Rodgers refuses to dream just yet

He claims winning a first title since 1990 is not something that keeps him awake at night — a pointed observation considering Wayne Rooney described Manchester United’s defeat as a “nightmare” — and maintains that Liverpool’s players have better things to talk about.

But, having humiliated their greatest rivals with a first win at Old Trafford, with nine games left the title race is in the hands of the Merseyside club, who are four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand and with Jose Mourinho’s side and Manchester City still to come to Anfield.

Two points behind the Reds, City have two matches in hand but have nothing like the form with which Rodgers’ side enter the final weeks of the season.

Manchester United’s failings may account for the 43-point swing between the two clubs’ tallies after 29 matches this season.

United, who had never given away more than one spot-kick, conceding three penalties at home for the first time in the Premier League was not the only huge indication of changing times.

But, leaving aside the misery of the Old Trafford club, Liverpool were utterly superior in every way, should have won by more and looked to have had another gear.

Rodgers, whose side have collected 26 points from a possible 30 since the turn of the year, seems to have a game plan to suit every occasion.

This time he chose to use Raheem Sterling in a central role, with Steven Gerrard in front of the back four and Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen making up the sides of a diamond.

It allowed Sterling to float and act as an easy exit ball for Liverpool to transfer from defence into attack before United’s ponderous midfield could react.

The visitors played with a fluidity that United never came close to matching and, trailing to a second Gerrard penalty in the first minute after the interval, it was the lack of response from the hosts that was one of the most shocking parts of an astonishing performance.

Behind against their biggest rivals, with their chances of reaching the top four about to go up in smoke, all United could muster in 44 minutes was a Marouane Fellaini shot that flew high into the Stretford End.

The board coming up for added time used to be the signal for a cavalry charge when United were behind but by that point David Moyes had withdrawn the hopeless Juan Mata for Rio Ferdinand in an attempt to stem the embarrassment.

Moyes’ side now have nine defeats in the league this season, their worst for a campaign in 12 years, with nine matches still to play. If they drop another point, it will be their worst tally in Premier League history.

The Scot has the protection of a six-year contract but admitted that not even he had expected the job to be so difficult. But the concerning thing for him has to be that for all the setbacks he has experienced since taking over in the summer, United always seem to find another low.

Once again Moyes promised his team would respond but even given Olympiakos’ woeful record in England an incredible improvement will be required to overturn the 2-0 deficit in their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday night.

Then after the trip to West Ham at the weekend there is the small matter of Manchester City’s visit to Old Trafford in eight days.

Moyes said there was little in it until half-time but he was wrong. Liverpool’s movement exposed the home side after only three minutes when Daniel Sturridge drove wide from Henderson’s pass.

Rodgers’ side were comfortably on top and Luis Suarez might have had a penalty after challenges from Fellaini and Phil Jones.

Seconds after Rafael was cautioned for chopping Gerrard down, he handled a Sturridge cross and Gerrard found the corner with the penalty.

United finally produced some sort of threat when Rooney’s drive was pushed away by Simon Mignolet but any prospect of Moyes’ half-time team talk changing the match was killed when Jones barged Joe Allen over 23 seconds after the interval.

Again Gerrard showed a cool head to convert for his seventh penalty of 2014 and then had another effort deflected wide after a lengthy spell of possession.

Robin van Persie’s only contribution was to head wide when he was picked out by Rooney’s cross but shortly after Mark Clattenburg awarded a third penalty when Sturridge went down under Nemanja Vidic’s challenge and sent the Serbian off, the fourth time he has had a red card against Liverpool.

This time Gerrard hit the post and after David de Gea denied Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan collected Sturridge’s scuffed shot and found the corner of the net.

The lack of any kind of contest made it feel as though the second half had gone on for hours, but even Moyes must accept this can not go on for too much longer.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 7; Rafael 3, Jones 4, Vidic 3, Evra 5; Mata 4 (Ferdinand 87, 5), Carrick 5, Fellaini 5 (Cleverley 76, 5) Januzaj 5 (Welbeck 76, 6); Rooney 6, Van Persie 5.

LIVERPOOL (4-1-3-2): Mignolet 7; Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger 7, Flanagan 7; Gerrard 9 (Lucas 86, 6); Henderson 8, Sterling 7 (Coutinho 71, 7) , Allen 7; Sturridge 8 (Aspas 90, 6), Suarez 9. Referee: Mark Clattenburg.