Tottenham 2 - 1 Liverpool

Instant hero: Tottenham debutant Sebastien Bassong scored the winner against Liverpool after Steven Gerrard had equalised from the penalty spot

Eyes blazing, arms outstretched, Rafael Benitez appealed to the referee for a penalty in the dying moments of the game yesterday with the kind of fervour that put him in contravention of any number of Football Association and Premier League respect campaigns. One game gone and Liverpool are feeling the heat.

Benitez's assistant manager, Sammy Lee, was sent off by the referee Phil Dowd a minute later on the advice of fourth official Stuart Attwell. Fernando Torres kicked out at Tom Huddlestone and Lucas Leiva weighed in with a shove to the Tottenham midfielder's chest. But when the whistle went for full-time the rest of the Premier League's big four had left Liverpool in the blocks.
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Benitez had calmed down by the time he reached his post-match press conference but his feelings had not changed on Dowd or Attwell. The first, he indicated, needed to check his eyesight for the penalty he failed to give against Benoît Assou-Ekotto; the latter, he said, was just too young to be officiating in the Premier League. The FA's Respect campaign has already got its work cut out with Benitez.

To his credit, Benitez did not try to pretend that Liverpool deserved to win just three months after they dispatched Spurs 3-1 at Anfield on the last day of the league season. Something was just not right in the heart of the team, they were outfought by Harry Redknapp's players and the malaise manifested in silly mistakes, like the clash of heads between Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel in the first half that left both of them off the pace.

Certainly, neither of Liverpool's centre-backs got anywhere near Sébastien Bassong, who scored the first goal of his career on his Spurs league debut with a beautifully poised header on 56 minutes. Benitez would surely have replaced Skrtel earlier if he had a better alternative on the bench than the untried 18-year-old Daniel Sanchez Ayala, who was eventually sent on when the disoriented Skrtel could play no more.

It is early days yet for Liverpool bu,t with the exception of the excellent Glen Johnson at right-back, there was little about them that could be argued was an improvement on last season. When Benitez was chasing the game with another attacking player he had no option but to bring on Andrei Voronin, who is no more effective than when he was sent on loan a year ago.

It would be inaccurate to put a defeat like this down to the absence of Xabi Alonso alone but his departure has undoubtedly made Liverpool weaker. There were other elements too: Steven Gerrard, fit again having missed England's game on Wednesday, was strangely quiet apart from his penalty equaliser; Torres hardly had a chance and Ryan Babel failed to seize his opportunity.

Only Pepe Reina could be said to have played anywhere near his best, saving brilliantly from Robbie Keane twice in the first half as his team-mates failed to take charge. In the course of a Premier League season, August form can be misleading but the early signs for another run at their first title in 20 years say that Liverpool have work to do.

They came up against a Tottenham team who, despite their new players, looked unusually well-drilled for a club that has endured some uniquely chaotic starts to the season. Ledley King was the pick of the home team, a magnificent presence in the centre of defence who offered a masterclass in how to keep Torres quiet, alongside a very composed Bassong.

Having watched his team "absolutely slaughtered" by Liverpool at White Hart Lane last season Spurs still won the game Redknapp said that this time they had encountered a very different Benitez side. They had set out to press and unsettle them and without Alonso and, as Redknapp said, his "ability to pass the ball round corners", Liverpool found themselves suffocated in midfield

Redknapp made the decision to start without his new £9m signing Peter Crouch and in his absence Keane missed three chances in the first half that he might usually have been expected to score. Nevertheless, Keane was part of a monumental effort from his side to close his former club down all over the pitch. When Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko came on as late substitutes, Spurs showed that their attacking strength runs a lot deeper than Liverpool's.

Spurs' first goal was not only the first for Assou-Ekotto in three years at the club, it was also the first in a career of more than 110 senior games and this one was worth waiting for. Huddlestone's free-kick cannoned into the wall and from there Assou-Ekotto took one touch to control it before dispatching it with his left foot into the top right-hand corner of Reina's goal.

