Even Liverpool didn’t see 7-0 coming – this time, Man Utd have zero confidence

Gary Neville was overconfident. At Anfield. He really should have known better.

But that was the mood among many Manchester United fans when they arrived at the home of their bitterest rivals last March. What unfolded was a horror show for them and a dream for Liverpool’s supporters.

Seven goals. With no response. It was sensational and surreal in equal measure for Jurgen Klopp ’s men. Erik ten Hag’s side looked to have been on the road back to the top just a week on from lifting the Carabao Cup.

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Neville was bursting with optimism. He couldn’t fathom Graeme Souness’ belief that the hosts would win. Even Roy Keane seemed surprised with the former Liverpool midfielder’s confidence.

In truth, nobody could predict what was about to happen. For 45 minutes, it looked like what Liverpool and United games of the past used to often be. Tight and tetchy with chances limited.

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It was forgotten in the madness afterwards, but United played well in the first half of an even game up until the interval. Marcus Rashford squandered a great chance. Moments swing games. But this was a seismic shift sparked by Cody Gakpo’s opener not long before the break.

There was still an expectation that United could turn it around. Neville had spoken before the game about the character of certain players. They’d shown mental fortitude to come from behind to beat Barcelona just 10 days before.

It felt like a United side which has turned that many corners they go round in circles, had finally mapped out their route back to the glory days. Then they crashed. Boy, did they crash. Crumble, cracked or however you want to describe a complete collapse.

Anfield had not expected an in-form United to come and thrash them like how the away fans will feel on Sunday heading to Merseyside. They’re too proud in these parts to think like that. They also know they’ve taken down many a great Sir Alex Ferguson side when they were flying at their highest.

But the iconic ground had been slightly quiet in the first half in comparison to previous meetings between English football’s greatest clubs. The noise in the second half was off the scale though. It wasn’t quite that night against Barcelona in 2019, but it wasn’t far off.

When the fifth and sixth goals went in, the United fans who had shown more bottle than their players to see it out were serenaded with Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’.

The Scouse wit was almost in as full a flow as the Liverpool attackers on the pitch who continued to humble the visitors.

The away end continued to empty as the seventh went in and, from our seat in the press box in the middle of the main stand, you could see the delight among the home crowd. Some were even jokingly rubbing their eyes as if they couldn’t believe what they were watching.

It was a bad season for the Reds with their midfield in need of a rebuild but it delivered one of their most memorable games. Now it is United heading to Anfield looking like they need an overhaul and low on confidence.

Neville’s mood will certainly be different, that's for sure.

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