Abysmal United 'six years' adrift of title challenge

Liverpool was back atop the Premier League on Tuesday night－somewhere Manchester United is far from reaching.

To know why there is such a deficit in quality now between English soccer's most successful clubs, just look at how Liverpool's forwards tormented United in Tuesday's 4-0 thrashing at Anfield.

It wasn't just Mo Salah scoring twice, following a hat-trick in the 5-0 rout in the reverse fixture.

Salah also assisted Luis Diaz's opener. Salah's first was set up by Sadio Mane. And Mane's goal was provided by Diaz's pass.

All before Salah compounded another night of misery for United with a chipped finish for his second provided by Diaz's replacement－Diogo Jota.

"They make our life easier in the midfield and at the back," Salah said. "They always try to give us the ball in a one-against-one situation so it makes our life much easier."

A glorious night for Liverpool ended with four fist-pumps by manager Jurgen Klopp in front of the Kop. For the four goals? And maybe for the four trophies the season could yet end with.

The League Cup has already been collected and there's an FA Cup final meeting with Chelsea next month. Before then there's a Champions League semifinal clash with Villarreal. And there is the hope Manchester City does not regain first spot in the Premier League, although the champion had the chance to restore its one-point lead against Brighton on Wednesday.

Regaining the Premier League trophy from City in the remaining six games would see Liverpool match United on a record 20 English titles.

"It is embarrassing, it is disappointing, maybe even humiliating," United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said.

"We have to accept they are six years ahead of us now. When Jurgen Klopp came they changed at the club and lifted not just the team but the club and city to a new level.

"That is what needs to happen with us in the next transfer windows."

United is struggling to secure one of the four Champions League qualification places, let alone win its first title since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

"Liverpool is fighting for the title," United midfielder Bruno Fernandes said. "We are fighting for nothing."

The 80-year-old Ferguson was in the stands but would have been regretting making the trip across northwest England to watch United being torn apart after only five minutes.

United's five-man defense－featuring Phil Jones in his second league appearance of the season－was unpicked by a sweeping break launched from inside Liverpool's penalty area.

By the time the ball reached the halfway line, Mane had Salah running forward to release a pass to. Then Diaz arrived unmarked centrally to strike beyond goalkeeper David de Gea.

"That was not part of the game plan to be that high up and to try to press high up and concede a transitional moment," Rangnick said. "Our left side was completely open."

Ronaldo solidarity

All the animosity that exists between these rivals was put aside when the clock hit seven minutes and solidarity was shown with Cristiano Ronaldo following the death of his new-born son.

A chant of "Viva Ronaldo" was started by the United fans. Their Liverpool counterparts launched a rendition of their anthem－"You'll Never Walk Alone"－and applause to back United's No 7 who missed the game to grieve with his family and surviving newborn twin.

"That is exactly how football should be－all rivalry aside in this moment," Klopp said.

"There is only one thing that is important and it was really a show of class."

United has not indicated when the grieving Ronaldo will return to playing.

"It's the worst that can happen," Rangnick said. "We are behind him. We are all with him. We wish him and his family that they are strong together."

Ronaldo thanked the doctors and nurses for their care in a message on Monday night.

"Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness," he wrote on social media.

Ronaldo's absence was not the reason for United's struggles.

It was another sublime move that led to Liverpool's second. Receiving a pass from Joel Matip, Mane lofted the ball to Salah, who had time to take it past Diego Dalot before slotting low into the net in the 22nd minute.

Perhaps the only surprise at halftime was United limited the damage to 2-0.

There was more of a visiting threat after the break, sparked by Jadon Sancho as the replacement for Jones. But the formation change by Rangnick, the interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's firing in November, could not stir a comeback.

Any home anxiety was eased once Mane netted in the 68th. Andrew Robertson gained possession and ran with the ball unchallenged before feeding Diaz to cut back to Mane to finish.

It got worse for United.

Hannibal Mejbri replaced Anthony Elanga and within a minute had gifted possession to Liverpool. Robertson pounced and fed Jota whose pass to Salah allowed the Egypt forward to make it nine goals in six games against United, via a deflection off visiting defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

"It was a top performance from us here and away also," Salah said. "Hopefully carry on like this."

Agencies