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.

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.

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9:56 AM
Categories: Aurelio, Dossena, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Manchester United, MU, steven gerard, The Reds. Author: nik

Rafa Benitez took time out of his pre-match preparations to speak to radio journalists as part of the build-up to tomorrow's clash with Manchester United. Here is what he had to say in full.

Journalist: Rafa, a lot of Liverpool fans have said to me that they'd love to see the team go out at Manchester United in the same way they did against Real Madrid during the week. Can you do that at Old Trafford? Everything is possible. We will play against another team in another scenario. They have a lot of confidence in the league, so clearly it will be different and difficult. But if we play with the same high-tempo and keep the ball in the same way, then why not? Journalist: How much confidence do you take from that win against Madrid? I think we needed to play a good game to beat a top side like Madrid. We had confidence before, but now the mood is really good. I think people are waiting for this game with great excitement. Journalist: You've achieved many things during your time as Reds boss, but you have never won at Old Trafford. What has been the stumbling block? They are a good team and the atmosphere at Old Trafford is really good for them, so it is not easy - but maybe this can be the first time. Journalist: Would it represent a closing of the gap between the two sides if you were to complete a league double over them? Our idea is to get the three points, reduce the gap and stay close. We want the team to keep thinking about the title race. We know it will be very difficult, but if we can start the game well, I think we can do it. Journalist: Looking at the way the season has gone it would be fair to say Liverpool and Man United have been the best teams in England this season. When you consider the results in midweek, would it also be fair to say you are the two best sides in Europe too? We are both in a good position and have done well. You can say yes, but it would just create headlines. Looking at Europe, you can see the four English teams are still there, but I'd rather be in the final and then we can talk about these things. Journalist: Javier Mascherano's sending off last season caught all the headlines. Did it show that this is a game for cool heads? Yes clearly. In these types of games it is important to work really hard, play with your heart and also with your brain. The small details can decide the game, so you have to keep all your players on the pitch. Journalist: So you have to hope the man in charge has a similarly cool approach to it? It's not easy for the referee so you have to approach the game thinking they will try their best. Hopefully it will be okay. If he doesn't make a mistake, it will be up to the players on the pitch to make the difference. Journalist: Your players seem to show extra motivation ahead of big matches - do you sense it is there ahead of this one? Yes, this is the kind of game everyone wants to play in. It was the same against Real Madrid. They all want to play. Journalist: Ryan Babel played particularly well against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. Does that please or frustrate you because he hasn't always achieved that level this season? You have to be pleased when a player is doing well. It is very positive for his confidence and good for the team. We know he has talent. We are working with him. He is a young Dutch player who needs time. Van Persie was the same, Bergkamp was the same, so we have to be patient. We are now hoping to see the best of Babel for the rest of the season. Journalist: Of course, he has fond memories of playing against Man United this season, having scored the winner at Anfield back in September... Yes, he got the winner. It was very good for him and very good for our fans. To beat United was important. Journalist: Can the fact many are writing you off in the title race, act as a motivation to some of your players? It could be the case. We want to be in a position where we are proud and improving. We play for the club and the fans. It is part of our responsibility to try and do well. Journalist: So you still believe in your title chances? Clearly, if we can beat United you never know what can happen. If we can reduce the gap it will give us more confidence and we will approach the forthcoming games with positivity. Journalist: Do you sense an extra desire going into this fixture, this season, compared to ones in the past? Yes because we are in a much better position. We know it is a challenge. We know it can make a massive difference if we win there. Journalist: It's a while since you last scored there isn't it? Yes it is. Clearly, you must score the first goal. The players will then play with more confidence so we will try to do that. Journalist: Will Fernando Torres need an injection for the clash at Old Trafford? I don't know. Maybe. He was training today and is fit, so if he does it will be to just ease the pain.

