Reds and Devils set sights on Champions League

Manchester United 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool salvaged a semblance of pride from a torrid season by sending Manchester United spinning to defeat at Old Trafford, officially ending the Red Devils’ reign as champions.

On this evidence, the north-west giants will be accompanying each other into the Champions League qualifiers next season as Liverpool took a mighty stride towards fourth spot as well as denting United’s chances of finishing runners-up to Arsenal.

Gerard Houllier’s side snatched all three points through Danny Murphy’s 62nd-minute penalty after Steven Gerrard’s impressive industry was rewarded when he was sent crashing by Gary Neville.

With the Liverpool defence in one of its more obdurate moods, the visitors just about deserved their victory in a game which proved the TV planners were correct not to touch it.

A toothless United side lacking Ruud van Nistelrooy did not threaten until a frenzied late spell, during which Ryan Giggs struck a post and Louis Saha sent two good chances wide.

The armed police squads that surrounded the ground in the hours approaching kick-off were not supposed to be safeguarding the two goalmouths but that is how it felt during a closely contested opening period in which neither keeper had a decent shot to save.

Given the terrorist threat that had apparently been thwarted by the 10 people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on Tuesday, fans of both clubs would no doubt agree personal safety was more important than goals, even on an occasion such as this.

The lack of goalmouth action was nothing to do with the approach of either side. Both pushed forward whenever the opportunity allowed but no matter which route they took, it seemed the opposition defence had the answer.

This was particularly true of Jamie Carragher and Wes Brown who, in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, enhanced their Euro 2004 claims by blotting out Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen respectively.

Ronaldo looked the most likely source of a United goal but on the odd occasion he did find space down the left flank, he failed to deliver a decent final ball.

Alex Ferguson’s hope that van Nistelrooy and Saha would have the chance to work on their already productive partnership floundered on the thigh strain picked up by the Dutchman in training yesterday that forced Giggs into an emergency attacking role.

Giggs probably had the home side’s best chance in the opening 45 minutes, skipping between Carragher and Stephane Henchoz after Saha had flicked on Tim Howard’s goal-kick but volleying wide when he had slightly more time than he allowed himself.

In the absence of an incisive attacking threat, it was interesting to see how the differing styles of Roy Keane and Gerrard impacted on the game.

Keane was an education in economy, using his experience to find space and rarely giving the ball away. In contrast, Gerrard, who has carried his under-performing team for much of the season, charged around like a Keane of old, trying to influence everything.

As a result, Gerrard made more mistakes but crucially, it also meant he was attacking the United goal more often and it was no real surprise that he was the man brought down by Neville to give Murphy the chance to put Liverpool in front. Murphy tucked away the spotkick and for what proved to be his third matchwinner at Old Trafford in four years.

Prior to that, the second-half had brought the same endeavour as the first with virtually the same result.

Ronaldo’s frustrating afternoon continued when he glided through four Liverpool defenders but then failed to find Giggs, who was one accurate pass away from breaking clean through.

Liverpool though were visibly gaining in confidence and Keane was at full stretch with two headers to keep them at bay before Gerrard just beat him to a loose ball and embarked on the searing burst which Neville ended so crudely.

For a while, United looked non-plussed and seemed certain to concede a second as the stumbled around trying to find a way back into the game.

Suddenly though, they burst into life and within a sixty second spell spurned three chances to score the law of averages suggested at least one should have been buried.

First Giggs blasted against a post after Saha’s neat footwork had taken him past John Arne Riise.

Then substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was an inch away from meeting Ronaldo’s cut-back with a diving header.

Finally, and probably best of all, Saha rose unchallenged eight yards out to meet Giggs’ cross but headed tamely wide.

When the Frenchman drilled another effort wide shortly afterwards, United’s legs sagged and there was no chance of them being revived.