Virgil van Dijk hailed Liverpool's new-look attacking trio after Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah put Manchester United to the sword at the weekend.
Liverpool produced a stunning second-half display that saw them score six goals in a 7-0 demolition job at a bouncing Anfield with Salah also taking over as the club's record Premier League goalscorer.
With Roberto Firmino, the other scorer, set to leave at the end of the season, only Salah will remain from the famed front line – alongside Sadio Mane, who is now at Bayern Munich – that helped propel Jurgen Klopp's side to trophies galore, at home and abroad.
Nunez has scored 14 goals this season – after joining from Benfica last summer – while Gakpo has netted four times since arriving from PSV Eindhoven in January. Salah's double made it 22 for the campaign and meant he eclipsed Robbie Fowler’s club-record tally of 128 Premier League goals.
“Very clinical. I think a lot of the goals were world-class,” said Dutch defender Van Dijk. “The first one, the whole build-up was outstanding. Cody cutting in on to his right foot, a quality finish.
“Darwin is causing chaos all the time with his speed, his passion and also with quality. Mo showed why he is so important for this football club. He’s so influential with everything that’s been going on in a positive way over the years and hopefully, he can keep that going.
Liverpool 7 Man United 0: Player ratings
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LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson - 7. Calm and assured during a relatively even first half. A spectator in the second half as his outfield teammates ran riot at the other end of the pitch. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7. Took care of his defensive responsibilities and pushed forward in the second half as Liverpool pinned United back. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 8. Rock solid at the back, with the Frenchman producing several interceptions, blocks, and clearances in the first half. Konate could then enjoy the view in the second half. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk - 8. A vintage Van Dijk display as the Dutchman led the defensive line and kept United's attacks through the middle quiet. Getty -
Andrew Robertson - 9. A British media outlet asked its readers in the build-up to this match to select their combined XI. Bafflingly, Shaw was chosen ahead of Robertson. After this performance, the Scot offered another reminder that there really is no comparison. Ran United ragged down the left and provided a superb assist for Gakpo's opener. AFP -
Harvey Elliott - 8. A display beyond his years from the 19-year-old midfielder. Supplied the cross for Nunez's first - Liverpool's second - and helped dominate United in midfield in the second half. Getty -
Fabinho - 8. Apparently the Brazilian's legs are gone. There was little evidence to support that argument at Anfield as Fabinho controlled the midfield in the second half to allow his attacking teammates to fill their boots. PA -
Jordan Henderson - 8. A controlled performance from the Liverpool captain, who helped his side dominate in the second half. Supplied the cross for Nunez's second and Liverpool's fourth. EPA -
Mohamed Salah - 10. Two goals and two assists to become Liverpool's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer. It was Salah at his devastating best - as he so often is against United. Getty -
Cody Gakpo - 9. The Dutch forward hinted at the World Cup he was a player for the big occasion, and after a goal in the Merseyside derby, went one better on Sunday. Gakpo scored two stunning goals to play a key role in this historic rout. AFP -
Darwin Nunez - 9. The Uruguayan has been an easy target for mockery during his debut season but this should silence the haters. Nunez was lethal against United by scoring two excellent headers. He now has 14 goals in all competitions. EPA -
Stefan Bajcetic (Henderson 78') - N/A. The 18-year-old Spanish midfielder provided some fresh legs in midfield. EPA -
Diogo Jota (Nunez 78') - N/A. Given a brief run-out as the Portuguese forward continues to find his fitness following a long-term calf injury. EPA -
Roberto Firmino (Gakpo 79') - 8. The Brazilian is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but the club might be keen to convince him to stay after this brilliant cameo. Credited with the assist for Salah's second then scored Liverpool's seventh with a fine finish. EPA -
James Milner (Fabinho 79') - N/A. Brought his experience to the match for the final 11 minutes. Reuters -
Curtis Jones (Elliott 85') - N/A. AP -
MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: David De Gea – 2. Conceded seven goals at Anfield. Seven. He wasn’t at fault for Liverpool’s first shot on target – Gapko’s first goal. That’s about the best thing we can say about his performance. AFP -
Diogo Dalot – 2. Magnificent cross to Fernandes on 25 and headed a Shaw free-kick on target after 32 as United built pressure. Didn’t stop Robertson’s in run up to Liverpool’s goal. Got worse and worse in the second half. AFP -
Raphael Varane – 2. A doubt before the game like Shaw, but Fabinho’s arm in his face let him know what this game means. Slow as he let Gapko get onto his favoured foot to shoot and put Liverpool ahead. Couldn’t clear his lines for the second and what was he doing for sixth? Or was it the seventh? AFP -
Lisandro Martinez – 2. Headed a 21st minute Robertson shot clear and blocked Nunez a minute later. Then his arm blocked the dangerous Salah. Fell apart like his team. Booked. AFP -
Luke Shaw – 2. Impressive again down the left in the first half. Deliberately slowed the game down at the start – it appeared to be an instruction from his manager. Superb pass to Rashford on 26. Poor pass which let Liverpool in for the second. Lost his head in the second half, like the rest of United. An embarrassment of an afternoon. Getty -
Casemiro – 2. Appeared to be in pain early on and he gave the ball away a couple of times. His worst game for United. Went too early - his 41st minute header into the net was offside. PA -
Fred – 2. Strong against Salah but positioning all wrong for Liverpool’s opener. Then then it all turned as United collapsed and Liverpool recorded their biggest ever win against United. Getty -
Antony – 2. Played left in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Curled a shot on target on nine minutes, drew strong tackles, looked a danger. Poor final ball. Regressed like the rest in his first game for United at Anfield. PA -
Bruno Fernandes – 1. Headed a Dalot cross wide on 25. He was attacking on 49 – the ball was lost, Liverpool countered and scored the third. Gave ball away again too much in the second, then went down claiming he’d been hit on the face. He hadn’t. Appalling in the second half, the worst of a bad bunch. AFP -
Wout Weghorst – 2. Played as a 10, gave ball away in a 24th minute attack. It didn’t work, while Liverpool’s attackers showed what top quality looked like. Getty -
Marcus Rashford – 2. Played centrally and beat Van Dijk for pace in the first half. Didn’t get the best touch to a fine Shaw ball on 27 – a solid chance. Ran back and defended well when his side were a man down. Hit the outside of the post at 0-4, the closest United came to scoring. PA -
SUBS: Scott McTominay (Fred 57’) – 2. Booked for a tackle on Gapko. He won the ball but then lifted his studs. Shot deflected off him for Liverpool’s fourth. PA -
Alejandro Garnacho (Weghorst 57’) – 2. Nothing. Let’s hope he never wants to feel this humiliation again. AFP -
Marcel Sabitzer (Casemiro 57’) – 2. Couldn’t stem the relentless attacks. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia (Martinez 77’) – N/A. What could he do? Soak the atmosphere up? AFP
“For him to be the all-time Premier League top scorer for Liverpool is something no one should take for granted. He definitely shouldn’t and I won’t. He should not just brush it off because it’s something special.”
And Van Dijk is of no doubt who has been the main help to Gakpo adapt to the "false nine" role since his arrival on Merseyside. “It’s a very difficult position to play, but he learns from one of the best each and every day with Bobby Firmino,” Van Dijk added.
“I think that position of a false nine is Bobby Firmino’s. He’s the one that showed over the years how difficult it is for any other player to perform it, and also how hard it is for others to defend it.
“The winter isn’t an easy time to come to a club but Cody is settling in very well. He has to keep going, keep the confidence, keep the belief. I think he will be fine for this club. He’s a fantastic player.”
At the other end of the pitch, Van Dijk was also pleased that the team kept a fifth successive clean sheet in the Premier League that has helped lift the Merseysiders up to fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
“I think especially the last three games gave me personally a very good feeling, the way we committed to defending and enjoying that clean sheet. Even when you are 4-0, 5-0 up, I think that’s the message to make sure that you don’t concede and stay focused. That was very good,” he said.
“We shouldn’t just brush this off like it’s any other day. We won 7-0 after the difficult season that we’ve had. You should be able to stand still and enjoy that a little bit, but on Monday it will be gone.
“We should not take these results for granted but there are many more games to play in order to get what we want – in this case that's Champions League football and that's what we focus on.”