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11:49 AM
Categories: Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Manchester United, Rafa Benitez, Ryan Babel. Author: nik

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have both been passed fit to face Manchester United at Anfield this weekend. Both players completed a light training session at Melwood this morning and have been included in the squad to take on Alex Ferguson's men tomorrow. "They are both much better," confirmed Benitez. "They came through a full training session this morning. It wasn't a very hard session, but they will both be in the squad. If they are in the squad then they can play. "It's important for us to have these two players of quality who can change a game. I'm not surprised they are available because the medical staff have done a good job and the players have been working really hard with the physios to get fit." Benitez has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the showdown with United, although midfielder Lucas won't be involved after arriving back late from international action during the week.

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10:43 AM
Categories: Fernando Torres, Manchester United, steven gerard. Author: nik

Here are all the pre-match stats and facts ahead of Saturday's showdown with Manchester United at Anfield. Last season here United took all three points with Carlos Tevez scoring the only goal after 43 minutes. They went on to record a league ‘double' winning 3-0 at Old Trafford. Javier Mascherano was controversially sent off ten minutes after Wes Brown had opened the scoring for the home side. Ronaldo and Nani added goals the last 11 minutes. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last ten league games since losing at Old Trafford last March. There has been only one goalless draw between the sides in the Premiership – here in 2005/06. Liverpool have not scored in any of their last seven league games against United since John O'Shea scored an own goal at Old Trafford in September 2004. In fact, no Liverpool player has scored a league goal against United since Danny Murphy from the penalty spot at Old Trafford in April 2004. Harry Kewell in November 2003 was the last to score in open play. Liverpool's last league win here against today's opponents came in November 2001 when they won 3-1 with Michael Owen (two) and John Arne Riise scoring. Liverpool have been waiting since September 2004 to record a 50th league win over United. Should he play, Robbie Keane will play the 450th club game of his career. Liverpool's next goal will be their 400th scored under Rafa Benitez. Peter Beardsley scored the last of the six Liverpool hat-tricks against United in League meetings in September 1990 while Stan Pearson in 1946-47 has scored the last United hat-trick. If today's game finishes all-square it will be Liverpool's 50th draw in all competitions under Rafa Benitez. Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov scored 46 goals between them for Tottenham last season - each scoring 23. They both scored 15 in the Premier League. Last season Liverpool were the highest scorers in all four divisions with 199. Manchester United with 110 had the third best total. Liverpool have won just seven of the 32 Premiership meetings with United taking maximum points in 18. Rafa Benitez is looking to record his first league win over United at the ninth attempt. He did however oversee Liverpool's first F.A.Cup victory over United in 85 years thanks to a Peter Crouch goal on this ground in 2006. Albert Riera made his debut in English football in January 2006 for Manchester City against Manchester United. It was a dream start as City won 3-1 with Robbie Fowler scoring the final goal in the last minute. Liverpool's biggest ever win here was 7-1 in the first meeting between the two sides in October 1895 when United were known as Newton Heath. United's biggest win here was in December 1969 when they recorded a 4-1 victory.

	LFC V MAN UNITED: STAT ATTACK Ged Rea 11 September 2008
Of Liverpool's last 55 league games at Anfield they have lost only twice…both to Manchester United. There has not been a goal scored in the opening 69 minutes of any of Liverpool's five games this season with the Reds having to wait until the 83rd minute at least to open their account. They have not scored a first half goal in any of their last nine games. The last was a 43rd minute strike from Dirk Kuyt against Chelsea in the Champions League at Anfield back in April. All of Liverpool's goals have this season have been scored while Nabil El Zhar has been on the pitch. If United win today they will equal Everton by recording their 23rd league victory at Anfield. No club has won more. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are United's most prolific scorers in the Premier League. Both have scored 96 though Scholes has played 101 fewer games. If Liverpool fail to score today United will become the first visiting team ever to keep five successive league clean sheets at Anfield. United have lost only one of the last dozen league meetings home and away and at Anfield are unbeaten in the last six visits winning five. United have failed to score in only two of the last 12 league visits to Anfield. Dimitar Berbatov could make his debut for United today. The last players to play their first United games against Liverpool were Mikael Silvestre and Massimo Taibi on this ground in September 1999. United have lost just once away from home in the Premier League in 2008. That setback came at Chelsea in April when they were beaten 2-1. Darren Fletcher has scored both of Manchester United's league goals this season. Ryan Giggs is looking to score for the 19th successive season. United have scored in each of their last 26 Premier League since failing to find the net at Bolton back in November. United's league title last season was built on their home form as both Chelsea and Arsenal had better away records. They won 17 of their 19 games at Old Trafford with ten victories coming on the road. Given their home form in the league it is a surprise that they were eliminated from both the F.A.Cup (Portsmouth) and League Cup (Coventry City) at Old Trafford.

