Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0
Superb goals from Steve Gerrard and Robbie Fowler gave 10-man Liverpool a 2-0 win over leaders Manchester United at Anfield today.
Gerrard scored after 15 minutes with a stunning 30-metre drive and Fowler blasted in a half-volley five minutes before the break as Liverpool did the double over the English champions for the first time in 22 years.
Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who scored the only goal when these two sides met last December, was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 68th minute.
United failed to get into their usual stride, despite an improvement in the second half when they had a goal disallowed, and the defeat could easilyhave been heavier.
However, the upset will not affect United's title hopes, as they are still 16 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, who face Tottenham Hotspur later today.
The win moved Liverpool up to provisional third place but still lagging 21 points behind United.
United struggled from the off and fell behind when Gerrard unleashed his piledriver from a central midfield position, giving United keeper Fabien Barthez no chance despite the distance. Patrik Berger very nearly made it 2-0 fiveminutes later, when shot just wide.
United survived another squeak on the half-hour when Murphy fed a defence-splitting pass for Emile Heskey, whose shot bobbled underneath Barthez before running wide of the post.
Liverpool also saw penalty appeals turned down after an apparent hand ball by Gary Neville.
But there was no mistake in the 40th minute, when Gerrard crossed from the right and Fowler had time to control the ball with his first touch before hammering it into the roof of the United net.
Heskey should have punished United's static defence again in the 44th minute after running on to a Gerrard through-ball, only for Barthez to tiphis near-post shot round for a corner.
There were fewer chances in a less frenetic second half, with Murphy blasting a free shot high over the bar in the 62nd minute.
Four minutes later Yorke tapped in a Phil Neville cross but was ruled offside.
Liverpool were reduced to 10 men after Murphy was given a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Republic of Ireland international Denis Irwin.
Although Liverpool then sat back to defend it did not stop Heskey coming close to adding a third on the break in the 80th minute. -Reuters