Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield in perhaps the most epic Premier League drubbing of them all
Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah each scored two goals in an extraordinary performance by Jurgen Klopp's side before Roberto Firmino added the seventh as United capitulated amid scenes of wild jubilation among the home support
Erik ten Hag's side had come into the game on an 11-game unbeaten run and fresh from ending their six-year trophy drought but were completely overwhelmed, conceding six second-half goals amid a raucous atmosphere on a never-to-be-forgotten afternoon for Liverpool fans
United did have chances in the first half with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford spurning good openings but two goals in quick succession early in the second half led to a thrashing as United caved in
 It is Liverpool resurgent, hopes of a top-four finish revitalised
They move above Newcastle into fifth, now just three points behind Tottenham with a game in hand
 United's seven-year wait for a win at Anfield goes on, their slim hopes of muscling their way into the Premier League title race undermined by this astonishing defeat
Nobody could have predicted this beforehand, or even at half-time, but Liverpool did begin with real intensity, pushing hard for the opener with Salah to the fore and Andy Robertson raiding down the left but clear-cut chances for the home side took some time to come
Lisandro Martinez's elbow on Salah, unspotted by the officials, added to the early sense of frustration among the home support and United actually had the better chances while the game was goalless
 Fernandes headed wide
 Rashford finished tamely
When Casemiro's header was ruled out for a clear offside, momentum seemed to be with the visitors having ridden the storm and the luck, but Gakpo's intervention changed that
 Slipped in by Robertson, he cut inside to finish fiercely into the far corner
 Anfield erupted
Ahead by one at the interval, the game still felt in the balance, but that changed soon after
 Luke Shaw's loose pass eventually led to Harvey Elliott standing up a cross for Nunez to head in from close range
 It was a big moment for the much-criticised Uruguayan
Salah was the architect of the third goal, making Martinez look foolish on the flank before threading a pass through for Gakpo to finish neatly once more
 Liverpool were in the mood, confidence flowing through the team, the intensity that had appeared lost now restored
Salah grabbed a goal of his own to make it four and he did so on the counter-attack after the ball deflected his way following Nunez's breakaway, the Egyptian lashing the ball high into David De Gea's net
 United were in shock
 Liverpool just hungry for more
The fifth came when Nunez scored his second header of the game, leaving the field soon after alongside Gakpo, both men receiving rapturous receptions from the crowd
 The chaos did not stop, however
 Salah tapping in after more hapless United defending to become Liverpool's record Premier League goalscorer
All that remained was for Firmino to have his moment
 News that he would be leaving the club in the summer had emerged this week and the Brazilian received a huge welcome, making it extra special by scoring the seventh on one of the great Anfield nights
Ten Hag had punished his players by taking them on a gruelling run after losing 4-0 to Brentford earlier in the season
 Asked if he already had something similar planned following this debacle, the Dutchman was keen to highlight the differences
"I think it's a huge difference because at Brentford we were 4-0 down at half-time
 Today, we were the better team in the first half
 In the first half, we created the better chances, we had two one-on-ones with the goalkeeper, they didn't
"We made one mistake and conceded a goal, we were in the game, so it was a surprise for that after half-time we gave the game away so quickly
"We made bad decisions on the ball, how we anticipate, how we conceded the second goal was annoying
 The third is a counter, so unprofessional, not following in, not tracking back, especially on that one, not tracking back
 At 3-0, that is the game lost
"You have to stick together, that is what we didn't do
 That surprised me
 I have not seen that from my team
 I don't think it's us
 I don't think it's Manchester United
"Asked what he was thinking watching his team crumble, Ten Hag added: "I analyse the performance of my team, how is their approach, how is ther character, their mentality, how they deal with setbacks, I look at their body language
"They did not cope with it
 They did not fulfil their jobs
""It was spectacular," Klopp told 
"Even the start of the game was super lively, super front-foot, exactly what we needed
 We played top football against a team in form
 United have played a super season, we're not happy with ours but that doesn't mean anything for the game
"We were the better side
 It's an important three points
"There are 13 games to go, lots of points to go for
 Tonight, was perfect
"Everyone has to feel us and know we're still around
 It wasn't the case for a while
 We showed tonight what we could be, what we can be and what we have to be from now on
 We don't talk about the scoreline, we just talk about the performance
"It's incredibly special - I don't know the last time a crazy score happened like this
 It's one for the history books not for the moment
 We take all the positives apart from the scoreline - that's a bit of a freak
""Mo Salah, tonight, achieved something really special
 We should not forget that just because we are used to him scoring goals," said Klopp afterwards
That was a reference to him breaking the record for most Premier League goals scored by a Liverpool player
 Though it was special, Salah himself had quiet celebration plans
"It's very special, I can't lie," Salah told 
 "This record was in my mind since I came here
 After my first season I was always chasing the record
"To get it today against United with that result is unbelievable
 I'm going home to celebrate with the family, Chamomile tea and sleep
" travel to  in the Premier League next Saturday at 12