Red-letter day for Liverpool

 Man United 1, Liverpool 4

THE warning signs were present in midweek.

While Liverpool demolished Real Madrid in a 4-0 home win at Anfield on Tuesday night, the following evening United – though 2-0 victors over Inter Milan at home – showed, possibly for the first time this season, a few signs of vulnerability.

Perhaps it was over-confidence, borne out of the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had barely been troubled on their quest for the famed ‘quintuple’, or maybe just fatigue as the season enters its finishing straight.

In fairness, even after this humbling defeat to their nearest and not-so-dearest rivals at Old Trafford, Ferguson’s side remain huge odds-on favourites to win the league. The Scot admitted afterwards that had he been offered a four-point cushion at the summit with a game in hand at this stage a few weeks ago, he would have happily accepted it.

But even if Ferguson won’t say so publicly, incredibly maintaining afterwards that his side were “the better team” on the day, the way in which the visitors went about their deconstruction of United will have caused some concern in the camp.

The two deep-lying midfielders for Liverpool, Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva, both did an excellent job of stifling the fluid movement of the home team in the ‘hole’ just behind the front line while up top Fernando Torres, ably supported by Steven Gerrard, barely gave troubled defenders a moment’s peace.

Nemanja Vidic in particular had a day to forget. The Serbian centre-half, in superb form all season for United, was at fault for Liverpool’s opener and was later shown a red card for a cynical foul on Gerrard.

As far as Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was concerned, his tactics have now given the lead that others should follow.

“We have shown the way,” said Benitez, who remained typically sober in the post-match press conference.

“United have been playing with so much confidence. At least people will now see that they can lose.

“The message is there for everyone. In attack they are fantastic. You can see the quality they have. But in defence they have some weaknesses and we tried to exploit them.”

It may seem an odd point to make, given that United had only recently lost a record of 14 consecutive clean sheets this season in the Premier League.

But you wouldn’t have guessed that on the evidence of the weekend.

After going a goal ahead via a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, awarded for a silly Pepe Reina foul on Park Ji-sung, United – who kept Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov on the bench until a rare triple substitution on 72 minutes – crumbled.

Liverpool’s equaliser arrived when Vidic inexpicably allowed a long ball to sail over his head, Torres winning the chase and finishing neatly to level matters.

The outstanding Spaniard then turned provider, sliding a perfect pass for Gerrard to burst on to. The captain induced a foul from the confidence-free Patrice Evra which led to a penalty that he duly dispatched to send the visitors in ahead at the break.

After that it was plain sailing, with United unable to find a way to break Liverpool down. The only half-chances that came their way in the second period originated in sloppy handling from Reina rather than through their trademark verve and invention.

After Vidic had been dismissed for a tackle on Gerrard which wouldn’t have looked out of place at Twickenham, Fábio Aurélio curled in a delightful third from a free-kick and substitute Andrea Dossena made it four with a lob late on.