Liverpool vs Manchester United final score: Gulf in class as hosts walk to win

Luis Diaz, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah all had at least a goal and an assist in a 4-0 demolition of Manchester United at Anfield that sent Liverpool top of the Premier League.

Salah scored twice to claim honors on the day, but there wasn’t really a poor performer on the pitch for the Reds, and there wasn’t a lot for the Red Devils to celebrate on the other side.

[ MORE: Liverpool vs Man Utd player ratings ]

When this Liverpool’s feeling it and this Manchester United is not — which in both cases is often this season — it’s only going to go one way, and United did not have a shot attempt in the first half while managing 144 passes to their hosts’ 438.

Liverpool held nearly 3/4 possession over the course of a very one-sided affair. Man United was without Cristiano Ronaldo, who revealed the loss of his baby son on Monday, and fans of both sides recognized the Portuguese’s family in the 7th minute.

Liverpool goes atop the league with 76 points, two more than Man City who plays Brighton on Wednesday.

United stays sixth with 54 points, three back of Spurs and level on points with Arsenal. Tottenham has played one fewer match and Arsenal two fewer.

Liverpool 2, Manchester United 0

Scorers: Diaz (5′), Salah (22′, 85′), Mane (68′)

Shot attempts: Liverpool 14, Man United 2

Shots on goal: Liverpool 5, Man United 1

Possession: Liverpool 72, Man United 28

1. All systems go from Liverpool: We can talk about the abject display from United from selection through execution — the tactics were actually fine — but let’s start with a Liverpool team that’s gone through a brutal stretch of schedule and come out the other end firing on all cylinders.

The front three of Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah didn’t even need to hit top speed