Liverpool vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Reds go top of the table

Liverpool opened up a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League after inflicting a second, excruciating humiliation of the season on Manchester United.

Mohamed Salah’s first two goals since February 19 – making it nine in his last six matches against Liverpool’s historical rivals – were supplemented by strikes from Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane but the 4-0 scoreline hardly told the whole story.

It puts the pressure on Manchester City, who host Brighton on Wednesday.

This was the first time since October 2009 Liverpool had won three successive league matches against United, beaten 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season, but at least in those days it was a competitive fixture worthy of England’s two most decorated clubs.

United, who had one shot on target, have now conceded more Premier League goals this season than 18th-placed Burnley and defeat was a further blow to their top-four hopes.

A match that was so predictable, and yet the reality of it was utterly astounding.

So much for a tense title run-in game. So much for a challenge for a Champions League place. So much for any sense of Manchester United pride at stopping Liverpool from matching their 20 titles or incredibly improving on their treble.

The fact that these are the two most successful sides in English football was reduced to mere historical quirk, as if United were a bygone force from the past, as Liverpool instead inflicted them to their worst aggregate score of the entire Premier League era.

Even worse, this 4-0, which followed on from October’s 5-0 to make it 9-0, only got so high because Liverpool just decided to get back into the mood. The truth was a contest between these two sides again looked as good as over by the fifth minute.

It was just left to Liverpool to try things, to see what they could do, to add to the goals.

Manchester United have now conceded more Premier League goals against Liverpool than against any other opponent in the competition.

Mohamed Salah is the first player in Premier League history to score 5 goals against Manchester United in a single season.

90+3 mins: That’s the final whistle. Liverpool are ending the day on top of the Premier League table as they go ahead of Manchester City who face Brighton tomorrow. The pressure is now on Pep Guardiola’s men to respond.

Manchester United had a top four finish in their sights but were blown away by Liverpool and face another uphill battle to make it into the Champions League spots.

90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play at Anfield. Hannibal gives away a free kick for a late tackle on Naby Keita and gets everyone riled up.

88 mins: Liverpool scored five goals at Old Trafford earlier in the season and another four at Anfield tonight. They’ve battered Manchester United in both games this season.

85 mins: Glorious from Liverpool. Hannibal is caught on the ball and it comes loose to Diogo Jota. He turns and sprints towards the box as Mo Salah darts inside from the right. He sneaks into the area, meets Jota’s through ball and chips it over David De Gea to put the icing on the cake for Liverpool.

83 mins: Youngster Hannibal Mejbri gets a run out for Manchester United as he comes on for the last few minutes. Anthony Elanga is the man taken off.

80 mins: Thiago Alcantara gets a loud round of applause and a big hug off Jurgen Klopp as he is subbed off the pitch in favour of Naby Keita. Liverpool know this game is done and are just running down the clock until they go back to the top of the table.

10 minutes to play at Anfield.