In a plot twist funnier than a Premier League own goal, Liverpool’s die-hard supporters have turned into the ultimate frenemies overnight. After witnessing Mohamed Salah’s absolute trainwreck of a performance in Sunday’s brutal 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester United at Anfield – a match that snapped the Reds’ unbeaten home streak like a twig – fans across the Merseyside divide are losing their minds. Bryan Mbeumo, the Cameroon speed demon who now calls Old Trafford home, didn’t just score the opener after a mere 61 seconds; he danced through Liverpool’s defense like it was a Sunday kickabout, leaving Salah looking like he’d forgotten how to kick a ball. Now, with social media erupting in memes and mockery, the Kop faithful are hilariously begging to “borrow” Mbeumo back – evoking that iconic Spider-Man pointing scene where three identical web-slingers stare each other down in bewildered jealousy. Is this the end of Salah’s aura? Or just another chapter in football’s savage sibling rivalry? Buckle up, because this transfer tug-of-war is pure chaos gold.

Picture the scene at Anfield on October 20, 2025: 54,000 Reds roaring as the whistle blows, only for their dreams to shatter faster than Harry Maguire’s header that sealed United’s first win there since 2016. Mbeumo, fresh off his £71 million summer switch from Brentford to Manchester United, collects a pinpoint pass from Amad Diallo and slots it past Giorgi Mamardashvili with the coolness of a man who’s already bagged six goals this season. It’s not just a goal; it’s a statement. The 25-year-old terrorizes Liverpool’s backline all afternoon, his heatmaps looking like a rave in the final third – 4 key passes, 3 dribbles completed, and constant overlaps that leave Trent Alexander-Arnold chasing shadows. By full time, United’s 2-1 triumph feels like poetic justice, with Maguire’s late nod turning the stadium into a ghost town.

But the real star? Salah’s epic meltdown. The Egyptian King, once untouchable with his 200+ Premier League goals, turned in a “disasterclass” for the ages. Zero shots on target. Missed a gaping chance from six yards that even Sunday league strikers would blush at. And defensively? He might as well have been holidaying in the Maldives – leaving Kerkez exposed and allowing Mbeumo free rein down the right. Post-match stats paint a grim picture: Salah’s touches in the opposition box? A measly 2. Dribbles attempted? 1, completed? 0. Expected goals (xG) created? Laughably low at 0.12. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) didn’t hold back: “Salah played like he was auditioning for a retirement home testimonial,” one quipped. Another: “Mo’s form is dipping faster than Bitcoin in a bear market.” It’s a far cry from his golden days under Klopp, where he’d weave magic weekly. Now, at 33, with contract whispers and Saudi sirens calling, this derby flop has Anfield questioning everything.

Enter the meme frenzy that’s got the football world in hysterics. Hours after the final whistle, X lights up with that legendary Spider-Man meme: three panels of Spidey pointing accusingly at his doppelgangers, captioned “Liverpool fans after Mbeumo’s masterclass: ‘We need him!’” But twist – the third Spider-Man is labeled “United fans laughing.” It’s everywhere. One viral post from @moonrocx racked up thousands of likes: “Liverpool fans really tried to take Mbeumo off us after watching that Salah disasterclass today 😭 Seeing Mbeumo getting carried by the Liverpool fans reminded us of that one Spider-Man scene…” Attached? A photoshopped gem of Mbeumo in red, with Salah photobombed in the background looking eternally confused. Echoes poured in: @divaUTD_ chimed, “Salah was so bad, that Liverpool fans wanted to steal Bryan Mbeumo 😭😭” And @Bilal_of_lagos nailed it: “mbeumo so good Liverpool fans wanted to keep him and give us salah 😂😂😂”

It’s not just banter; it’s a full-blown identity crisis for Liverpool supporters. Mbeumo, who Liverpool scouted heavily last year as a “post-Salah” blueprint – left-footed, versatile, and lethal on counters – suddenly embodies everything the Reds crave. At Brentford, he was a goal machine (9 strikes in 2024-25), but in United’s system under Ruben Amorim, he’s levitated: 7 goals, 5 assists already, partnering with Diallo like a cheat code. “He’s the upgrade we should’ve signed,” lamented one Kopite on a fan forum. “Salah’s forcing it, hunting the ball like it’s his last supper. Mbeumo just glides and scores.” The irony? United fans spent years mocking Liverpool’s “overrated” stars, only to hand them a reality check via their own ex-target. Hashtags like #MbeumoForLFC and #SalahWho trended globally, with over 150,000 mentions by Monday evening. Even neutral pundits piled on: Sky Sports’ Gary Neville (yes, him) tweeted, “Mbeumo just exposed the Salah myth. One bad day? Nah, that’s a trend.”

Zoom out, and this clash is a microcosm of the 2025-26 season’s madness. Liverpool, under Arne Slot, sit third after eight games, but cracks are showing. Salah’s dip – down 30% in key metrics from last year – coincides with a squad in flux: Darwin Nunez’s wasteful finishing, Szoboszlai’s inconsistency, and a defense leaking like a sieve. United, meanwhile, are flying at sixth, buoyed by Mbeumo’s arrival and Amorim’s high-press revolution. That opener? A 61-second gut-punch from a quick throw-in and Diallo’s vision, with Mbeumo finishing like prime Ronaldo. Maguire’s winner? A set-piece special that had Klopp-era ghosts howling. Post-match, Slot’s presser was a masterclass in deflection: “Mo’s human. He’ll bounce back.” But fans aren’t buying it. Petitions for “Mbeumo Watch” – a cheeky transfer rumor mill – have popped up, joking about a January swap: Salah for Mbeumo plus cash.

The Spider-Man meme’s genius lies in its mirror: Liverpool fans pointing at their own desperation, United reveling in the schadenfreude, and neutrals cackling at the absurdity. It’s football’s dark humor at peak – three sides accusing each other of the same folly. One edited version circulating? Mbeumo as the central Spider-Man, flanked by crying Kopites and smug United ultras. “We pointed at him first!” the left panel screams. “He’s ours now!” retorts the right. The comments? A warzone of emojis and one-liners. “This is what happens when your king forgets his crown,” one United die-hard roasted. Liverpool’s retort? “One game doesn’t make a season. Mo’s got 300 goals; Mbeumo’s got memes.”

Yet, beneath the laughs, there’s a poignant edge. Salah’s legacy is etched in Anfield lore – the drought-breaker, the Champions League hero. But age waits for no man, and Mbeumo represents the future: young, hungry, unscarred. Liverpool’s hierarchy knows it; whispers of Saudi bids resurfaced post-derby, with Al-Hilal reportedly tabling £150 million. Slot’s tinkering – benching Salah deeper, pairing him with Wirtz – aims to spark revival, but the derby damage lingers. United? Mbeumo’s not just carried; he’s the carrier, his post-match interview humble: “Scoring at Anfield? Dream come true. But it’s team stuff.” Diallo hugged him like a brother, whispering, “You’re the real deal.”

As the week unfolds, the meme’s echo chamber grows. Pubs in Liverpool buzz with half-joking bids: “We’ll trade Nunez straight up!” United’s end? Pint-lifting chants of “Mbeumo’s too good for you!” It’s the beautiful game’s glue – rivalry forged in fire, healed (temporarily) by shared absurdity. Will Salah silence the doubters against Villa next? Or will Mbeumo’s shadow loom larger? One thing’s certain: that Spider-Man scene has redefined this derby forever. Football fans, assemble – the pointing game’s just begun.