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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

National media lay into Man United as brutal player ratings emerge from Liverpool defeat

As far as Liverpool v Manchester United contests go, Tuesday night's was as one-sided as you are ever likely to see - apart from the last time they met, perhaps.

Fresh off the back of an enthralling FA Cup semi-final victory against Manchester City, the Reds made light work of their bitter rivals, putting Ralf Rangnick's side to the sword in emphatic style. A brace for Mohamed Salah, supplemented by goals from Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane gave Jurgen Klopp's side a 4-0 victory to saviour.

We've taken a look at what the national media made of player performances across the board and found that while the Reds had some outstanding performers, United's stars have been thrown to the wolves...

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Smooth Thiago steals the show

Writing for the i newspaper, Oliver Young-Myles lavished praise on Liverpool's midfielder Thiago, who had arguably his finest outing in a Liverpool shirt against the Red Devils on Tuesday evening.

Giving the Spaniard 9 out of 10, he said: "Has been in supreme form of late and ran the show in the first-half. There can’t be many more watchable players when at the peak of their powers than Thiago. United’s midfield couldn’t get near him all evening. So smooth, so good."

Also enjoying a high score of 9 was double goalscorer Salah. Young Myles wrote: "Raced through to provide the cut-back for Diaz’s opener before ending a run of eight games without club or country with a typically unerring finish. Less involved in the second half but still helped himself to another goal with a cheeky dink over De Gea. Now five clear of Son in the Golden Boot race."

The i reporter was less complimentary of late substitute Naby Keita however, awarding him only 4 out of 10 following what he called: "An ugly and unnecessary challenge on (Jesse) Lingard."

Player ratings for United's starting XI were so low, that only their second half substitutes could muster any better than a 5. With Harry Maguire and Phil Jones both given sorry 3s, Victor Lindelof was described as: "The least terrible of United’s three centre-backs, not that that’s saying an awful lot," and given a 4.

Front three too hot to handle

Over at the Telegraph, journalist Ian Whittell, was also singing the praises of Thiago, giving him a 9 out of 10 and describing him as "running the show" and spraying around an "unbelievable range of telling passes". And there were solid 8s for all of Liverpool's attacking trio. Writing about Luis Diaz, the journalist said: "Devastating finish continued his fairytale start to life at Anfield. Also had an effort ruled out for offside and set up the third for Mane."

There were plenty of low marks to be found for United's players, but none more so than World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba who picked up a sorry 3. Whittell wrote: "Booed by his own fans on Saturday and lasted less than 10 minutes here before limping off and continuing his ignominious end to his United career."

Salah back to his best

The Daily Express was only too happy to dish out a load of 9s to Liverpool's players, with Thiago again and the front three all high-scoring. Writing about Salah, Stuart Ballard said: "Has come under criticism of late in part due to the very high standards he has set but was simply sublime against a sub-par United side. Back to his best in front of the Anfield faithful."

Ballard was equally full of praise for Sadio Mane. He wrote: "An unbelievable pass for Liverpool's second and a brilliant finish for Liverpool's third. Has stepped up for the big moments in recent weeks."

It was left to Ryan Taylor to dish out the scores for Man United and unsurprisingly they were in stark contrast to the Liverpool scores. Nemanja Matic suffered a 3 out of 10 with a damming assessment: "Looked unfit trying to keep chat with Liverpool," while Paul Pogba, who exited the game early on, fared no better. Taylor wrote: "Subbed due to injury after nine minutes, jeered by some sections of the Manchester United crowd."

'Woeful' United slammed by Manchester Evening News

If the player ratings awarded by the nationals made uncomfortable reading for the Red Devils, that was nothing compared to the assessment of Samuel Luckhurst for the Manchester Evening News. With not a single player in the starting XI scoring higher than a 3 out of 10, the Chief Manchester United writer did not hold back in an absolutely ruthless assessment.

Scoring Aaron Wan-Bissaka 2 out 10, Luckhurst wrote: "Recalled to the team in an attempt to shore up the defence but he was reliably wretched. One of United's worst signings post-Ferguson."

Worse was to come for captain Harry Maguire who was given a humiliating 1 out 10: "Had the gall to claim he was still deserving of his place. Quickly showed why it is the opposite by being lured into Liverpool's trap. Could have gone off ahead of Jones and then lost Sadio Mane for the third goal."

But if it looked like the assessments of United's players couldn't get any worse, readers of a sensitive disposition might want to read the MEN's verdict on Paul Pogba through their fingers. Scoring him ZERO out 10, it read: "Started hobbling after Liverpool scored in the fifth minute. Soon hobbled off. Should not have started and should never play for United again."

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