Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Man United ended a run of 5 consecutive defeats by Liverpool to stun Anfield and dish out Liverpool's first home defeat in the league for almost a year.
Liverpool started the first half well, and could have been ahead after only 80 seconds when a Milan Baros strike tested Fabien Barthez, but the French 'keeper got both hands to the ball and punched it out for a throw-in.
Three minutes later, Michael Owen saw an effort from just outside the area saved by Barthez at his near post, but within minutes, the ball was in the back of the net at the Kop end, and only the raised flag of the linesman prevnted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from putting his name on the scoresheet, after he'd fired the ball past Jerzy Dudek's near post.
There were very few chances in the remainder of the half though, with both defences standing up to anything that was thrown at them, and players such as Ryan Giggs, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Vladimir Smicer contributing rather little to the first 45 minutes.
The game came to life in the second half though, although the first chance was a little longer in arriving despite the end to end nture of the game, with the dfences of both sides continuing to prevent any clear goalscoring chances.
Gerard Houllier was the first of the two managers to introduce one of his substitutes to the action and it was Emile Heskey who was brought on, with Baros surprisingly the man to be replaced, just short of the hour mark in the game even though Baros had been one of Liverpool's liveliest players.
But it was United rather than Liverpool who were to open the scoring, and is was a personal nightmare for Jerzy Dudek.
A header from Carragher back to the Dudek looked as though it would see the Pole make a comfortable catch, but the ball somehow squirmed through his arms and bounced under him, and Forlan, who was stood behind Dudek, was left with an easy tap in.
Liverpool had 25 minutes to draw level, but in going forward seeking an immediate equaliser, The Reds were caught out by a Man United counter attack, which resulted in Forlan slamming the ball past Dudek from 15 yards to leave Liverpool needing a miracle to get back into the game against their fiercest rivals.
The temperature hotted up even more within seconds of the restart, as Forlan brought down Owen when sprinting towards the United goal, and Mikael Silvestre's attempts to waste time by refusing to give the ball back to Liverpool to take a quick free kick earned him a yellow card, with Forlan also getting his name in the referee's notebook for the initial foul.
More controversy followed before the kick had even been taken, with more pushing and shoving in the penalty area, started by Silvestre when he shoved Owen in the face. Fortunately for United's French full back, neither the referee nor linesman saw the incident and Silvestre escaped what surely would have been a second booking.
Liverpool were fast running out of time, but were back in the match on 82 minutes, when Smie Hyypia struck a well placed left foot shot into the bottom corner of the net after the ball had bounced around a crowded penalty area.
And 75 seconds later, it was close to being 2-2 after a spectacular 30 yard volley by Hamann was met with an equally good save by Barthez, who required a helping hand from the cross bar to keep out the shot.
Other than a injury time shot by Gerrard which he scuffed well wide of goal, Liverpool were unable to trouble United, as the visitors held on to record their first win over Liverpool this century.
With Arsenal winning 3-1 at home to Aston Villa yesterday, Liverpool now trail the Gunners by four points. Liverpool remain in second place though, and may have an opportunity to reduce the lead next weekend when they take on Charlton, while the league leaders face Man United at Old Trafford earlier the same day.
