Liverpool brought Manchester United crashing down to earth in a stunning 7-0 rout at Anfield on Sunday. Only a week after winning the League Cup, United experienced their heaviest defeat in the Premier League and the club’s joint worst loss in all competitions. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all struck twice and Roberto Firmino scored the other, with six of the goals coming in an explosive second-half performance. It also delivered a major blow to Erik ten Hag’s four-pronged pursuit of trophies, with a league title challenge now looking increasingly unlikely. Liverpool, meanwhile, took advantage of losses for top-four rivals Newcastle and Tottenham on Saturday to strengthen their bid to qualify for the Champions League. Salah became the Merseyside club’s all-time leading Premier League scorer with 129 goals. Liverpool may have endured a frustrating campaign so far as Jurgen Klopp’s side have struggled for consistency but Anfield was in raptures at the sight of fierce rival United being humbled on Merseyside. To add to that, the gap to fourth-place Tottenham is down to three points, with Liverpool still having a game in hand. While Liverpool eyed the top four, United knew anything other than a win would be a huge blow to its challenge for the title after Arsenal’s late 3-2 victory against Bournemouth on Saturday. History, however, was not on the visitors’ side, having failed to win at Anfield since 2016. United lost 4-0 in the same fixture last season. For all of United’s progress under Ten Hag, this was the latest test of his team’s nerve on the big occasion, having already seen losses at Manchester City and Arsenal this season. And seven days after the Dutch manager won his first trophy at United came this humiliating setback. Gakpo put Liverpool ahead in the 43rd minute when collecting Andrew Robertson’s pass. He immediately charged into the box, sidestepped Raphael Varane and then swept a shot past David de Gea and into the bottom corner. United’s players had been guilty of wasting chances of their own before that goal with Bruno Fernandes missing the target with a far post header and Marcus Rashford firing tamely at Alisson with only the goalkeeper to beat. If United fans expected a response after the break, they were instead left stunned by Liverpool’s explosive start to the second half. Nunez extended Liverpool’s lead when heading in Harvey Elliott’s cross after Luke Shaw failed to clear the ball. It was 3-0 in the 50th after Salah’s clever footwork beat Lisandro Martinez and he then clipped a pass for Gakpo to lift over De Gea. From there it went from bad to worse for Ten Hag as his team still tried to get back into the match. Liverpool ruthlessly exploited United’s ragged defence, with Salah making it 4-0 in the 66th and Nunez scoring again in the 75th. It was 6-0 when Salah scored in the 83rd and substitute Firmino stepped off the bench to score in the 88th. Liverpool’s seven goals came from just eight shots on target. Also read: Real Madrid routs Liverpool 5-2 in CL stunner at Anfield  

Less than two weeks after his great rival Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and likely signalled the end of his career in elite club soccer. In agreeing a contract until 2025, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has ended speculation about his future after having his contract terminated by Manchester United last month. “I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia,” Ronaldo said. Al Nassr described the deal as “history in the making,” however, it is likely to raise questions about Ronaldo’s ambition at this stage of his career. While Messi finally won the one major trophy that had evaded the two men widely regarded as the greatest players of their generation, after leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo will be playing outside of top level European soccer for the first time in his career. Media reports have claimed the 37-year-old Portugal international could earn up to $200 million a year from the move, but he will miss out on the chance to extend his record as the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with his record currently standing at 140 goals. Messi is on 129 goals in the competition. Ronaldo is also unlikely to add to his Ballon d’Or collection - the trophy awarded to the best player in the world. Meanwhile, Messi will be among the favourites to win that trophy for an eighth time next year after his World Cup triumph. He also has the chance to win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, having lifted European club soccer’s biggest prize on four occasions with Barcelona. Ronaldo won the Champions League five times during spells with United and Real Madrid. Six months ago Ronaldo wanted to join a team playing in the Champions League after United failed to qualify for this season’s competition. Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo bids adieu to the World Cup However, a move never materialized, with the most serious interest in him coming from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club. It is not known what other serious offers were made after he became a free agent last month, but the move to Al Nassr represents a significant step down compared to the level he has operated at throughout his career. Still it is a major coup for soccer in the Middle East and will add to the debate over Saudi Arabia’s attempts to use so-called “sportswashing” to improve its reputation internationally after its sovereign wealth fund led a buyout of Premier League club Newcastle United last year. “This is more than history in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves,” Al Nassr posted on social media. Ronaldo remains one of soccer’s biggest global icons, but the move comes at a time when he has faced questions over his ability to still produce his best form at the highest level. He managed just three goals for United in 16 games this season, with one of those coming from the penalty spot. He became the first male player to score in five World Cups with his penalty in Portugal’s 3-2 win against Ghana in Qatar, but ended the tournament having been dropped for his country’s last two games before going out to Morocco in the quarterfinals. By comparison Messi inspired Argentina’s third World Cup triumph, scoring seven goals, including two in the 4-2 penalty shootout win against France in the final after a 3-3 draw through extra time. Ronaldo and Messi have had their achievements compared throughout their careers. Messi’s World Cup win saw him emulate soccer greats Pele and Diego Maradona by lifting the sport’s biggest prize. Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over To many, it will also have given him the edge in his personal rivalry with Ronaldo. And at the age of 35, he still has time to further embellish his career in top level soccer. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has earned headlines in recent months for his antics away from the field. He was dropped and made to train away from United’s first team when refusing to come on as a substitute in a game against Tottenham in October. He then conducted an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and United’s owners the Glazer family. It led to the termination of his contract, his eventual move to Al Nassr and the next chapter of his career away from the glare of top flight European soccer.

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United with immediate effect. Where will he turn up next? The Portugal star has put himself on the market with his explosive pre-World Cup interview that led to the termination of his contract on Tuesday. As a free agent, the 37-year-old forward now has the chance to impress potential suitors and prove he can still perform on the highest level for his country in Qatar. His future may well depend on it after failing to secure a transfer to a Champions League club in the summer. Midway through the season, his options look even more limited if he is set on playing in the knockout stages of European club soccer’s top competition when he returns from the World Cup. The Champions League is now down to the last 16 teams, with only a tiny number of those able to come close to offering Ronaldo anything like the reported 500,000 pounds (594,000 dollars) a week salary he earned at United. And there has been little evidence that they would be interested in signing him. Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticized United manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners, made it clear he still believes he is one of the top soccer players on the planet. But where in the world will his career take him next? A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLUB There are only 16 to choose from if Ronaldo harbors ambitions of playing in the competition when it resumes in February. Then it is a question of who would could afford him. A dream scenario would be to have one last fling with a truly elite club. But perhaps his best chance of that would be as a short-term fix until the end of the season. Read more: Ronaldo begins fifth, probably final World Cup with match against Ghana Thursday Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup with injury and so has Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane. Perhaps Ronaldo would be an attractive emergency option if either of those clubs feared being left short in the second half of the campaign. A PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB   Chelsea considered a move in the summer, but that never materialized. Ronaldo would not appear to fit in with the long-term planning of new manager Graham Potter, who is already having to deal with one ageing striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Arsenal fan Piers Morgan is pushing for a move to his club, but the Premier League leader has invested in building a young team under manager Mikel Arteta and Ronaldo would be a departure from that. Could Saudi-backed Newcastle be tempted to make a first truly statement signing under its new ownership? A RETURN HOME To finish his career where it started at Sporting Lisbon would provide a romantic bookend for Ronaldo, while the Portuguese club could provide him with a route back to the Champions League next season. He would have to take a considerable pay cut if he were to take up this option. SAUDI ARABIA The only serious interest in Ronaldo in the summer came from Saudi Arabia. While a move there would likely present the most lucrative option for him, it would be a marked step down in terms of his remaining sporting ambition. Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over It would deny him the chance to further extend his record as the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, with 140 goals, and hand his great rival Lionel Messi, who has 129, the chance to overtake him. MLS Perhaps it is time to take his brand to the United States and become the biggest star ever to play in MLS. He could not hope to match his salary and he would have to accept his days playing in the Champions League are over. But for a man who has more than half a billion followers on Instagram this would be the chance to move to the biggest market in the world off the field - and a new adventure.

Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United “with immediate effect,” the Premier League club said Tuesday. The 37-year-old forward conducted an explosive interview on the eve of the World Cup, criticizing manager Erik ten Hag and the club's owners. Last week, United said it had “initiated appropriate steps” in response to Ronaldo's comments. Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo gambles on World Cup to restore reputation “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement. “The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future." Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of, if not the, most quintessential and opinion-dividing players in football history. From his apparent genius to his accentuating ego-driven antics off the field, it seems like Ronaldo has always been in the spotlight since the dawn of the internet. The Portuguese sensation has sparked a brand-new controversy while giving an interview with Piers Morgan, which raises concern about whether Ronaldo will ever return to Manchester United. What controversial remarks did Cristiano Ronaldo make in Piers Morgan’s Uncensored? Ronaldo, a truly sensational footballer and undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game. He has kept himself in great shape throughout his career, always moving forward with the purpose of being the absolute best. But in the race to stay ahead of the curve, maybe the Portuguese sensation has forgotten the basics of it all. Read More: Qatar Squad analysis for 2022 FIFA Football World Cup Cristiano made some contentious remarks towards the Manchester United hierarchy, how they run the club, and the former and present head coach during the interview with Piers Morgan that were unacceptable for the majority. Ronaldo’s concern over the club’s future There is no denying Cristiano Ronaldo’s love for the club. He raised questions about the way the Glazers run arguably the most popular football club in the world. “I love Man Utd, I love the fans, they’re always on my side. But if Manchester United want to do it different. They’ve to change many, many things. Here the progress has been ZERO since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. I want the best for Manchester Utd. This is why I come, but you have some things inside the club that don’t help reach the top level as Man City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal. Nothing changed since I left. The pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym, even some technology. Even the chefs who I appreciate, lovely people. I thought I would see new technology, infrastructure. I saw things I saw when I was 20." Those are some of the comments that have leaked from Cristiano Ronaldo's recent interview with Piers Morgan on his show, Piers Morgan Uncensored. Ronaldo has expressed his dissatisfaction with Manchester United's lack of progress through these statements. Although he is one of the highest-paid employees at the club, his disappointment with the lack of ambition at Manchester United can be justified. Read More: Messi or Ronaldo: Who has better chance at leading team to FIFA World Cup win? Cristiano's criticism towards former boss Ralf Rangnick Ronaldo’s criticism of Manchester United’s hierarchy can be defended, but his disparagement of former head coach Ralf Rangnick can’t be justified. "After Ole, they bring in sports directive Ralf Rangnick, which is something nobody understands. He is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United bringing in a sports directive surprised not only me but all the world. If you're not a even a coach, how can you be the boss of Manchester United? I'd never even heard of him," said Ronaldo in his interview, showcasing his dislike for current Austrian national team manager Ralf Rangnick. Keep in mind that Ralf Rangnick was appointed as interim manager due to his impressive record at German sides such as FC Schalke and RB Leipzig, with whom he is most synonymous. Although the appointment did not go as planned, Manchester United was praised at the time for hiring Rangnick, one of the modern game's pioneers. One of the fathers of the pressing game in German, he has directly influenced the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, Hansi Flick, and many more. Ralf Rangnick had more than enough pedigree