Liverpool deliver a stunning performance and end their run of four defeats in a hailing 2-0 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United.
The Reds boss' was under deep distress with the club on their worst run of results since 1987 and with the club's facing financial ruin, but second-half goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog restored the clubs pride and won it for them against the Premier League champions.
Torres forced his injured frame through the game and grabbed his ninth goal of the campaign midway through the second half to get Liverpool really firing.
Ngog hit the second in stoppage-time, with the match at boiling point. United had by that stage lost defender Nemanja Vidic to his third red card in successive matches against Liverpool.
The atmosphere was electric, the noise deafening, as Liverpool set about trying to restore their battered reputation.
The first half was competitive but remained without score at the close. Liverpool had a larger share of the opportunities but the visitors were intermittently dangerous on the counter. Wayne Rooney had the best chance of the half with a header from an Antonio Valencia cross.
Fabio Aureilo tested Edwin van der Sar with a header of his own before the half was up but was unchallenged. It went straight to Dirk Kuyt, whose follow-up was also saved by his Dutch countryman. Then Lucas robbed Paul Scholes and gave Kuyt another chance, this one guided wide of the far post.
United had better possession and hit Liverpool with pace and slick movement, but Van der Sar was again needed to plunge to his right to keep out an Aurelio header from Yossi Benayoun's cross.
However, Liverpool grabbed the lead after 65 min. Yossi Benayoun played through Torres with a wonderful pass and 'El Nino' opened the scoring with an emphatic finish. Manchester United had a couple of chances to level the scoring and went down to ten men as Nemanja Vidic was dismissed late on.
Javier Mascherano was also sent off in stoppage time. While Vidic was booked for a foul on Torres, after 80 Torres retired and was substituted by Nogg.
Vidic was booked for a foul on Torres, and then after 80 minutes Torres could run no more and Ngog took his place.
With minutes to go a long ball over the top caught Vidic out with Kuyt running into space. The Serbian defender saw his second yellow of the game and was given his marching orders for the third consecutive game against Liverpool.
In the 94th minute Mascherano was also dismissed for a second bookable offence following a challenge on van der Sar.
And the action continued as Kuyt and Lucas combined to release Ngog on the left and he rounded off the counter-attack to make it 2-0. A deserving victory by Liverpool over Manchester United who lacked fluency in attack and confidence in defence.
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