The 30-year pain without a league title is something Liverpool has been trying to place a lid on. This season, it is certain the Reds will be relieved of this pain within weeks.
Mohamed Salah dabbed the Egyptian King, raced on to Alisson’s injury-time clearance. He held off the chasing Daniel James and rolled his finish beyond De Gea. The explosion of joy at Anfield in the closing seconds of victory over Man United sounded like the moment of release for Liverpool.
“We’re going to win the league” was the song hailed by fans in Anfield. Liverpool’s supporters have been holding back on the belief that the long wait is coming to end.
Jurgen Klopp understandably was not having it as he said, “They can sing that. They’ve sung that a couple of times in the past, I think. Everyone should celebrate apart from us.”
Liverpool holds a 16-point advantage at the top of the Premier League. However, the painful sub-plot for United after the victory is that it opened up a 30-point gap between the two old foes.
United rather was left clutching at the flimsiest of straws, talking of missed chances, effort and the fact they were not beaten out of sight.
Liverpool’s threat is all-consuming with even Alisson making his contribution to Salah’s goal.
Since the beginning of last season, full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has more Premier League assists than any other player. The corner he provided for Van Dijk headed opener marked his 21st assist.
Liverpool has been unstoppable this season. Their elation, on the other hand, was pain to United. The Red Devils fans will know how it feels because once power shifted in the early 1990s they were able to pay back some of the taunts they were subjected to in the 1970s and 80s.
Liverpool is now gathering momentum as United did under Sir Alex Ferguson when dominance switched to the other end of the East Lancs Road.