TheCable

Mohamed Salah scored three times as Liverpool demolished hapless arch-rival Manchester United 5-0 in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Egyptian forward delivered the hat-trick as Liverpool scored four first-half goals to consign Manchester United to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were dominant from start, with Naby Keita finding the bottom corner in the fifth minute while Diogo Jota slide Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross into an open net for 2-0 before Salah took control of the narrative.

The Egyptian striker scored in his 10th consecutive match with a shot into the roof of the net to become the first Liverpool player in history to score in three games in a row at Old Trafford.

The former Chelsea winger then converted at the near post deep into first-half added time for 4-0 at halftime.

The third arrived four minutes into the second half as he latched on to Jordan Henderson’s sublime pass before hitting the back of the net to complete the first league hat-trick at Old Trafford since 1992.

It was a day nothing went Man United’s way as Cristiano Ronaldo, who was anonymous in the encounter, saw his goal disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) while Paul Pogba, a halftime substitute, was sent off on the hour for a dangerous tackle on Keita.

Edison Cavani also spurned a gilt-edged chance, hitting the bar from two yards out.

The defeat sees Man United drop to seventh on the table while Liverpool move to second on 22 points, a point behind Chelsea, the league leader.

RESULTS

• Brentford 1-2 Leicester City
• West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspurs
• Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool