Gary Neville was sat in the press room deep within the bowels of Anfield when a Liverpool operative kindly offered him a teamsheet.
“No thanks,” came the reply. “I’ve already seen it, unfortunately.” Small wonder the trepidation from the former Manchester United defender, here working in his role for Sky Sports.
Sure, Neville was undoubtedly casting an eye over a visiting side that saw Phil Jones making only his second Premier League start in more than two years in a shock recall as part of a three-man central defence.
YOUR SHOUT: Rate the Liverpool players after 4-0 win over Manchester United at Anfield
PLAYER RATINGS: Thiago Alcantara perfect and five others superb against Manchester United
But his gaze was surely drawn to the Liverpool starting line-up. In each position, the Reds appeared to have the better players, from goalkeeper Alisson Becker all the way through to a front line of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.
The following 90 minutes underlined that fact in thrillingly emphatic fashion, the Jones experiment being aborted at half-time saying everything about how United were absolutely eviscerated by a Liverpool side swept along by the backing of a rocking Anfield crowd and the momentum gained from Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.
As at the weekend, the job was more or less done in the opening quarter, Diaz netting early on before Salah ended his goal drought by applying the finish touch to an outstandingly-worked team goal that culminated with a reverse pass from Mane. It's a strike that will be replayed for years to come.
Mane would later get a deserved goal second half, with Salah applying the finish touch late on with his second goal, a 30th of the season, the third time he has reached that figure in five campaigns. On the night, the front three could all claim an assist and at least one goal.
Klopp said last week he fully expected the Egyptian to find his goalscoring form sooner rather than later. And the timing of its return couldn’t be better as the Reds continue to chase down a quadruple.
United had never before conceded more than seven against the same opponent in a league season. After the 5-0 mauling at Old Trafford in October, Liverpool managed to plunder nine – all without reply.
The two cities may be separated only by the length of the East Lancs Road but the chasm between the sides at present is barely imaginable. United are poor, yes. But Liverpool were, for the most part, outstanding here, prompted by the peerless Thiago Alcantara.
United, though, aren’t Liverpool’s concern. They have much more important matters to hand, now two points clear at the summit as they landed the latest blow in the absorbing slugfest that is becoming the Premier League title battle.
And you can bet Pep Guardiola would have been watching. Over to you, City.
