Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool: Player ratings as Arne Slot ruthlessly wins first battle of Dutch tacticians

English football’s two most decorated clubs locked horns early into the Premier League season this afternoon.

Matchday three saw Manchester United entertain Liverpool at the Theatre of Dreams, with both clubs being led by a Dutch tactician.

Erik ten Hag is enjoying his third season as Red Devils boss, while Arne Slot succeeded the very popular and successful Jürgen Klopp at Anfield this summer.

The pair have previously squared off in the Eredivisie, most notably when they were in charge of Ajax and Feyenoord, respectively, perhaps the equivalent of today’s fixture.

Slot could not have asked for a better start, registering back-to-back league victories. The same cannot be said for Ten Hag, who saw his United team suffer a loss at Brighton last time out.

However, such clashes often suggest that form goes out the window, but not today, as Liverpool were resounding 3-0 winners. Luis Díaz became the first visiting player to score twice in the first half of a Premier League game at Old Trafford since Pascal Groß in August 2022, while Mohamed Salah netted in his seventh consecutive visit here.

As the dust begins to settle, here are the player ratings from Old Trafford:

Here’s how the players rated at Old Trafford:

Man Utd

André Onana – 5 – Perhaps his positioning could have been much better, although he was hardly at fault for both opening goals. Salah’s first-time effort that beat him, though, is another story.

Diogo Dalot – 5 – Had to battle Salah down United’s left flank, which often meant he seldom entered the opposition’s final third, but he did produce several vital interventions.

Lisandro Martínez – 5 – He couldn’t have done anything about Liverpool’s opener as it was a two-on-one situation. Martínez would then receive a yellow card for an infringement.

Matthijs de Ligt – 5 – Made his first start for Man Utd, where he is reunited with former Ajax boss Ten Hag, and there were promising signs despite the loss.

Noussair Mazraoui – 5.5 – Denied as United seek an immediate response after going behind. The ball broke back to him from Fernandes’s deflected cross. Alisson gets down well to save.

Kobbie Mainoo – 5 – Booked for persistent infringement after brightly beginning the game.

Casemiro – 4 – A dreadful first-time pass from him led to Liverpool’s opener. “Casemiro. For a player of such experience, the amount of times he gives the ball away in dangerous areas,” was Gary Neville’s response. He has looked sluggish in a game of this intensity, but that was hard to explain. He just telegraphed the pass and was punished. Another mistake from him resulted in the visitors doubling their lead.

Marcus Rashford – 4.5 – Started promising, but Manchester United’s one-time most valuable player slowly faded, and his influence became nonexistent.

Bruno Fernandes – 5 – As is often the case whenever Manchester United looks second best and off its game, Fernandes shrinks. The midfielder effectively played on the periphery.

Alejandro Garnacho – 5 – He’s been in good form recently, but Garnacho couldn’t add to his burgeoning goal or assist tally even though he saw plenty of the ball.

Joshua Zirkzee – 6 – Picked up the afternoon’s first yellow card from referee Anthony Taylor for a cynical pull of Salah’s shirt.

Substitutes:

Toby Collyer (for Casemiro 46) – 5 – He was excellent in pre-season for Man Utd, and likewise in the Community Shield defeat to Man City — but this is another level altogether for the 20-year-old, who is more of a stopper than a creative player, but tidy with the ball.

Harry Maguire (for De Ligt 69) – N/A – A late sub.

Amad Diallo (for Garnacho 69) – N/A – A late sub.

Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee 86) – N/A – A late sub.

Liverpool

Alisson – 7 – Had a quiet first half before being called into action to deny Zirkzee shortly after the break and then again from close range in the 63rd minute.

Andy Robertson – 6.5 – Dealt with the Garnacho threat but seldom marauded down Liverpool’s left flank as we are accustomed to.

Virgil van Dijk – 7.5 – He couldn’t have asked for a more serene 200th game in a Liverpool shirt. Van Dijk has now been on the winning side 140 times, the most wins any player has accumulated in his first 200 appearances for the club in the competition.

Ibrahima Konaté – 7 – Composed and commanding in the heart of Liverpool’s defence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.5 – Thought he put the Reds in front when he burst into Man Utd’s penalty area, but Mohamed Salah was adjudged to have been in an offside position following a lovely move.

Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5 – Enjoyed a fascinating tussle in midfield, particularly with Casemiro, who booted him on his follow-through from a clearance, which led to Mac Allister receiving treatment.

Ryan Gravenberch – 8 – Found himself a regular starter under Slot when he often sat on the fringes in his debut season under Klopp, and it’s incredible what confidence can instil in a player. Gravenberch, who came through at Ajax with Ten Hag in charge, expertly performed his box-to-box duties, including some lung-busting runs from deep.

Luis Díaz – 8.5 – He was in the right place at the right time to nod home Salah’s cross, only the second Liverpool player to score the opening goal in consecutive Premier League seasons at Old Trafford, before then doubling Liverpool’s lead with a neat finish. 

Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.5 – Didn’t need a second invitation to join Liverpool’s attack and was proactive in the box-to-box role he’s come to own, though Szoboszlai would be frustrated not to have found the back of the net when he tried to walk the ball in, much to Jamie Carragher’s derision. “What is he doing? That is ridiculous. It’s unprofessional.”

Mohamed Salah – 9 – He’s been directly involved in 18 goals against Manchester United in the Premier League (12 goals, six assists); the most of any player in the competition’s history. A goal and two assists today.

Diogo Jota – 7 – Utilised more as a centre-forward under Slot, he really proved to be helpful in Liverpool’s link-up play with those around him making clever forward runs.