to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjær, whose previous managerial experience included Molde in Norway and a relegation with Cardiff. Read More: Meet Laeeb: Mascot of 2022 FIFA World Cup Football Tournament in Qatar Ronaldo’s disrespect towards Erik ten Hag The statement of Ronaldo's that ruffled the most feathers was the one he made about his current boss, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag. Ronaldo said on the show, "I don't have respect for Erik ten Hag because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I will never have any for you”. Further referring to the Manchester United hierarchy he said, "Man United tried to force me out. Not only the manager, but also the other guys who are around the club. I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn’t want me at Manchester United, not only this year but last season too". It is apparent from Ronaldo’s remarks that his sentiment towards the people working at Manchester United is filled with animosity. Although understandable, it is by no means an acceptable or justified stance that Cristiano holds. Pundits all over the globe echo our view, as most, if not all, reputed personnel who are linked with the game have criticized the all-time great. Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Argentina’s confirmed squad How important is Ronaldo in Erik ten Hag’s system? It's easy to see why Ronaldo made such remarks during the show. Manchester United as a team no longer rely on him week in and week out, and he is no longer an important player at the club. Last season, he scored 18 goals in 27 league starts. This season, his numbers have plummeted. With a meager 4% conversion rate, he has only scored one goal in the Premier League in 525 minutes. Cristiano's two goals and two assists in the Europa League bring his total to five goals in 1055 minutes across all competitions. A poor record for any player, and one that, by the standards he has set for himself, is unacceptable for Ronaldo.With his massive drop-off, Erik Ten Hag has unsurprisingly opted for younger and better-performing players in his position, such as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, both of whom have performed better than the Portuguese this season. If you take his comments about being forced out of the club, let me take you back to the summer window, where Ronaldo expressed a keen desire for a transfer in order to play Champions League football. Something that did not happen because no club was interested in taking his huge wages, forcing CR7 to stay at Old Trafford. Read More: 5 players who can win the Golden Boot at Qatar World Cup Manchester United’s response to Ronaldo's criticism It is easy to understand that Ronaldo's subsequent lack of gametime is due to the greater good of the club rather than personal hostility or enmity. Something, Ronaldo hasn't taken in good faith as it seems. As the interview was conducted, Ronaldo was on apparent sick leave, and Manchester United found out about it while traveling home from their 2-1 win at Fulham. The club has subsequently released a statement, which said: "The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established. Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans." Read More: FIFA World Cup: 5 players who can win the Golden Ball in Qatar Way Forward It is clear that Ronaldo has done what he's done in order to get what is best for himself, not Manchester United. The issue about the lack of progress behind the scenes at United has been raised by other members of the football community as well, such as former manager Jose Mourinho, Ralf Rangnick, and former player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to name a few, but it has not been done in this way. Going out and trying to justify your disrespect for your manager is something no other footballer on the planet could do. Cristiano Ronaldo may think that he is bigger than the club at present, but everyone around the club would strongly disagree with that. It is sad to see the legacy that Cristiano Ronaldo will now leave behind at the stadium of dreams if he can manage to get away in January. The darling of Red Devils fans, the apple of Sir Alex Ferguson's eye—all of that is gone in 90 minutes with Piers Morgan, and Ronaldo may not even go back to Manchester United following the controversial interview.

