Van Dijk hails Gakpo, Nunez and Salah after Liverpool destruction of Man United

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.

“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