Spurs were in control of the game at half-time and it needed a moment of individual excellence to drag Liverpool back into it. As the League's best paid full-back, Johnson has some pressure on him but he delivered in the 54th minute, surging past Huddlestone and Assou-Ekotto before going past Heurelho Gomes, who brought him down. Gerrard, taunted by the Spurs fans over his court case last month, thundered home the penalty.

That might have been the cue for Liverpool to go on and win it but it was Spurs who regained the lead just before the hour. Luka Modric's free-kick came from the right and Bassong got above Johnson and Carragher to head the ball past Reina.

Of the two penalty appeals for Liverpool the first looked borderline. Assou-Ekotto eased Voronin off the ball as the striker ran in on goal; then minutes later the same Spurs full-back appeared to handle the ball.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Modric (O'Hara, 84); Defoe (Pavlyuchenko, 90), Keane (Crouch, 68). Substitutes not used: Hutton, Bentley, Naughton, Cudicini (gk). Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel (Ayala, 75), Insua; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt (Voronin, 79), Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun, 68); Torres. Substitutes not used: Cavalieri (gk), Spearing, Kelly, Dossena. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire). Booked: Tottenham Lennon, Assou-Ekotto; Liverpool Mascherano, Carragher. Man of the match: King. Attendance: 35,935.

Alonso, Real Madrid's latest 'galactico'

Xabi Alonso is due to have his medical at the Bernabeu on Wednesday before becoming Real Madrid's latest 'galactico'.

The 27-year-old midfielder flew to the Spanish capital last night after a fee, believed to be £30million, was agreed between Liverpool and Real Madrid to end the summer's longest transfer saga.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez flew with his squad to Norway for tonight's friendly with Lyn Oslo, already working on signing a replacement.

Now Benitez has the cash to spend on his own squad, with one of the hold-ups this week being his insistence on the first instalment of the Alonso fee being paid immediately.

He is believed to want to close a deal to bring in midfielder Alberto Aquilani as Alonso's replacement. Cash-strapped Roma are willing to sell for around £15million and the player is happy with a five-year contract worth around 4million euros a year.

It is believed that the player has agreed personal terms already, but negotiations could not be completed until Alonso was sold.

Benitez is also known to be considering moves for either of Valencia pair David Silva and David Villa. But that could well push his budget to the limits unless he can off-load the likes of Andriy Voronin.

On Tuesday night Liverpool issued a curt statement which brought to an end Alonso's five years on Merseyside.

It read: "Liverpool Football Club this evening confirmed they had reached agreement for the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, subject only to a medical. The terms of the deal will remain confidential and undisclosed."

But although Liverpool will not reveal the details of the deal, privately sources were maintaining that Benitez had got his own way over the fee.

It is believed that Madrid made another attempt to end the deadlock today with an offer of £30million that will rise to £34million depending on Alonso's success over the first two years of a five-year contract.

Alonso had trained with his Liverpool colleagues yesterday afternoon at the club's Melwood complex.

But as the Liverpool party headed for John Lennon airport and a charter flight to Norway, Alonso was heading back to Spain.

Alonso will join his former Liverpool team-mates Alvaro Arbeloa - who moved to Real last week for 3.5million - and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek at Real.

Alonso and Dudek were part of the famous night in Istanbul when Liverpool lifted the European Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan in 2005.

Now, of the 18 players on the team sheet in Istanbul that night, only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are still with the club.

Alonso is believed to have told his manager on the final day of last season that he wanted to return to Spain.

From that point on, Madrid waged a persistent war to sign the player as they assembled a new squad under president Florentino Perez.

With the Alonso deal, Perez will have spent around £220m in two months on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Esteban Granero, Arbeloa, Alvaro Negredo and Karim Benzema.

That haul is Madrid's response to Barcelona's historic treble of Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup.

But although Perez did not consider Alonso to be a player who 'will sell shirts', the Spain international has been almost as difficult to prise away from his club as Ronaldo.

Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham Hotspurs

He has made his reputation as one of the hardest defenders around, an old-fashioned stopper hewn from granite, but Sami Hyypia could not hold back the tears when the realisation hit him at Anfield yesterday.

A shrill blast of referee Peter Walton's whistle marked the moment his Liverpool days came to an end and, as he paused before heading down the tunnel one last time, it all became too much for a player who has taken countless knocks without flinching in the 10 years since signing from Willem II for just £2.5million.

Double act: Steven Gerrard races to congratulate Fernando Torres after the Spaniard's 14th league goal of the season

Physical discomfort has never been a problem for the 35-year old Finn, but the wrench of cutting his Anfield ties, ahead of embarking on a new adventure with Bayer Leverkusen, was a different matter as he briefly stood alone near the centre circle, dabbing away tears with his shirt sleeves.

Eager to spare his blushes, his team-mates moved in to mob him before keeper Pepe Reina hoisted him shoulder-high and carried him off to rapturous cheers from fans who had grown impatient for a final glimpse of their favourite.

Not only had Rafa Benitez denied him a starting place, the Liverpool manager kept him on the bench for 4 minutes before finally bowing to pressure from fans who repeatedly chanted: 'Sami, Sami, on, on, on.'

Benitez redeemed himself by choosing Steven Gerrard to make way, allowing the Liverpool skipper to wrap the captain's armband round Hyypia's bicep as they exchanged high fives, and he remained unrepentant over limiting the veteran centre back's farewell appearance to six minutes.

'I just felt it would be more special for the fans to see him for the last few minutes, and it was so nearly a fantastic finale,' he said, referring to an injury-time Hyypia header that was blocked on the line by keeper Heurelho Gomes. 'I was pleased to see him get a reception like that, but I feel sad to be losing such an outstanding professional.

'It was always the plan that Stevie should come off, so Sami could wear the armband, and I knew I couldn't leave it any longer because the fans were pushing and pushing.'

It might not quite qualify as one of Benitez's famous facts, but it remains a fairly safe bet that Liverpool would have pushed Manchester United even closer for the title but for Fernando Torres missing most of October and all of December through injury. Liverpool's record signing provided another reminder of the cutting edge that was sorely missed in his absence as he transferred Liverpool's dominance on to the scoresheet with a 31st-minute breakthrough.

Tottenham's defence left him unmarked, and the inevitable response followed as the £21m marksman planted a six-yard header in off the bar from Dirk Kuyt's cross for his 17th goal of an injury-shortened campaign.

Liverpool doubled their lead with a 64th-minute shot from Kuyt that looked to be drifting wide until Alan Hutton's outstretched leg diverted it past Gomes.

They were found as wanting defensively as Spurs had been in the 77th minute, though, as Robbie Keane marked his Anfield return by controlling a long through-ball before firing past Reina.

The former Liverpool striker, sold back to Tottenham after barely half a season at Anfield, chose not to celebrate and was applauded for his show of good grace.

Perhaps he sensed it was little more than a consolation goal, given a degree of Liverpool supremacy that was duly rewarded in the 81st minute, when Yossi Benayoun held off a half-hearted challenge from Ledley King and rolled a shot under the advancing Gomes.

Benitez was in no mood for giving away transfer secrets but his response to continuing reports of interest from Real Madrid in Xabi Alonso hardly dispelled growing fears that the Spain midfielder may be sacrificed to help fund Liverpool's summer spending plans.

Asked if Alonso will still be a Liverpool player at the start of next season, he said: 'Xabi still has three years left on his contract and is not for sale. I had a private conversation with his agent during the week, and it is interesting to see how some people have interpreted that.'

West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

With Manchester United playing on Sunday, Rafael Benitez's men overtook them on goal difference - but time has almost run out and they only have two matches left.

United have four games and may not need them all to secure the title, although the efforts of Gerrard has at least stretched them well into May.

