The Reds crush 4 against MU

Liverpool played themselves back into Premier League contention with a resounding 4-1 win at Old Trafford in Saturday's early game. Although Manchester United remain four points clear with a game in hand and superior goal difference, they are now under slightly more pressure in one of the three remaining competitions they are seeking to win.

Empics Vidic: The Serbian capped a bad day with a red card.


United shaded a relatively open quarter and took the lead on 23 minutes. Carlos Tevez threaded a pass through to Ji-Sung Park, deep into the Liverpool penalty area, and Park's touch took him beyond goalkeeper Jose Reina, although away from goal. Committed to the tackle, Reina brought Park down and was beaten to his right from Cristiano Ronaldo's subsequent penalty.


United sought to press home their advantage, but Fernando Torres took advantage of a glaring error by Nemanja Vidic and equalised with 28 minutes gone. In the penultimate minute of the first half, Liverpool were ahead, Patrice Evra misjudging a crossfield ball, pulling down the passing Steven Gerrard who converted the resultant penalty.


Although United were on top for the first half of the second period they rarely threatened to score, and the game was effectively ended after 77 minutes. Vidic, enduring the definitive nightmare afternoon, hacked down Gerrard who would have been clear on goal and after receiving a red card had to watch as Fabio Aurelio whacked in a free kick for 3-1. There was still time for United to be caught again as they chased the game with ten men, and Andrea Dossena compounded their misery with a deft chip over Van der Sar after a long, straight punt from Reina had inexcusably evaded their entire back four.