Manchester United says it is trying to establish the full facts behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan. The Portugal great said he did not respect manager Erik ten Hag and that he felt “betrayed.” So far, only excerpts have been released and United says it will wait before deciding its next step. “Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo,” said the Premier League club. “The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established. “Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff and fans.” Ronaldo conducted the interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored and was critical of Ten Hag, who has left him out on a number of occasions this season. “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” he said. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.” Read more: Ronaldo's career at Manchester United may be over

Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive TV interview with Piers Morgan seems certain to end his Manchester United career. It is hard to see a way back for the 37-year-old forward, who said he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and feels “betrayed” by the club. The question now is whether Ronaldo can secure a transfer in January after failing to leave for a Champions League club before the start of the season. United was already planning for life without him before excerpts from his interview began circulating on Sunday night – but that process is likely to be speeded up after his latest public show of dissent. Ten Hag already had to censure him for leaving a pre-season friendly early – and cut him from his squad last month when he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham. Ronaldo displayed an element of contrition on social media later and held clear-the-air talks with Ten Hag before being welcomed back into the fold. But these fresh comments threaten to be a final strike in terms of the Portugal World Cup forward’s relationship with his manager. “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo told the Piers Morgan Uncensored TV show. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.” Ronaldo also claims there is an attempt to push him out of the club. That comes despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s own desire to leave earlier in the year. Ten Hag was reluctant to let him go in pre-season, not least because of a lack of viable replacements either within his squad or on the market. And that problem remains going into January, when United’s pursuit of a new center forward will be further complicated by the typically inflated prices during the midseason transfer window. United’s recruitment team would prefer to do their business at the end of the season – and Ten Hag was prepared to make Ronaldo part of his plans for the remainder of the campaign even after the incident against Tottenham. The feeling at United on Sunday night was that Ronaldo’s actions would not be allowed to detract from the positivity generated by Alejandro Garnacho’s late winner in the 2-1 victory at Fulham. Yet the opposite is true – and the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward’s off-field behaviour has too often been an unwelcome distraction during Ten Hag’s four months in charge. The timing of the interview also ensures it will hang over the club while the Premier League pauses for the World Cup. Morgan has refused to confirm when it was conducted, which only adds to the impression that it was a premeditated and stage-managed attempt to gain maximum impact. “The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established,” United said on Monday. “Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff and fans.” That statement, itself, suggest the club’s hierarchy was caught by surprise. The interview could also be interpreted as a message to potential suitors - and Ronaldo will have to hope more come forward than in pre-season. His reputed salary of around £500,000-a-week ($587,000) rules out the majority of clubs in Europe. If Ronaldo’s desire is still to play in the Champions League then the number of possible clubs shrinks further, with that competition now down to the last 16. Another problem is his unconvincing form this season – with just three goals in 18 appearances. A good World Cup could see interest in the veteran striker grow. In terms of a replacement, the picture is hardly any clearer for United than it was during the last window. Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko was a serious consideration, but he signed a pre-contract with RB Leipzig, while Darwin Nunez was another target before he joined Liverpool. So small was the pool of potential forwards that United even explored the possibility of signing veteran Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic, which sparked a furious response from fans. There is an acceptance among elite clubs that there are precious few emerging players of the profile of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. That was underlined by Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who both signed strikers in their 30s as they pursued top-class goalscorers earlier this year. Bayern signed 30-year-old Sadio Mane after selling 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Karim Benzema continues to lead Real Madrid’s attack. Ten Hag hopes Anthony Martial can overcome the fitness issues that have disrupted his United career and is trying to help Marcus Rashford develop into a prolific scorer. He may have to rely on that pair until the end of the season at the very least, with Ronaldo’s comments surely signalling an acrimonious end to his time at Old Trafford. Read more: Man United respond to Ronaldo's comments in Piers Morgan interview  

Cristiano Ronaldo has blasted Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag in an incendiary TV interview, saying he feels “betrayed” by the club and that senior figures have tried to force him out of Old Trafford. The interview is set to be broadcast this week on Britain's TalkTV but advance clips were released late Sunday — just hours after United's final game before the World Cup. Ronaldo was left out of the squad for the second match in a row after the club said he had an undisclosed illness, although the Portugal's star latest comments will increase speculation that he has played his final game for the club. Read more: Ronaldo back in contention for Manchester United When asked on the program “Piers Morgan Uncensored” whether United’s hierarchy was trying to force him out of the club, Ronaldo said: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.” When quizzed again if senior club executives were trying to oust him, the 37-year-old Portugal star said: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. “Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year, but last year too.” Read more: Forbes Highest-paid Footballers 2022: Mbappe overtakes Messi, Ronaldo United made no immediate comment. Ronaldo has been in and out of United's starting lineup this season and refused to come on as a substitute in last month’s win over Tottenham. That led to him being banished from the squad for the subsequent trip to Chelsea, although he then returned to the fold. Ronaldo inflamed the relationship with Ten Hag even further by saying: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never going have respect for you.” Read more: Ronaldo controversy overshadows United's victory over Spurs Ronaldo also claimed United had not progressed as a club since the departure of manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, and criticized the hiring of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired. “This guy is not even a coach," Ronaldo said of Rangnick. "A bigger club like Manchester United brings (a) sports director — surprised not only me but all the world, you know.

