Liverpool’s 5-0 Champions League thrashing of Atalanta left one of their old rivals, former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen, struggling to contain his excitement when he spoke to talkSPORT (4 November, 9.30am).
The experienced Dutchman might have spent a decade assisting Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, but even he was left saluting a thrilling performance from the club from a few miles down the M60.
Inspired by hat-trick hero Diogo Jota, Jurgen Klopp’s Red Arrows obliterated a team who came third in Serie A last season and came within seconds of setting up a European semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Sublime finishes from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane completed the rout as Liverpool left the beasts of Bergamo wounded on their own hallowed turf.
“Unbelievable,” Meulensteen exclaimed.
“I watched Liverpool and Jota was exceptional. All the goals were exceptional, every single one. It was pace, power, clinical, quality – fantastic to watch.”
While Manchester United’s 5-0 thumping of RB Leipzig last week felt like something of an exception during what has been a largely miserable campaign thus far, Liverpool are making a habit of destroying some of Europe’s finest teams on an annual basis.
And Meulensteen would be forgiven for pining for the days when it was United, rather than their red-clad neighbours, who were shining on the biggest stage of all each and every year.
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