The 28-year-old's goals at Upton Park took his tally to 23 for the season, with Ryan Babel adding a late third to seal the win.

Liverpool's hopes this season have been built on the firepower of Fernando Torres and Gerrard - and the pair combined after 76 seconds for the opener.

Torres, back fit after a hamstring problem ruled him out of the win over Newcastle, received the ball in midfield but was given the time to turn and pick his pass, threading ball through to Gerrard beyond the Hammers defence.

The hosts were claiming offside but James Tomkins had played Gerrard on, with the England midfielder taking the ball around Robert Green and finishing into an empty net.

Steven Gerrard scored twice against West Ham to send Liverpool top of the Premier League and keep alive their slim title hopes.

The early opener stunned the hosts, who kicked off knowing Fulham had won and Tottenham picked up a point earlier in the day in the race for the Europa League next season.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola believes four more points will see them secure seventh place - which will get them into Europe if UEFA grant them a club licence - and they had their moments after the setback of Gerrard's opener.

As they attempted to find a way back into the game, Diego Tristan flicked a header at goal from Mark Noble's free-kick that required Jose Reina to save.

They got a little closer just before the half-hour mark when Noble earned a free-kick on the left and swung the set-piece into the danger area. Radoslav Kovac got in front of Reina to meet the ball but his header flew over the crossbar.

Their progress was undone when Luis Boa Morte suffered a nightmare 30 seconds which resulted in conceding a penalty just before the break.

He was furious that no free-kick was given when Javier Mascherano brought him down, then chased back to own penalty area and hauled down Torres when Yossi Benayoun scooped the ball through.

Green saved Gerrard's spot-kick but the rebound fell to the Liverpool captain to tap home.

David di Michele should have pulled a goal back when he seized on a mistake by Jamie Carragher. He raced through and got his feet tangled up as he tried to take the ball around Reina.

It was a shocking miss and referee Alan Wiley rubbed salt in the wound by booking the Italian for diving.

Boa Morte was trying to atone for own his first-half error after the restart but one powerful run was ended by Fabio Aurelio, earning the full-back a caution.

Liverpool threatened to score a third, with Benayoun volleying over from Dirk Kuyt's cross and Torres looping a header just over the crossbar.

The Hammers defence looked under pressure but Matthew Upson was exposed in a different way when he received a bloody nose - the centre-back had to strip down to his underwear on the sidelines to change his kit.

Upson was among the players racing back when Liverpool broke on the hour mark, with the hosts saved by Green rushing out to block Kuyt's effort.

Benayoun then exchanged passes with Torres before shaving Green's post with a drive.

There were ironic cheers when Di Michele was taken off for Freddie Sears, as there were when Tristan put the ball in the net after clearly being offside.

The visitors were able to keep out any genuine efforts and added a third through Babel with five minutes remaining.

Kuyt crossed for his fellow Dutchman, Green saved the initial header but the rebound was tapped home.

Gerrard will fight Manchester United to the end

Man of the match Steven Gerrard promised Liverpool fans that the Reds will fight Manchester United to the end.

With United playing City in the Manchester derby on Sunday, Rafael Benitez's men overtook them on goal difference - but they only have two matches left.

And, while the title is a mathematical possibility, the Anfield side will not give up.

Gerrard told Setanta Sports 1: "We've got to keep going, keep doing our job and that's to win our remaining games - starting today.

"We're happy with the result, happy with the clean sheet. We've put a little bit more pressure on United.

"If they win their games, fair play to them, they deserve it, but we've got to keep the pressure on."

Gerrard is now hoping for a favour from Mark Hughes' City on Sunday.

"They've got a tough game," the 28-year-old England midfielder said of United.

"City have just come into a bit of form and derby matches are never easy. We wait and we hope that City can do us a favour - but the important thing is that we do our job.

"It'd be nice to still have it in our hands but we've got ourselves to blame by not winning football matches we should win.

"We've drawn too many games at home this season - it's been slightly frustrating but you've still got to give us credit.

