The Reds produced a fantastic display to earn their biggest-ever victory against their arch-rivals and reaffirm their developing push for a top-four finish, with Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah each scoring twice, with Roberto Firmino adding a late seventh.
Jürgen Klopp’s team scored six goals in the second half after Gakpo broke the deadlock two minutes before halftime.
Soon after the restart, Nunez and Gakpo made it 3-0, with Salah scoring his first goal in the 66th minute and Nunez adding his second, before Salah surpassed Rob Fowler as the club’s record Premier League goalscorer.
And there was still time for Firmino to add a seventh goal to cap off an amazing day at Anfield.
The first ten minutes were virtually entirely played in United’s half, as the Reds flew out of the blocks, fueled by the excitement provided by the home fans.
But, clear-cut opportunities were few, with Salah looping an attempt wide before Lisandro Martinez intervened vitally as Nunez was destined to convert Robertson’s ball.
Casemiro’s headed goal was disallowed after he was many yards offside – but Liverpool took the lead shortly later via Gakpo.
By racing infield with the ball and bisecting United’s backline with a superb pass into the No.18, Robertson injected urgency into a carefully crafted play from the back.
Gakpo then cut inside and arced a superb shot into the far bottom corner to give his team the lead soon before halftime.
Klopp’s players came out of the break in good spirits, and their lead had grown to three by the 50-minute mark.
Fabinho’s textbook holding midfield play created the chance, with the No.3 tenaciously regaining possession before Harvey Elliott’s cross was headed home by Nunez.
Liverpool’s third goal was a work of art, a sweeping play from back to front with Gakpo engaged all the way. Salah befuddled Martinez before threading a weighted ball into Gakpo, who blasted a delightful dink over David de Gea from a close angle.
The hosts dominated, as Robertson and Ibrahima Konate both came close to scoring before Salah did so halfway through the period.
Liverpool were ruthless once again in getting the ball back and finishing, with Salah delivering the last touch with unerring power and precision, the Egyptian’s right-footed shot smashing in off the underside of the Kop-end crossbar.
There would be no letup as the Reds cruelly increased the scoreline.
Nunez’s deft header made it five, Salah scored a sixth before, like he did in 2020, removing his shirt in front of the Kop, and Firmino came off the bench to complete up an almost unbelievable scoreline.
Gakpo was one of three changes from Liverpool’s midweek triumph against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Andy Robertson and Jordan Henderson also coming in.
Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, and Stefan Bajcetic were substituted and named to the bench.
