Berbatov’s third goal of the afternoon was enough to clinch all three points for Man U in the North West derby. Liverpool had fought their way back from two goals down to draw level, but the Red Devil striker headed a winner for the home side with six minutes remaining.

Fernando Torres, who played the full contest at Old Trafford, won the penalty from which Gerrard scored the Anfield club’s first, and also won the free-kick on the edge of the box from which the Red captain hit Liverpool’s equaliser.

It was a good start from Man U as they pegged Liverpool back in their own half. Nani had a shot blocked by Konchesky and Vidic headed over the bar from a good position in the box. The hosts continued to dominate as John O'Shea dragged his effort wide before Rooney missed the target with a free header ten yards out.

Liverpool were offering very little in the final third as Torres battled with the United back four. The forward won a corner from which Johnson had the Red’s first shot on goal, a right-foot effort that flew wide.

The visitors seemed to have weathered the storm until the break, but with three minutes to go to half-time Dimitar Berbatov headed home a Ryan Giggs corner to hand United the lead.

The Reds looked to step up a gear after the restart. Torres had a volleyed effort clip off O’Shea and behind for what should have been a corner. The referee however failed to spot the deflection as a goalkick was instead awarded to the home side.

Liverpool were soon two-nil down as Berbatov grabbed his second with an excellent overhead kick. The effort flew in off the bar giving Reina in the Red goal no chance.

Far from dropping their heads the Merseysiders were back in the game within five minutes. Fernando Torres won a penalty for the Reds from which Gerrard coolly converted. The striker had been brought down in the area by Evans who was booked for his challenge.

Amazingly Liverpool were level six minutes later. Torres, who was again causing the Man U defence all sorts of problems, was hauled down on the edge of the area. Gerrard made the most of a gap in the wall to fire home the resulting free-kick.

The Merseysiders were now on top as Man U tried to regroup. Ngog, who had come on for Maxi, fired over the bar as Liverpool targeted all three points.

The home side regained the lead somewhat against the run of play with just over five minutes left on the clock. Berbatov rose the highest in the Red box to head a O’Shea cross into the back of the net.

Hodgson’s side threw caution to the wind as his team pressed for a deserved equaliser. The goal however failed to materialise as Liverpool slipped to defeat.


- Match Stats: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Jonny Evans, Evra, Nani (Gibson, 88), Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs (Macheda, 82), Berbatov (Anderson, 88), Rooney

Booked: Rooney, Scholes, Evans, O’Shea

Goals: Berbatov 42, 59, 84

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky (Agger, 82), Meireles (Jovanovic, 79), Poulsen, Maxi (Ngog, 62), Gerrard, Cole, Torres

Booked: Ngog

Goals: Gerrard 64,70