Pens galore as Reds win at Old Trafford

Liverpool fired three goals past Manchester United at Old Trafford to claim much more than just three points yesterday.

Bragging rights were also won, as Brendan Rodgers’ side showed their demonstrable superiority to the shoddy outfit David Moyes has built during his brief tenure in the United hot seat. Perhaps most importantly, this victory was the moment the footballing world outside of Merseyside started taking Liverpool’s title challenge seriously.

Steven Gerrard penalties either side of the half time interval put the visitors firmly in the driving seat, before the skipper squandered a golden opportunity to make it a hat-trick of successful spot kicks, sending a third against the base of the post.

After referee Mark Clattenburg had turned down another penalty appeal from Daniel Sturridge, Suarez fired in a third with five minutes to go to round off a fantastic afternoon perfectly for the ecstatic travelling Kop.

Despite going five years without winning at Old Trafford, Liverpool entered the contest as favourites thanks to the stark contrast between their stunning form and United’s abject displays in recent weeks, which was evidenced by the eleven-point gap between the two teams, representing a remarkable 40-point swing from last season.

Right from the first whistle, the Reds were in the ascendancy and were petitioning Clattenburg for penalties. After Sturridge drilled wide of goal, Suarez was felled by a combination of Fellaini and Jones in the box but the Uruguayan’s protests fell on deaf ears and he got nothing more than a corner kick.

Johnson and Sturridge both tested De Gea in the United goal, before the opener Liverpool’s dominant performance deserved finally arrived just after the half hour mark.

Rafael handled Suarez’s attempt to skip beyond him in the box and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. The 23-year old Brazilian was lucky to stay on the pitch as well having already been booked for a nasty challenge on Gerrard only moments earlier. The number eight stood up to score the resulting spot kick in typically calm fashion.

Gerrard converts his first penalty

United’s only decent sight of goal in the first half, and arguably throughout the entire ninety minutes, came a minute before the break, as Mignolet made a superb save to crucially keep the lead intact, repelling Rooney’s powerful volleyed effort.

The second half couldn’t have started better for the away side, as they were awarded another penalty only a minute in. Joe Allen was barged over by Jones in the box and Gerrard converted from 12 yards for the second time and celebrated by kissing the TV camera, just as he had done after netting from the spot in the Reds’ 4-1 victory over United in 2009.

Every Red loves this celebration

The hosts briefly responded, Vidic heading over the bar, Fellaini firing into the stands and Van Persie striking into the side netting. In response, Rodgers replaced Sterling with Coutinho and the Reds quickly regained complete control of the contest, winning a third penalty with thirteen minutes remaining.

Winning is the operative word as well, since Sturridge quite clearly cleverly fell over Vidic’s admittedly reckless looking challenge to convince Clattenburg to show the Serbian his fourth red card against Liverpool and award the visitors yet another spot kick.

Unfortunately, this time Gerrard’s low strike rebounded off the base of the post, much to the delight of the home crowd, whose ironic cheers were so loud it seemed as if they’d scored a goal themselves.

No amount of sarcastic cheering or defiant chanting could cover up the Mancs’ misery, though, and Liverpool set about heaping on the pain even more in the closing stages.

After Sturridge was denied what should have been a fourth spot kick following Carrick’s trip, De Gea was forced to make a great save to stop Suarez scoring a third. The number seven wasn’t to be denied, however, and he sent a neat finish into the net after Sturridge’s shot inadvertently fell into his path to conclude a match that will live long in the memory of Liverpool supporters.

Suarez silences all but a small pocket of the Old Trafford crowd

Only four points behind League leaders Chelsea, with a game in hand and Mourinho’s men still to visit Anfield, it cannot be denied that Liverpool are in the title race for the first time since 2009, which was also the last time the Reds defeated United at Old Trafford.

Whisper it quietly, but number 19 might just be coming our way. Believe.

YNWA