RAFAEL Benitez has finally got something to smile about after watching Liverpool beat Manchester United for the first time in his Anfield career thanks to an own goal from Wes Brown and Ryan Babel's winner. The Liverpool boss had never beaten United
in nine previous league games, with the champions having won the last five meetings between these two giants.
But United wilted under a relentless second-half pressure, had Nemanja Vidic sent-off and saw substitute Babel secure victory.
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher was delighted to claim the north-west bragging rights at last. "It's been too long and it's not just the three points," he said. "It's also the belief and confidence it gives us, because we've beaten the best team in Europe. It gives us the belief that we can beat anyone in the league.
"We hope we can now push on for the rest of the season. It should spur us on, because we've not been playing too well up to now. That is the best we've played. It also gives us a bit of breathing space between us and United, and top is where a club like Liverpool should be."
Disappointed United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side failed to handle Liverpool's combative approach.
"You don't expect that from Manchester United," he said. "When we have a bad day we usually still get something from the game. Overall, they were the better team. Liverpool produced a performance of tackling, hassling and getting about us. The source of our defeat was not coping with the hassling and the tackling. You have to give them credit for that – but at the end of the day, we should cope.
Liverpool gave new signing Albert Riera his debut but Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres started on the bench.
For the champions, Michael Carrick returned after an ankle problem, but all eyes were on £30m striker Dimitar Berbatov on his first appearance for his new club.
Liverpool fans staged a march to the ground from a local pub to protest at the club's American owners. But that did not stop co-owner George Gillett taking his place in the directors' box, although not in the front row close to the fans.
It took him just three minutes to make an impact. The Bulgarian was allowed to get to the line by some sloppy marking and covering, and Liverpool's defence was nowhere to be seen when his pulled-back cross was lashed home by Carlos Tevez.
But the Merseysiders should have levelled after 13 minutes when Edwin van der Sar fumbled a corner and Kuyt's blast from three yards hit Paul Scholes on the line.
United had started more brightly, but Liverpool at last started to get into the match as Tevez was booked for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa and a succession of free-kicks pinned United back.
And they were level after 26 minutes. Xabi Alonso's curling, low shot into the area deflected off Patrice Evra and Van der Sar hurled himself forward. But he only managed to push the ball on to Wes Brown and the ball cannoned off him and over the line.
United sent on Ryan Giggs for Carrick at the break,
but it was Liverpool who started in much sharper form. Benayoun almost saw a flicked effort evade Van der Sar and Alonso fired over from 20 yards. Keane narrowly missed breaking his scoring duck when he failed by inches to connect with a Javier Mascherano cross-shot. United's reply came from Paul Scholes who drove wide.
United sent on Hargreaves for Scholes after 66 minutes, and two minutes later Liverpool introduced Gerrard in place of Benayoun as United had started to come back into the game.
As if to underline the point, Jose Reina was forced into a fine save from a dipping Giggs volley.
Riera was replaced by Babel after 71 minutes, having made a good impression.
And on 77 minutes, Liverpool's pressure paid off. Mascherano battled his way down the right and to the line, Kuyt took up possession and played the ball across for Babel to crack home.
Nani came on for Anderson, and Rio Ferdinand was booked for bringing down Keane as the Irishman looked to be bursting through on goal. Nani was next into the book for bringing down Mascherano.
Liverpool were going to replace Keane with David Ngog, but changed their minds at the last moment when it was clear Mascherano had injured his ankle. The Argentinian limped off and Sami Hyypia came on instead.
United pushed Vidic up front in search of an equaliser, but the big centre-half did not see the match out. Having perhaps been lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a cynical hack to stop Keane breaking through on goal on 78 minutes, Vidic finally got his marching orders when he picked up a second yellow for crashing his arm into Alonso's face after 89 minutes. He will now miss the visit to Chelsea on September 21.
But Ferguson thought referee Howard Webb had been harsh in his treatment of the visitors. "Carragher was making those challenges all day long and no fouls were given," said the United boss. "We had several bookings and a red card. Is that a reflection of Man United being a dirty team? I don't think so. I think the crowd plays a part."
Benitez said the result was the best possible start to a week that sees Liverpool travel to Olympique Marseille for their opening Champions League group stage match on Tuesday. "We could not have asked for a better boost to our confidence than a victory over the best team in England, and the European champions," he said. "Now we will go to Marseille in a good frame of mind. That was our best performance of the season and we now feel we can go into a Champions League game in good heart and spirit.
"We are still unbeaten, but we had not been at our best. The victory against Manchester United has changed all that.
"We have made a statement about our form in domestic competition, and the victory will not go unnoticed in Europe.
"We did it without Torres and Gerrard, and we will have to wait and see how they are for Europe. We have a few training sessions now before the game in France, and both of them have been improving all the time."
The full article contains 1094 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
