Rafael Benitez has set Liverpool the target of winning all their remaining nine games if they want to wrestle the Premier League title away from Manchester United. The Reds recorded their biggest win at Old Trafford since 1936 as they completed a 4-1 rout of Alex Ferguson’s men, who had Nemanja Vidic sent off near the end.

It cut United’s lead at the Premier League summit to four points, although they retain a game in hand. And while they remain hot favourites to land a third successive championship - and their 18th overall, Benitez can look at the run-in with fresh optimism.

“We have beaten Real Madrid and Manchester United in the same week,” observed the Liverpool boss. “If we can beat them, we can beat anybody.

“Realistically, we have to win all of our games. But part of winning the war is winning football matches.

“We have more belief and more confidence now. It will be difficult but we can do it.”

Liverpool’s win was more remarkable given Cristiano Ronaldo put the hosts in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Pepe Reina had sent Park Ji-sung tumbling.

But it was a rare moment of agony for the visitors, on an afternoon to forget for Vidic.

The Serbian has been a model of consistency this season but it was his double blunder five minutes after Ronaldo’s opener that gifted Fernando Torres his equaliser.

Steven Gerrard added a second, also from the spot, before half-time, the prelude to another moment of madness for Vidic, whose poor control left him no option other than to haul down the Liverpool skipper.

For the second time this season, Vidic was red-carded against Liverpool. He was still making his way down the tunnel when Fabio Aurelio curled home the visitors’ third, Andrea Dossena capping a fine performance in stoppage time after Gerrard had missed a gilt-edged opportunity of his own.

“Torres and Gerrard are obviously key players for us,” admitted Benitez. “When they are on the pitch the rest of the team has more confidence.”

After a memorable unbeaten run stretching back to the beginning of November, United must now go away and lick their wounds ahead of next week’s trip to Fulham.

Having scored four times without reply at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup last week, the visit itself should hold no fears.

However, Ferguson knows his team must get a victory to prevent Liverpool’s revival gathering momentum.

“There is no complacency on our part,” said Ferguson. “We have lost a game. We need to respond and that is what we will do.”

Ferguson is thought to have been unimpressed at the game being scheduled for a Saturday lunchtime when his team had been in Champions League combat on Wednesday night.

Liverpool’s extra preparation time may have been a factor, although Ferguson actually felt United were the better team.

“It is a hard one to take because I felt we were the better team,” he said. “That is not reflected in the scoreline and quite rightly, when you win 4-1 you get all the plaudits. I can’t deny that.”

The Scot does recognise the advantage his team still hold and it would take a seismic shift in fortunes for United to be denied with just 10 games to play.

“If the league started now and we had a four-point start I would take it,” he said.