The pressure could not have been higher at Anfield. Every news channel, programme and article previewing and reporting on the match repeated Liverpool's bad run of four consecutive defeats, their worst since 1987. If they would have lost again today it would have been their worst record since 1953.
They would have most certainly been out of the title race. But another much discussed question has been what would come next. Would Rafael Benitez keep his job, who could and would replace him and which players would follow them in and out?
Questions, questions, questions - all ringing the Liverpool crises bell, not even mentioning the unrest behind the scenes. The American owners have been fueling speculation with their search for new outside investment and moving seats away from each other during the half time break did not exactly calm the tension.
In contrast to their rivals, Manchester United have been enjoying a run of eleven games unbeaten in all competitions, sitting top of the table in the Premier League and their Champions League group. Wayne Rooney returned up front for them joining Dimitar Berbatov, whilst Steven Gerrard had to sit out the match for Liverpool due to injury, Fernando Torres returning and starting alone up front.
Liverpool started tight defensively and pushed forward with clear intentions, they were not going to sit back and be pounced on. They produced most chances in the first half with Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio all trying their best to press through and provide Torres.
Pepe Reina had hardly anything to do on the other side of the pitch, whilst Edwin Van der Sar was kept busy and made some brilliant saves. Aurelio came closest with a free kick from outside the box, Kuyt seeing his shot off the rebound blocked by his fellow-Dutchman.Kuyt looked clumsy at times, wasting chances and possession on more than one occasion. The backline showed no such leaks with a much more solid display, putting their bodies on the line to make sure United could not and would not break through. Jamie Carragher was lucky not to have conceded a penalty after he brought down Michael Carrick with just the faintest hint of contact on the ball.
The second half started similar, Liverpool pushing on, Nemanja Vidic looking very insecure and clumsy against Torres. Just past the hour mark, Liverpool took the lead, deservedly so, with a tremendous break and cross by Benayoun, finding Torres who beat Rio Ferdinand and Van der Sar, from the right with his right, to smack it into the top of the top.
More lethal and physical tackles and bookings followed, Alex Ferguson bringing on Michael Owen to change United's fortune, for him to receive a hostile welcome from the Kop. Torres was replaced by David Ngog and applauded and cheered off the pitch, with ten nervous and tense minutes to go.
Antonio Valencia hit the crossbar for United moments after Carragher had blocked his former team mate Owen, the closest United got to score in the whole match. Liverpool's stand-in skipper was cautioned moments later after it looked like he was the last man when he brought down Owen and lucky not to be sent off for it.
More controversy followed when Vidic saw his second yellow card of the afternoon for bringing down Kuyt. He had a poor match, looking insecure and unable to cope with Torres, in contrast to Carragher on the other end, who kept possession and control. Both shared their moments of crime and controversy, the one getting caught out one time too many.Mascherano was caught out daftly when he busted into Van der Sar and followed Vidic into the stands on his second yellow with just minutes remaining.
But Liverpool added salt onto United's wounds in the last seconds of the match, when a free Ngog calmly converted a Kuyt cross from another counter-attack break to make it 2-0, three points and three Premier League wins in a row for Liverpool against their arch-rivals.
United were poor, even with Rooney and Berbatov up front. Liverpool were brilliantly tight, physical and challenging from the back to the front. The Scousers created more and made Ferdinand and Vidic look like mediocre defenders who had too much on their plates to deal with.
It was a change of fortune to see Liverpool back on their feet and fighting, showing up their critics, skeptics and opponents and proving that no team is unbeatable.
Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun (Skrtel 92), Kuyt, Aurelio; Torres (Ngog 81). Bookings Mascherano 73, Carragher 87. Red Mascherano 95. Subs not used Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Spearing, Degen.
Man Utd Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Nani 74), Giggs; Berbatov (Owen 74) Rooney. Bookings Evra 15, Berbatov 37, Vidic 75. Red Vidic 90. Subs not used Foster, Neville, Anderson, Da Silva, Evans.
1st half stats
Liverpool-Man Utd
Attempts: 7-1
On target: 3-1
Offsides: 0-3
Corners: 3-0
Free kicks: 6-6
2nd half stats
Liverpool-Man Utd
Attempts: 5-5
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 1-1
Free kicks: 4-12
Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Fernando Torres
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