Liverpool have closed the gap at the top of the table to just four points after the Anfield Reds went to Old Trafford, and battered Man United it the same humiliating fashion in which they destroyed Real Madrid  in midweek.

The title race is still on, and United are by far the faovurites to claim it, but at least Liverpool will know that this season they thumped their arch rivals twice, with 6-2 aggregate score and what a trashing at Old Trafford this was.  The brilliant Liverpool victory was masterminded by Benitez, executed by his troops and materialised with goals from Torres, Gerrard, Aurelio and Dossena.


The game started as a match of such stature is expected to start – electric atmosphere, noise and banter being exchanged on the terraces between the Stretford End and the travelling Kop Army. Alex Ferguson's men were on course to stretch their advantage at the top of the table when Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty gave them an early lead after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina fouled Ji-Sung Park in the 21st minute.

Mere four minutes later however, Fernando Torres forced Nemanja Vidic into making a mistake and being left one on one with the keeper, El Nino had no problems in beating him with a delicate touch in the lower right corner.  

The nightmares for Edwin van der Sar were just beginning as less than a minute before the interval  Steven Gerrard stormed his penalty area, was brought down by Patrice Evra who was left with no other alternative, and then the Liverpool captain obligingly put the Reds ahead, 1-2.

The storm clouds were gathering over United's head with every passing minute as quarter of an hour before full time, Vidic was sent off for fouling Gerrard. Vidic was tormented all afternoon by Fernando Torres and he was completely inept in dealing with him. That clumsy tackle summed up his helplessness really,  and then Fabio Aurelio stepped up and brilliantly curled the ball with Edwin van der Sar and 70 000 United fans watching in disbelief as the ball hit the top corner. Brilliant goal, helpless United.

By now, the 4 000 Liverpool supporters were out singing completely everyone at Old Trafford, and the visitors were mocking their arch enemy, giving them a lesson in football on their own turf.

United's humiliation was complete when Liverpool substitute Andrea Dossena lobbed a precision  finish over Van der Sar after being allowed to race unchallenged on to Reina's goal-kick. The second time this week where Dossena comes in as a substitute and scored a goal, the first being against Real Madrid. 

Brilliant victory for the Reds and the beginning of a long, loud and drink fuelled weekend on Merseyside.