Manchester City dashed the dreams of Salford’s former Manchester United star owners with an 8-0 FA Cup rout on Saturday, while Liverpool eased into the fourth round with a 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley.
Chelsea were also among the big winners, demolishing Morecambe 5-0.
Brentford were the only Premier League side to fall to lower-league opposition. Championship bottom club Plymouth stunned the Bees 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s late winner.
League Two Salford have climbed through the non-league ranks since investment began in 2014 from David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt.
Scholes, Butt, and director of football Giggs were in attendance at the Etihad but could not witness a moment to rival their best days as players at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola made wholesale changes, giving Erling Haaland a rest.
Jeremy Doku opened the scoring after just eight minutes before youngsters Divin Mubama and Nico O’Reilly extended the lead to 3-0 by half-time.
Jack Grealish scored his first City goal in over a year from the penalty spot, while Doku added another penalty.
However, it was James McAtee, who had only scored once for City previously, that stole the show with a 20-minute second-half hat-trick.
– Alexander-Arnold leads by example –
There was no hint of an upset at Anfield either, despite Arne Slot making eight changes for Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was named captain in Virgil van Dijk’s absence and led by example after facing criticism for his performance in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United.
Slot had warned that a trip to Anfield would feel like Accrington’s “Champions League final.”
Although Accrington, sitting 86 league positions behind Liverpool, held out for nearly half an hour, Diogo Jota opened the scoring with a tap-in from Darwin Nunez’s low cross.
Alexander-Arnold then doubled the lead with a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the box.
“I could talk for hours about that goal – unbelievable,” Slot said.
“The biggest compliment Trent could get was the reaction from everyone after the Manchester United game.
“Every player around the world, except for a few, has a bad game, but the moment Trent has one, everyone has an opinion about it.”
Jayden Danns made it 3-0 before Federico Chiesa netted his first Liverpool goal after enduring an injury-hit start to his time in England.
Joao Felix shone for Chelsea, taking a rare opportunity to deputise for Cole Palmer.
The Portuguese international and Tosin Adarabioyo both scored twice, while Christopher Nkunku redeemed an early penalty miss by netting his 13th goal of the season.
– Brentford stung –
Only Liverpool have taken more points at home than Brentford in the Premier League this season, while Plymouth had yet to win away from home all campaign.
Yet against all odds, Argyle, who sacked former England captain Wayne Rooney 12 days ago, held out and hit Thomas Frank’s side with a sucker punch when Whittaker blasted in from outside the area nine minutes from time.
“I’m proud of everybody, and I’m pleased for the supporters. It’s a big day for us,” said caretaker Plymouth boss Kevin Nancekivell.
“The FA Cup brings that romance, and we’ve written a little bit of history today by getting the win.”
High-flying Nottingham Forest continued their excellent season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Luton.
Brighton defeated Norwich 4-0 as Georginio Rutter struck twice.
Bournemouth overcame the loss of strikers Evanilson and Enes Unal to long-term injuries this week, roaring back from 1-0 down to hammer West Brom 5-1.
Leicester went one better by hitting QPR for six in an eight-goal thriller at the King Power.
Wolves’ bright start under new boss Vitor Pereira continued as early goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes secured a 2-1 win at Bristol City.
AFP