Liverpool humiliate arch-rivals Man Utd 7-0
Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice as Liverpool shrugged off a season of frustration to thrash Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp's men set a new record margin of victory in the clash between English football's two most successful clubs. Just a second defeat in 23 games in all competitions realistically ends United's hopes of a first league title in a decade as they remain 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal in third. But there could even more lasting damage from the club's heaviest defeat since 1931. Liverpool closed to within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand on Spurs still to come. Klopp's side won the two league meetings between the teams by an aggregate score of 9-0 last season, but the tables had seemingly turned this season. A 2-1 win over the Reds in August gave Erik ten Hag his first win as United boss and they started the day 10 points clear of Liverpool. Liverpool have looked a shadow of the side that came close to an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last season. But either side of a 5-2 humiliation on home soil by Real Madrid, they have got back in the race for a place in the Champions League next season thanks to a run of 13 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League. Ten Hag told his players to embrace the hostile environment of Anfield, where United have not won since 2016. The visitors were forced to see off an early onslaught, but still arguably had the better chances of a fractious first half. Bruno Fernandes headed inches wide and Marcus Rashford should have continued his blistering goalscoring form when he fired tamely into the arms of Alisson. Casemiro also saw a goal ruled out for offside, but Liverpool finally produced a moment of quality in the final third to break the deadlock two minutes before the break. Andy Robertson sliced open the United defence to play in Gakpo, who cut inside and fired low into the far corner. Ten Hag's men were then blown away in the second period as Liverpool's new-look front three finally clicked. Nunez punished sloppy United defending as the Uruguayan stooped to head in Harvey Elliott's cross. Moments later, Gakpo scored his second with a delightful dink over David de Gea at the end of a lightning Liverpool counter-attack. It could have been even worse for United as Robertson and Ibrahima Konate saw efforts fly inches wide. But Salah got the goal his performance deserved as he crashed in Nunez's through ball off the underside of the bar. Nunez then headed in his second as he was left completely unmarked from Jordan Henderson's cross. Salah moved outright as Liverpool's all-time Premier League goalscorer with 129 with a simple tap in after more shambolic United defending. Roberto Firmino will move on to pastures new at the end of the season it was revealed this week. But the Brazilian came off the bench to have the final say as he slotted a remarkable seventh two minutes from time.  Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, Liverpool's local rivals Everton didn't have quite such a great day. Brennan Johnson struck twice to earn Nottingham Forest a vital 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers Everton in the battle for Premier League survival. Steve Cooper's side trailed to Demarai Gray's early penalty at the City Ground before Johnson popped up with the equaliser. Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton back in front, but Johnson rescued Forest when he netted again late in the second half. Forest are unbeaten in their last nine league home games and sit four points clear of the relegation zone. On a freezing afternoon by the banks of the River Trent, it was Everton who felt the icy chill of potential relegation wash over them. The Toffees sit third bottom, below Leeds on goal difference, as they fight to avoid playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954. Everton boss Sean Dyche has won just once in five games since starting his reign with a shock victory against Premier League leaders Arsenal. Dyche's side were thrashed 4-0 by Arsenal on Wednesday in a rematch that laid bare the brutal truth about his lowly club's perilous position. Everton kicked off as the lowest scorers in this season's Premier League and once again, they were without injured England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Despite Calvert-Lewin's absence, Everton took the lead after 10 minutes when Jonjo Shelvey tripped Dwight McNeil, conceding a penalty that Gray converted with ease for his first goal since January 3. It was only Everton's seventh away league goal this season but they couldn't hold the advantage for more than nine minutes. Morgan Gibbs-White's low strike was parried away by Jordan Pickford, but Johnson was perfectly placed to slot home from six yards. Everton responded impressively to that blow and captain Seamus Coleman appealed in vain for a penalty after Jack Colback's challenge sent the defender sprawling. Dyche's men regained the lead in the 29th minute when Doucoure headed past Forest keeper Keylor Navas from close-range after Everton won a series of aerial duels from Pickford's free-kick. Three of Everton's four goals under Dyche have come via a set-piece. They nearly notched one without the aid of Dyche's set-piece planning just before half-time when McNeil's dipping volley was tipped over by Navas. As the tension mounted in the second half, both teams resorted to some ferocious fouls that left referee John Brooks with no option but to issue a string of yellow cards. It was Forest who emerged from the maelstrom with their composure intact and they salvaged a point in the 77th minute. Ryan Yates' pass found Johnson on the edge of the area and the Wales forward advanced unhindered by the sluggish Everton defence before curling a fine finish into the top corner from 12 yards. Forest pushed hard for a winner and Pickford had to save well from Andre Ayew's low drive before Johnson fired just wide. (AFP)