3 Things We Learned From Manchester United’s Clash With Liverpool

Old Trafford was the stage for the latest Northwest Derby between Manchester United and Liverpool, but it was a night to forget for the Red Devils. Arne Slot’s men put in a dominant display, cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory and leaving United with more questions than answers.

Luiz Diaz bagged a brace, and Mohamed Salah added another, turning the Theatre of Dreams into a Theatre of Nightmares for the United supporters. It was a sobering experience for everyone associated with the Red Devils, while Liverpool celebrated a historic win on enemy turf. So, what went so wrong for United, and what did Liverpool get right? Let’s dive into three key takeaways from Sunday’s Northwest Derby. 

1) Time to question Erik Ten Hag’s tactics

Erik Ten Hag took over as Manchester United's manager in the summer of 2022, but his reign has been a rollercoaster ride of inconsistency. Despite the club's substantial investment—boasting the highest net spend in the Premier League over the past two seasons—United have struggled to re-establish themselves as a dominant force in English football. The one silver lining for Ten Hag has been the two cup trophies he secured—a Carabao Cup in 2023 and an FA Cup in 2024—which have offered some respite amid the ups and downs. 

As the 2024/25 season kicked off, there was a sense of optimism among fans that United would finally find their rhythm and deliver consistently strong performances. Unfortunately, the start has been far from ideal, leaving many to wonder if the Red Devils can truly turn the corner under Ten Hag’s leadership. The Dutchman is now in his third season as the United boss, but he’s still yet to establish a distinctive identity for the team. For too long, the Red Devils have relied on moments of individual brilliance to get by. It’s time for Ten Hag to develop a consistent playing style that works no matter who’s on the pitch, and finally bring the kind of cohesion and direction fans have been craving. 

2) Liverpool must keep hold of Mo Salah 

Arne Slot’s start to life as Liverpool’s head coach has seriously been impressive, as they put Manchester United to the sword at Old Trafford. Now, they have three wins from three games, with 7 goals scored and zero goals conceded. This form comes in stark contrast to many fans’ expectations, who felt that the squad would need time to transition after 9 years with Jurgen Klopp. However, that has not been the case. The Reds have hit the ground running, and ever-reliant Mo Salah is the engine propelling this Liverpool side. 

In just three Premier League games, Mo Salah has already registered 3 goals and 3 assists. His goal on Sunday was particularly significant, as it marked his 10th goal in 9 appearances at Old Trafford, tying him with Alan Shearer’s record for most goals scored at an away stadium since the Premier League's inception in 1992-93. Shearer had set the bar with 10 goals at Elland Road. The Egyptian king literally owns Old Trafford.  

Despite his stellar form, Mo Salah’s contract with Liverpool ends after this season. This means that the 2024/25 season could be Egyptian King’s last season as a Red. Furthermore, Salah himself admitted that there have been no talks of a contract extension in a post-match interview. He said, “I don't want to think about it -- I feel I'm free to play football and we'll see what happens next year. Nobody in the club has talked to me yet about contracts, so OK I'll play my last season and we'll see at the end of the season. It's not up to me." It’s a no brainer to hand Salah a contract extension, especially in this form. Let’s just hope that both Salah and the Liverpool hierarchy can come to an agreement. 

3) The game was won and lost in the midfield 

While the Liverpool forwards like Mo Salah and Luiz Diaz received most of the plaudits for the Reds’ remarkable 3-0 win at Old Trafford, it was the industry and work-rate of Liverpool’s midfield which laid down the gauntlet. Liverpool’s midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szobaszlai covered every blade of grass and did the dirty work. They made United’s midfield, which consisted of the likes of Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, look pedestrian. 

Ryan Gravenberch, in particular, has delivered impressive performances in Liverpool’s first three games. And on Sunday, he was right up there with the best performers. His line-breaking and ball-carrying made it very hard for United to effectively press. The Dutchman played an instrumental role in Trent’s disallowed goal, as he carried the ball more than 25 yards to break open United’s defense. Another midfielder who impressed on Sunday was Szobaszlai.  

The Hungarian popped up in dangerous half-spaces on a regular basis, creating havoc in United’s defensive structure. It was his positional intelligence which created numerous opportunities for Liverpool. He even registered an assist, as he squared of the ball to Mo Salah for Liverpool’s third. Arne Slot has found the perfect blend of tenacity, destructiveness, guile and creativity in his midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szobaszlai. The only question is – can they maintain this level of consistency throughout the season?