MW3 (9.1.24)

Liverpool 3

Manchester United Nil

MUFC Goals: None

Defeat at Old Trafford.#MUFC || #MUNLIV

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 1, 2024

LAS VEGAS — Luis Diaz had a brace and Mo Salah added a goal powering Liverpool to a 3-Nil comprehensive dismissal of classic rival Manchester United Sunday at Old Trafford.

THE POSITIVES

Full disclosure, there aren’t many. LIV humbled MUN there. But I did think two players were into the game more than the others:

• Amad: seemed like he was the only one getting any touches in the opponent’s box.

Amad has already had more touches in Liverpool’s box (5) than any other Manchester United player.

Some much-needed quality from wide areas. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/BkHnpITfAu

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 1, 2024

Mazraoui: Before LIV mechanically separated United, Mazraoui was having himself a match.

Noussair Mazraoui won 3/3 tackles in the opening 25 minutes vs. Liverpool, more than any other player on the pitch.

Busy. 🛑 pic.twitter.com/aXd4JQLztu

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 1, 2024

THE NEGATIVES

• Erik ten Hag: The manager was humbled by his LIV counterpart. Arne Slot made him look very bad. It should be becoming clear to the objective mind that other Premier League managers are not impressed or threatened by ten Hag’s tactics.

How did Liverpool win the tactical battle against Man United en route to a 3-0 win?

Robbie Mustoe dives into Arne Slot's new team shape—and how it led to a big result. pic.twitter.com/bmx1enmvRS

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 1, 2024

• Casemiro: I’ll just be nice and say that wasn’t his best match.

Casemiro’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:

73% pass accuracy
40% ground duels won
20% long pass accuracy
13 x possession lost
2 x dribbled past
1 error leading to goal
0 chances created
0 fouls won
0 shots

🫥🫥🫥 pic.twitter.com/AchFbvCXIk

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 1, 2024

• No Goals: Very simply, this Manchester United team doesn’t score any goals. In my opinion, the club will rue the day it decided against signing Ivan Toney. Clearly the transfer window wasn’t all that it seemed for MUFC.
• The state of LFC: It’s vividly clear LFC is much further ahead in its project than MUFC is in theirs.

"There's no identity. We know that."

Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe and Tim Howard weigh in following another lackluster showing by Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/WkPlJ4URFN

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 1, 2024

FINAL TAKE

Big big yikes. That’s was bad. LFC was on a different, greater level than MUFC. The Red Devils have an alarming goal-scoring issue. Clearly the summer transfer window was not as good as the British media would like you to believe. The manager and the club besmirched themselves today.

Arne Slot is the first Liverpool manager to win his first league match against Man Utd since Bob Paisley in 1975 & the first since George Kay in 1936 to win his first game at Old Trafford.

A dream start for the new gaffer. 👔 pic.twitter.com/qjuuI88s8c

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 1, 2024

REFERENCES

• X
• CBS Sports App
• NBC Sports Soccer
• Peacock

Creator’s Note: The purveyor of Darkseid Sports has no affiliation, whatsoever, with any of the above entities, either in written form or depicted in corresponding images. The author of this writing is a passionate and very serious Manchester United and Premier League fan.