Flying Dutchman shows his class as Suarez has off day

Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1

The Dutchman reigned supreme but Liverpool will be left to wonder what might have been if another front man had started alongside Suarez.

Van Persie’s clinical finish in the 19th minute along with a questionable goal from Nemanja Vidic soon after the break had this affair set up for United to slip into cruise control and coast past their bitter rivals.

However, with his side completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, Brendan Rodgers threw on recent signing Daniel Sturridge at the break, who scored and made United work for three points they looked like they were going to cruise to.

United are now 24 points ahead in the Premier League of their great rivals and Ferguson even admits he is not concerned by their results anymore. That gulf in class was certainly on display in the opening half.

In a lively atmosphere, that unfortunately included some unsavoury chants from the home support, the class of van Persie quickly shone through.

With Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, in attendance he was given a timely reminder of who he has to stop when the sides meet in the last-16 of the Champions League next month.

Mourinho watched on from the directors’ box as United took a deserved lead. After exerting all the early pressure, the breakthrough came from the main man.

A well-worked move between Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley saw Patrice Evra clear down the left and he played in a low cross for van Persie, who calmly side-footed past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina from 10 yards.

It was his 17th Premier League goal of the season and he could have had his 18th moments later but for a bobbly pitch. Ashley Young found him free in the area, the ball bobbled before he could hit it and his strike flew harmlessly wide of the target.

As Liverpool failed to create a single chance in the opening half-hour, they were gifting opportunities to United as Joe Allen misplaced a pass near his own area that fell to Welbeck but Agger was on hand to make a last-ditch tackle and block the striker’s shot.

Allen was at fault again five minutes before the break as his tame header failed to clear the area and Cleverley caught it on the volley but his effort flew just inches past the post.

A superb ball from Carrick then set Rafael away down the left and the Brazilian, despite losing his footing, got away from Glen Johnson before feeding van Persie but his flick was cleared off the line by Martin Skrtel.

After Suarez, who is a contender for Football of the Year alongside van Persie, was isolated for the first 45 minutes, Rodgers had to do something at the break and he brought on recent signing Sturridge, who hesitated on an early chance before United looked to have wrapped up the three points in the 53rd minute.

Van Persie turned provider with a curling free-kick that found Evra unmarked at the back post and he headed the ball off Vidic and in — although the Serbian defender looked to be marginally offside when he made contact.

Sturridge got Liverpool back in it in the 57th minute as he pounced when Steven Gerrard’s low shot was palmed into his path by United goalkeeper David De Gea.

Reina then kept Liverpool in the game when he saved Shinji Kagawa’s curling effort before Liverpool pressed again and had Ferguson worried as he roared instructions from the sideline.

Fabio Borini and Sturridge shot wide before the latter hit the side netting in the dying moments.

Liverpool will certainly rue not testing De Gea more as they pushed late on but Sturridge has shown signs of being a shrewd acquisition to work alongside Suarez when the Uruaguyan has a rare off day like yesterday.

Van Persie was again the orchestrator for United who, as they have done time and time again this season, did just enough to earn victory and edge closer to that 20th Premier League title.

MAN UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 6; Rafael 7, Vidic 6 (Smalling 80), Ferdinand 6, Evra 7; Young 5 (Valencia 46, 6), Carrick 7, Cleverley 7, Kagawa 6 (Jones 78); Welbeck 7, van Persie 8.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina 6; Wisdom 6, Agger 7, Skrtel 6, Johnson 6; Lucas 5 (Sturridge 46, 8), Gerrard 5; Downing 4, Allen 5 (Henderson 81), Sterling 56 (Borini 63, 6); Suarez 6.

Ref: Howard Webb 7.