Liverpool lead after first half at Old Trafford

Manchester United 1 Liverpool 2

Liverpool fought back from a goal down to take a precious half-time lead in their must-win encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo had put United in front from the spot after Jose Reina had sent Park Ji-Sung flying.

But an uncharacteristic mistake from Nemanja Vidic gifted Fernando Torres an equaliser five minutes later before Steven Gerrard stepped up to stroke home the penalty after he had been floored by Patrice Evra.

Jamie Carragher took up the right-back position and was immediately bypassed by Wayne Rooney, who won a corner he took himself that Albert Riera headed away.

United were making a fast start and Tevez raced on to Cristiano Ronaldo’s touchline pass, only to overhit his cross.

Ronaldo then fired the ball to Park Ji-Sung, whose fiercely-struck shot was deflected wide by Carragher, who flung himself in the way.

Again United failed to profit from the corner, allowing Liverpool to clear their lines. Fernando Torres thought he should have had a free-kick on the edge of the area when he went down under pressure from John O’Shea and Rio Ferdinand.

Referee Alan Wiley decided otherwise, with Torres continuing his protests long after the incidents.

Lucas weaved his way to United’s penalty area, only for O’Shea to make a half-challenge that allowed Ferdinand to whip the ball away from Riera.

Martin Skrtel then embarked on a 40-yard run, remaining unchallenged until Ferdinand stepped in. Steven Gerrard’s forward burst caused momentary panic in the United box before Nemanja Vidic and Edwin van der Sar combined to scramble a clearance.

Liverpool had got up a head of steam, with Patrice Evra lashing over as United countered.

Torres skipped past Ferdinand brilliantly and was just about to shoot when Vidic came across to make a vital tackle, then Gerrard’s delicate free-kick bounced through to Van der Sar after floating over a packed penalty area.

It proved a pivotal intervention as, within a minute, United were in front. Tevez was the orchestrator, threading a pass through for Park.

The South Korean just got to the ball ahead of Jose Reina, whose momentum took Park down.

Wiley pointed to the spot and up stepped Ronaldo to provide the confident finish.

Hyypia got in the way of a Rooney shot as United scented blood, knowing their opponents’ lingering title dreams would be over if they did not win.

The visitors needed something to go their way, and it arrived from an unlikely quarter when Skrtel launched a long punt downfield.

Virtually faultless all season, Vidic appeared to have the situation under total control. But instead of simply clearing, he tried to turn towards his own goal, allowing the ball to bounce on and offering Torres a chance to charge.

Vidic still seemed favourite to knock a pass back to Van der Sar. Instead, Torres stuck out a boot, moved the ball away from the Serbian, darted forward and beat the Red Devils keeper with ease.

Torres then went tumbling to the ground in a battle of strength with Vidic, who appeared temporarily unnerved.

Reina reacted quickly to gather the rebound as Tevez closed in after the Liverpool goalkeeper had failed to hold a long-range Ronaldo free-kick that had taken a deflection.

Carragher was booked for a clear foul on Tevez, with Ferdinand also yellow-carded shortly afterwards after Dirk Kuyt had been sent flying.

Michael Carrick’s shot flew just over and two minutes before the break, Evra sent Gerrard flying in the box after Torres had split the United defence and Wiley rightly pointed to the penalty spot.

Van der Sar was booked as he delayed the spot-kick. But it did not put Gerrard off as he found the bottom corner.