Substitute Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice to give Liverpool a fully deserved 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Anfield to go back to the top of the table.
The Reds ended a run of eight games without a run against their fierce rivals in a largely one-sided victory that saw Jurgen Klopp's side pull 19 points clear of Jose Mourinho's men in the Premier League.
Sadio Mane gave Liverpool a deserved lead after a frantic start to the game, but goalkeeper Alisson's huge clanger gifted Jesse Lingard a leveller that stunned Anfield into silence.
Klopp's side huffed and puffed in the second half but were largely reduced to shot from long range until Shaqiri's introduction bought an extra bit of quality.
The Swiss star put the hosts ahead just three minutes after coming on, before sealing the victory with his second ten minutes from time to ensure Liverpool went a point ahead of Manchester City at the Premier League summit.
It had looked before Shaqiri coming on that Mourinho would again frustrate Liverpool as United defended deep and in truth Liverpool could not cut them open with shots raining in from distance and corners mounting up but not ever really threatening.
Rarely did United try and get on the front foot and try and force the pace, only really having chances on the break but not forcing Alisson into any save of note.
The way Liverpool controlled the game, the midfield, and the desperate defending United were forced into will be a bigger worry than the result for supporters of the Red Devils.
Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd - Opta stats
- Liverpool are now 19 points ahead of Man Utd – their biggest ever lead over them after the first 17 games of an English top-flight season (based on relevant points for a win rules).
- Liverpool have recorded their biggest Premier League victory over Manchester United at Anfield since also winning 3-1 in March 2011.
- Manchester United have now conceded 29 goals in the Premier League this season; one more than they did in the entirety of the 2017/18 campaign (28).
- Manchester United have conceded 29 goals in their opening 17 Premier League games this season – the most goals they’ve conceded at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1962-63.
- Liverpool recorded 36 shots against Manchester United – the most the Red Devils have faced in a Premier League match since Opta started recording shot data in 2003-04.
- Manchester United have picked up 26 points after their first 17 Premier League games; their worst points haul in the top-flight at this stage since 1990-91 (26 points).
- Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho has tasted defeat at Anfield for the first time in the Premier League since January 2007.
- Xherdan Shaqiri has become just the second Liverpool player to score at least two goals in their first ever match against Manchester United for the Reds, and the first since Nigel Clough did so back in January 1994.
- Jesse Lingard's strike for Manchester United is the Red Devils' first Premier League goal at Anfield since Wayne Rooney netted the winner back in January 2016.
- Liverpool’s Alisson has made as many errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season as Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius combined in 2017-18 (2).
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