ReactionMo Salah: It's a great victory - but we have to carry on this way
The Reds No.11 set up each of Luis Diaz’s first-half goals in the Premier League showdown at Old Trafford, and then added his team’s third himself with a typically assured finish after the break.
The result made it three consecutive wins, and three clean sheets in a row, for Arne Slot at the outset of his first season as head coach.
“It’s a great result,” Salah told Sky Sports post-match. “Everybody knows a derby is very important for the city and for the fans, also the manager in his first game for him here.
“We’re so happy for the result and we need to just carry on.
“If you want to fight for the league, you have to win each game. And that’s a big game so I’m glad we managed to win it.”
Salah has either scored or assisted six of Liverpool’s seven goals so far this season, and his latest strike at Old Trafford took his tally against United specifically to 15 – comfortably the highest figure for the club.
“I managed to be involved in three [goals] so I’m happy about that,” continued the Egypt international.
“The manager likes us to press high and they made a couple of mistakes and we managed to use them. Yeah, it [pressing high] was part of the plan.
“At half-time I’d managed to get two assists and I was just like, ‘It’s my time to score!’ I wanted to score, I love to score, this is something I really love to do. As much as I score and the team are winning, that’s the most important thing.”
Asked to analyse the tweaks in playing style being implemented by Slot, he said: “It’s not a big difference because with Jürgen [Klopp] first for a few years we were always like this, we tried to win the ball as high as possible. Then with the time we managed to change our system and the way that we play.
“It’s quite similar like seven years ago. The manager has his own system and we all try to adapt to that.
“Before, we had Jürgen for seven years so you kind of get into the comfort zone somehow. He was always trying to push us outside our comfort zone but when you are with a manager for seven years, somehow you get into a comfort zone.
“But the new manager has come with his style and he just wants everybody to adapt. He had a few meetings with the senior group and told [us], ‘You need to set an example for the younger players and you need to work hard.’
“I think we’re following his system well and hopefully we carry on like that.”
Round-upInternationals: Jones scores on England debut, Kelleher saves crucial penalty
AuctionBid now: Win your favourite Liverpool player's match-worn shirts
TicketsBook now: Away tickets and coach travel for Manchester United v Liverpool in WSL
Play nowQuiz: Liverpool's season so far - can you get 10/10?
ColumnMatt Beard: We have to play the game and not the occasion at Everton