Seven points adrift of the English Premier League leaders, Manchester United before the start of play Liverpool needed a win to keep their title hopes alive - and they had to try with inspirational captain Steven Gerrard watching from the stands. Rafael Benitez may have been without his prized asset, but the return of Torres and Glen Johnson at right back were available.
Liverpool twice did the double over Manchester United last year and both times came from behind. The Kop thought they had fallen behind again when Wayne Rooney found the net as early as the third minute, but his run was too early and was rightly judged offside.
Liverpool Dominate the Play
The home side settled early and passed the ball around well carving an opening with Lucas Leiva finding space, but his shot from the edge of the box was miss hit and went harmlessly wide. The home side continued to press and almost took the lead on the quarter hour mark. Patrice Evra scythed down Fernando Torres 25 yards from goal and Brazilian Fabio Aurelio stepped up to take the resulting free-kick. His effort looked destined for the top corner, but Edwin Van der Sar was equal to it and palmed it away. The danger wasn't cleared though, but neither Dirk Kuyt nor Fernando Torres could apply the finish.
Another chance went begging when Lucas robbed Paul Scholes of the ball and with three against two in Liverpool's favour, Kuyt screwed his shot wide. United's first chance fell to Wayne Rooney in the 20th minute after a slick move released Antonio Valencia down the right hand side, but the England man could only steer his header into the grateful hands of Pepe Reina. They later had claims for a penalty after Michael Carrick went tumbling in the box under the challenge of Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool defender was judged to have got enough of the ball and United were denied.
Van der Sar was called into action again with ten minutes of the first half to play. Aurelio broke into the box to get on the end of Yossi Benayoun's chipped cross, but his header was saved low down to the Dutchman's right. On the stroke of half-time, Liverpool might have been awarded a penalty when Kuyt was wrestled to the ground by Dimitar Berbatov as they jostled in the wait for a Liverpool free-kick, but none of the match officials saw it.
Liverpool started the second half with the same guile and should have taken the lead within two minutes of the research, but rather than finding the spare man on the back post he cut the ball back for Benayoun, but the Israeli was unable to gather the ball in and get a shot away.
Torres on Target
The home side were rewarded for constant pressure in the 64th minute when Benayoun's slide pass released Torres. The Spain striker held off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand to smash his shot passed Van der Sar into the roof of the net to claim his ninth goal of the season.
Michael Owen entered the field of play to great applause and ten minutes in showed good control in the box to lay the ball on for Valencia. The summer signing from Wigan unleashed a thunderous shot that had Reina beaten, but crashed off the woodwork.
Vidic and Mascherano See Red
Untied pushed for an equaliser and in committing men forward left Nemanja Vidic isolated on the half way line. With a minute of normal time remaining Kuyt would have been clean through on goal, but the United defender brought him down and for the third consecutive game against Liverpool was dismissed for a second yellow. Mascherano then saw red for a rash challenge on Van der Sar.
Liverpool were under real pressure and with the departure of Torres and Benayoun didn't appear to have a goal scoring threat. In the fifth minute of injury time however, they broke on the counter and David Ngog found himself one on one with the keeper before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the goal. It was no more than Liverpool deserved and a performance that might just refuel their season.
Teams
Liverpool: Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Emiliano Insua, Fabio Aurelio, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun (Martin Skertl 90+2), Fernando Torres (David Ngog 80)
Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar, John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Evra, Antoni Valncia, Paul Scholes (Nani), Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov (Michael Owen), Wayne Rooney
Goals: Torres (64), Ngog (90+5)
Yellow Cards: Patrice Evra (14), Lucas Leiva, Dimitar Berbatov (36) Javier Mascherano (71) Nemanja Vidic (74) Jamie Carragher (86)
Red Cards: Nemanja Vidic (89), Javier Mascherano (90+4)
Referee: Andree Mariner
