Salah and Liverpool make history with seven-goal rout of Manchester United

This was even worse than the horrors of the previous campaign mainly because they had made the short journey to Anfield on a high, having lost only once in 22 matches, collecting the Carabao Cup in the process. The 5-0 and 4-0 drubbings against Liverpool last term had come when the team were on their knees, almost expecting something terrible.

This is a different United, reshaped by Erik ten Hag. Yet there was the Kop deliriously demanding six, which they got, and then seven. Ditto. The craziest of occasions finished with them asking, almost implausibly, for eight. That did not happen but, by then, United were broken, their second-half dereliction complete, and Anfield was crowing raucously.

It appeared ridiculous to say but United were comfortable until the 43rd minute. It was then that the outstanding Cody Gakpo scored the opening goal. Ten Hag had wanted to sign the Netherlands forward in January only for the player to choose Anfield. Ten Hag, who ended up with Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley, did not want to be vindicated like this.