Arne Slot reaction speaks volumes as Federico Chiesa message sent - 5 things seen in Liverpool win

OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER // Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored to send Liverpool en route to a famous victory against Manchester United. And as starts go for new managers, they don't come much better than this.

Trent Alexander-Arnold thought he had put Liverpool in front early on after good work from Ryan Gravenberch, who had left fellow Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt on the floor. After a Steven Gerrard-like celebration worthy of an opener at Old Trafford, though, the Liverpool number 66's goal was ruled out for a marginal Mohamed Salah offside immediately before.

It was Diaz who did net the opener. Whenever Manchester United tried to play through Casemiro in midfield, it looked in danger and that is where Gravenberch stole in to feed Salah. Diaz gave Dominik Szoboszlai a good shout as the ball was lofted into the back post and it went in from just a couple of yards.

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Casemiro, hooked at half-time, was at fault again when Alexis Mac Allister nicked if from him before the second. Once again it was Salah with the assist, with Diaz slotting into the opposite corner this time with his right foot, and the Egyptian clinically made it 3-0 early in the second half. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

Federico Chiesa gets first taste of England

Sat in the directors' box, new signing Federico Chiesa got his first taste of the Premier League , albeit from the sidelines. The Italian, signed this week from Juventus, took part in team training on Friday but it was always likely to be the case that he would miss out here, having last played competitively during the European Championship.

He could easily have played a part here but Liverpool is right to take the careful route with the 26-year-old. His time will come, though the attackers who were on the field in front of him were giving a pretty good reason to keep things as they are rather than freshen them up. The message was clear: this is the level. It will be up to Chiesa to match it.

Arne Slot as calm as ever... almost

When Luis Diaz was penalized for a small push in the back of Noussair Mazraoui, Arne Slot showed a rare split second of emotion on the touchline. The Colombian had given his man just a little bit too much of a nudge, but the Liverpool boss didn't agree.

When he followed up on why the decision had been given with the fourth official, Sam Barrott, a couple of minutes later, he certainly accepted it a little more willingly. That was as close as he came to a loss of composure.

Even when Diaz headed home the opening goal from close range, Slot simply turned around to his bench with fists clenched. It was only a slight uptick in celebration from previous games as he kept his cool but it was a demonstration of how big this result was.

It takes a lot for Slot to be moved and this was certainly a moment to savor. Inside, while he didn't completely show it, he will have been delighted. This could be the result that ignites his tenure but it speaks volumes that he was still so calm. The message from him is clear: he is quite simply all business.

Several step up to the plate

Gravenberch might be getting used to playing a new position for Liverpool at the moment but he was exceptional here. The Dutchman and Mac Allister dovetailed brilliantly in the center of the pitch and Szoboszlai was superb.

The Liverpool attack was clinical and the whole team was on the ball defensively. It was a dominant showing with no weak link, as the increasingly irate home fans inside Old Trafford made more and more vocal.

Ten Hag's at the wheel

The Liverpool fans in the away end went through the full rendition of songs and even found time for a twist on the "Ole's at the wheel" tune that was heard during the Solskjaer tenure. Erik ten Hag is in charge for now, but results like these won't help. His side was simply outplayed.

Earlier in the week, the Manchester United boss was talking up his time in Manchester, claiming to have been more successful in that period than Liverpool. This was proof that there remains a gulf. One side looked well-coached after a summer while the other barely looks as if it knew what to do.

End-to-end game highlights major Liverpool and Man Utd difference

With both sets of midfielders capable of squeezing out of tight corners either through dribbling or passing, the game had an end-to-end feel at times. But it was the attacking quality that told: Liverpool has more of that and went in front. And then when the Reds got in front, they stayed there.

There was a gulf in the speed of passing and pressing between the sides, with Liverpool sharper, faster and — this season — clinical. Jurgen Klopp's men took 87 shots on goal against Manchester United last year without winning. This time, they took the chances in the first half when they arrived and then sailed home.