anfield In an evening of abject humiliation, Manchester United were torn apart by Liverpool in a 7-0 thrashing at Anfield. The disastrous defeat left the Red Devils questioning their identity and the future of their beleaguered manager. From the outset, Liverpool dominated proceedings with a relentless intensity. The home side took the lead after just five minutes through Mohamed Salah’s slick finish. United were powerless to respond, and their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed time and again. Virgil van Dijk made it 2-0 with a towering header, before Salah scored his second of the night to pile on the agony. In a moment of individual brilliance, Sadio Mane slalomed past United’s disjointed backline to make it 4-0. The second half was no kinder to United. Salah completed his hat-trick with a clinical strike, while substitute Cody Gakpo added a sixth with a sumptuous volley. Roberto Firmino rounded off the scoring late on, adding insult to injury for the shell-shocked visitors. The result was United’s heaviest defeat since an 8-2 thrashing by Arsenal in 2011. The performance was an unmitigated disaster, leaving manager Erik ten Hag facing intense scrutiny. Questions will now be asked about the club’s recruitment strategy and the direction of the team. The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer has not had the desired impact, and the squad appears to be lacking in both quality and cohesion. For Liverpool, the win was a resounding statement of intent. They now sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while United languish in seventh place, their hopes of a top-four finish hanging in the balance. The calamitous collapse at Anfield has sent shockwaves through the footballing world. Manchester United must now regroup and find a way to recover from this humiliating setback. The future of the club is at stake.