Cristiano Ronaldo is back in contention for Manchester United after talks with manager Erik ten Hag. The Portugal striker could play against FC Sheriff in the Europa League on Thursday after being cut from the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last weekend and being made to train away from the first-team squad. Ronaldo was punished for refusing to come on as a substitute in last week’s 2-0 win over Tottenham, which raised fresh doubts about his future at United. But Ten Hag said Wednesday that the issue has now been resolved after talking to the forward. “Cristiano will be in the squad tomorrow,” the Dutchman said at his pre-match news conference. “I think we said everything and we answered all the questions, he was out for one game and is back in the squad as usual. “It’s done, he’s back, focus on the game, that’s important that Cristiano is involved in the squad tomorrow.” Ronaldo has been an unwanted distraction during Ten Hag’s short reign at United after failing to secure a summer transfer to a team playing in the Champions League. Read: Ronaldo controversy overshadows United's victory over Spurs Ronaldo was criticized, along with other players, for leaving a pre-season game early — and his behavior against Spurs led to the one-game punishment. While Ten Hag has said Ronaldo remains in his plans, there are still doubts over whether he can play a key role in the team. United was unable to bring in a striker in the summer but, with Ronaldo out of contract at the end of the season, the club will need to fill the void if the 37-year-old Portugal international leaves. It has traditionally been difficult to bring in major signings during the January transfer window but Ten Hag said long-term planning was underway when asked if he had the funds to recruit in the new year. “In the background we always continue a process working on the squad,” he said. “So we want to have a top sport culture, and you see and examine how you can improve and that’s what we will do.”

Liverpool equaled the biggest win in English Premier League history after a 9-0 hammering of promoted Bournemouth on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp’s side started the campaign slowly, with surprise draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace compounded by Monday’s loss at rival Manchester United. But Liverpool's fearsome attack looked back to its best at Anfield as the team recorded its first league win and Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz both grabbed two goals. It's only the fifth time a team scored nine goals in the Premier League, with Man United (twice) and Leicester the only previous teams to win 9-0. Liverpool also won 9-0 over Crystal Palace in 1989, before the top-flight changed its name. “We scored some wonderful goals from all areas and didn’t stop,” Klopp said. “It was 5-0 at halftime. How often does it happen that a team take their foot off the gas? We just wanted to have a 100% satisfying experience we can use going from here.” Read:Mbappe scores in 8 seconds, ties French league record Firmino, starting in place of suspended summer signing Darwin Nunez, produced a stunning first-half display, which began with Diaz heading home his clipped cross within three minutes of the kickoff. Firmino then provided the assist for Harvey Elliott’s first league goal — a fizzing strike from distance that would have been goal of the day were it not for the Trent Alexander-Arnold stunner that followed. The Brazil forward set up that goal and celebrated one of his own soon after when turning in a deflected cross -- his first league goal at Anfield since December 2020. Virgil van Dijk powered home Liverpool’s fifth on the stroke of halftime, while the onslaught continued just after the break in the form of Chris Mepham’s own-goal. Firmino grabbed a second of the afternoon before leaving to a standing ovation. The goals did not stop there, though, as Fabio Carvalho scored his first for the club and Diaz grabbed his second.