Liverpool recorded their biggest-ever away win at Manchester United with a 5-0 demolition at Old Trafford on this day five years ago, Mohamed Salah scoring a hat-trick.
Naby Keita and Diogo Jota were also on the scoresheet as the Reds humbled their eternal rivals in front of their own supporters. The emphatic result piled pressure on then United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked four matches later following a 4-1 loss at Watford.
Michael Carrick, now United's manager, replaced Solskjaer on an interim basis back then. Carrick's current position looks precarious after his side's poor start to the season continued with a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como on Wednesday. Whether the 45-year-old remains in charge by the time United visit Anfield on November 22 remains to be seen.
A Historic Night in the Away End
The away end at Old Trafford on occasions when Liverpool beat Manchester United is a sight and sound to behold. United's matchday programme went big on the fact this was the Red Devils' 100th home meeting with Liverpool - 'This Is The One' its cover declared partly in homage to the Stone Roses tune they normally play ahead of kick off. Only 18 of those games over the last 126 years have resulted in an away win.
For generations of Liverpudlians who grew up during United's era of dominance, the infliction of a systematic 5-0 dismantling of the team who scarred many childhoods and early adulthoods is something they have waited a lifetime for.
There was a different and very real confidence evident in the 3,000 or so Liverpool fans in Old Trafford's away corner ahead of kick off this time. As the end of the 30-year wait for a league title finally came into view under Jurgen Klopp, many had wondered what it would feel like to finally be able to stroll into Old Trafford as champions.
Early Goals Set the Tone
That confidence lasted as long as it took the Reds, resplendent in debuting their new ecru away colours for the first time this season, to cut right through the heart of United with a sweeping move from back to front which ended with Salah playing in Keita to slot calmly home in front of a stunned Stretford End after only five minutes.
Less than 10 minutes later, Jota slid home the second from close range. Two-nil though is sometimes said to be the most dangerous scoreline in football, and all were aware only four days earlier the home side had recovered from an early two-goal deficit to win against Atalanta in the Champions League.
But when the irrepressible Salah fired home at the near post seven minutes before the break to score for the 10th consecutive game, any last remnants of unease within the away end were gone for good. Salah then fired home his second and Liverpool's fourth in stoppage time.
Salah's Hat-Trick Seals Historic Result
When Salah raced on to Jordan Henderson's sublime through ball to make it 5-0 right in front of the away end only five minutes into the second half, many Liverpudlians started seriously considering the prospect of double figures.
The disallowing of Cristiano Ronaldo's goal for offside a couple of minutes later was met with bigger celebrations than some actual goals. United were soon reduced to 10 men after Paul Pogba's shocking over-the-top tackle on Keita, which looked a red card even from the other corner of the ground.
Liverpool kind of 'declared' at this point, toying with United and keeping possession from their dishevelled and demoralised hosts. The travelling Kopites amused themselves by serenading the desolate figure of Solskjaer on the touchline, and Klopp wheeled out his triple fist-pump celebration normally reserved for big wins at Anfield.
Ultimately the shouts of 'we want 10!' went unheeded, but even at 5-0 this was still without question a result and performance of truly historic proportions, the Reds' biggest ever away win to Manchester United.