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10:44 AM
Categories: Anfield, EPL, Liverpool, Manchester United. Author: nik

Liverpool will give Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard every chance to prove their fitness for Saturday's clash with Manchester United. Hopeful manager Rafael Benitez, still awaiting his first league win over the Reds' arch-rivals, says both of his leading lights are 'improving' as they battle back from their respective injuries.

Gerrard is the bigger doubt for the lunchtime clash after groin surgery but the Anfield club's medical staff are reportedly encouraged by Torres' progress in recovering from a hamstring injury.

Last weekend Gerrard said the United match would come too soon for him, and he was targeting the Champions League match against Marseille next Tuesday.

"It is always more difficult to prepare for the match with injuries because you know that if they are fit we will use them, but in this case you never know," Benitez said.

"It is better to avoid saying whether they can be available - it is difficult to say if they can play or not because they may have not played for 10 or 15 days.

"But they are both working hard with the physios and are improving, so there's still some time to decide."

Benitez remains optimistic about Gerrard, although he has confidence in the rest of the squad should his captain not make it.

"You never know, he is still progressing. The key is the fitness of the player - it makes a massive difference if he has confidence. That is the main thing for him," the Spaniard told the club's website.

"Clearly we have enough quality in the squad, so it is always important to look to the other players and sometimes they can give more to you than the big names.

"They can have the same quality and passion and they also have a lot to prove to the supporters."

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12:43 PM
Categories: Manchester United, Marseilles, Rafa Benitez, Soccernet, steven gerard. Author: nik

Rafa Benitez is backing his side to shift through the gears during what is set to be a crucial month in the club's season.

The Anfield boss knows the Reds have not totally convinced in their opening five matches despite an unbeaten run which has taken them to joint top of the league.

But with massive games against Manchester United and Everton looming in the next month, not to mention the start of our Champions League campaign, Benitez expects his side to start reaching full potential.

"Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Ryan Babel arrived late and I am sure that in a few weeks' time it will be better," the gaffer told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We need to have better possession and work on having a higher tempo."

Liverpool's last outing brought a credible point at Villa Park without Steven Gerrard and, for the most part, Fernando Torres.

Benitez added: "Getting a draw without them showed the quality in the squad – but it could have been better.

"Having watched the videos, I thought we could have won. We had four chances – Alonso, Kuyt, Ngog and Keane. They had two and some set-pieces. So, the point was good but it could have been better.

"We changed the system to play 4-3-3 and give Xabi Alonso freedom, then when he was being pressed we changed to 4-2-3-1. People said, 'Oh, Robbie Keane wasn't playing well on the left.' But we had to think about winning the game, not just one player."

Gerrard is currently recovering from a groin operation due to keep him out 10-15 days.

On the skipper's race to face United on September 13, Benitez said: "Steven is okay. He's started with bicycle work and will start jogging, so I think he will be ready soon."

Meanwhile, the Liverpool boss is backing Daniel Agger to rise to the challenge of extra competition at centre-back.

The Dane has been absent from the starting XI since the first leg of our Champions League qualifier in Liege.

Benitez said: "Martin Skrtel is a good centre-back, Jamie Carragher is very consistent and Sami Hyypia is a good option also, so Daniel needs to work hard if he wants to play and he knows that.

"We want two players for each position but Daniel has a very good mentality and he will be ready."

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1:48 PM
Categories: Daniel agger, Manchester United, MU, Rafa Benitez, steven gerard. Author: nik