Rafael Benitez might end up having the last laugh after all as
his Liverpool side hauled themselves back into the title fight with
a decisive 4-1 hammering of 10-man Manchester United at Old
Trafford.
The Merseyside giants battled back from a goal down to defeat
the Premier League leaders in clinical fashion, Fernando Torres and
Steven Gerrard turning the match on its head before the break, with
Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena easing Liverpool well clear before
the end.
In contrast, it was an day to forget for Nemanja Vidic, who
gifted Torres the equaliser before being sent off against Liverpool
for second time this season as Benitez's side reduced United's lead
at the top to four points, albeit having played a game more.
It represented Liverpool's biggest win at United since 1936 and
could yet trigger an amazing championship revival.
Liverpool were the ones who needed the win and there appeared an
extra sharpness about them from the start, especially Torres who
gave the Red Devils defence a torrid time.
Once Jamie Carragher had recovered his composure after being
unsettled by a late switch to right-back because of Alvaro
Arbeloa's late withdrawal, they had the edge in vital areas, the
hosts no better than their nervy first-half display against Inter
Milan in midweek.
Indeed, it was a surprise when United went ahead.
Pepe Reina read Carlos Tevez's through ball for Park Ji-sung
well enough but came out too quickly for his own good. When the
South Korean nicked the ball away, the Liverpool keeper could not
stop.
And though Reina pleaded for leniency, referee Alan Wiley
correctly pointed to the spot.
Ronaldo is not the type of player to waste such opportunities
and duly dispatched his 17th goal of the season.
Had Sir Alex Ferguson's men been able to hold their advantage
for a decent length of time, the visitors might have panicked. But
five minutes later Liverpool were level thanks to a rare mistake
from Nemanja Vidic.
The Serbian has been virtually foot perfect this season, so much
so that he is favourite to win the PFA player of the year
award.
But first Vidic let Martin Skrtel's long punt forward bounce
when he could have headed it back into the Liverpool half quite
easily. Then, he failed to deal with the loose ball, allowing
Torres to nip in and streak clear, beating Edwin van der Sar with
clinical efficiency.
Conceding one goal was amazing enough for the Red Devils, yet
before half-time Liverpool had scored again.
Hull were the last team to score more than once against United
in Premier League combat - and that was four-and-a-half months
ago.
But when Torres tried to send Gerrard racing into the box and
Patrice Evra mis-timed his tackle, the Liverpool skipper found he
converted his penalty with the same confidence Ronaldo had shown
earlier.
Gerrard's glee was obvious. And Liverpool's lead was fully
deserved, condemning Ferguson to his first interval rallying call
in league combat at Old Trafford all season.
The Scot injected a greater sense of urgency into his team, even
if there was no improvement in their retention of the ball.
Carrick in particular was having a pretty bad day, twice putting
his side in danger with wayward passes.
United at least managed to generate some momentum, with Tevez
almost getting on the end of a Wayne Rooney knock-back and then
rolling a shot on the turn just wide.
Having expressed his `hatred' of Liverpool earlier in the week,
the last thing Rooney wanted was to suffer an immediate defeat and
a chance for Gerrard - a long-time friend - to gloat.
Yet as time ticked by, that was the fate Rooney was condemned
to, especially as Ferguson waited until less than 20 minutes
remained before he made the introductions of Dimitar Berbatov, Paul
Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
It is the kind of strength Benitez does not have and one of the
major reasons why Liverpool have found themselves on the wrong end
of a 14-point swing in fortunes since United returned from their
Club World Cup campaign in Japan just before Christmas.
What Liverpool have managed to do this season is beat Chelsea
and United, against both of whom they have now registered
'doubles'.
Any hope United had, evaporated within a minute of Ferguson's
spectacular triple substitution as another woeful first touch,
again from Vidic, left the Serbian little alternative other than to
haul down Gerrard.
For the second successive game against Liverpool, it brought
Vidic a red card and he was still making his way down the tunnel
when Aurelio curled home a superb free-kick.
And Liverpool were not finished as Andrea Dossena lobbed Van der
Sar to complete a memorable win, whose significance remains
unknown.