"We've done so well to be in the title race. It's May 9 and it's the first time we've been in it (at this stage of season) for a long time so credit where it's due.

"At a club like Liverpool it's important to win trophies but there's still been progression. We will learn from where we've gone wrong and start putting it right next season."

Ryan Babel added a third at Upton Park to seal the victory for the visitors, and Gerrard felt it was a richly deserved three points.

"When you come to a tough places like West Ham, who are playing well and have got a good manager, it's important you start well and that's what we've done," he said.

"West Ham came back into it after that but I think overall we deserved to win.

"It shows we're a good team, we've got good togetherness and we've got a winning mentality. We've got good players and we deserve to be top of the league at the moment."

Yossi Benayoun echoed Gerrard's sentiments about the dropped points at Anfield looking like they will prove crucial at the end of the season.

"I think we lost too many points against the teams below us at home," the Israel captain told Setanta Sports 1.

"From January to the end of February, we drew a lot of games - five or six in a row if I'm not wrong. This is the period that Manchester United got the confidence back and went to the top of the league, and from then it was very difficult.

"We will try to learn from this season."

Like Gerrard, Benayoun is hoping United will stumble in their remaining games.

"We know it will be difficult," he admitted. "They have the games in hand and they are a very strong side.

Hopefully they will slip up. If not they will deserve to be champions. Anything can happen in football.

"Manchester derbies are always difficult games. City have a lot of quality players in attack and hopefully they will have a good game and try to win the game - but everybody knows Manchester United are favourites."

Arshavin targets scoring five at United

Andrey Arshavin believes his four goals at Anfield show he was right to join Arsenal.

And the Russia star has warned Manchester United that he can top it by scoring five at Old Trafford.

The Russia star hit headlines across the world after scoring all his side's goals in the 4-4 draw at Liverpool on Tuesday night - a feat called 'poker' in Russian football parlance.

And he insists he would not have got the same exposure for a similar feat with former club Zenit St Petersburg.

The 27-year-old, who signed for the Gunners for £12million in February, told a Russian newspaper: 'I know that my goals were watched all over the world.

'That's more than enough to prove that I was right when I insisted on my move to the English Premier League. In Russia, if I scored not four but 24 goals in one game it wouldn't excite anyone outside the country.'

Asked what achievement could give him a greater joy, Russia's star of Euro 2008 said: 'Winning the Premier League, naturally. Or scoring five at Old Trafford.

'After Liverpool game my team-mates congratulated me and made a lot of jokes: "We'll do everything for you tonight! Do you want anything? Just say and we'll bring it running. Can we clean your boots? Or carry your bag?"

'On the plane back to London they signed the ball from the game and presented it to me.'

Arsenal travel to United on May 16 and Arshavin would love to spoil what could be the day that the champions collect their Premier League trophy again.

On target: Arshavin hits one of his four against Liverpool and celebrates below

But even bettering his four-goal haul would probably not impress his wife Yulia too much. Asked how he would keep his feet on the ground after his Anfield heroics, Arshavin said with a smile: 'I have a wife who will quickly put me back in my box.'

One more day for Gerrard

Clash of the titans: Steven Gerrard (left) shields the ball from Michael Ballack during Chelsea's 3-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg victory at Anfield

Anfield boss Benitez gives Gerrard one more day to prove fitness before making biggest decision of his Liverpool career

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has given Steven Gerrard one more day to prove his fitness ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Chelsea.

The Anfield boss admitted Gerrard's availability could be the key to his side somehow turning around a 3-1 deficit from the first leg at Anfield and claiming the unlikeliest of semi-final places.

After leaving Gerrard on the bench for the duration of Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn, Benitez will asses his skipper's recovery from a groin strain before making one of the most critical decisions of his five-year Anfield reign.

'Stevie has been working with the physio, and he will train later today,' said Benitez. 'We will decide after that, but it is good that he is feeling better.

'Clearly, we need him, because he is a key player for us. Everything can change when he is out there and playing well.

'We will talk to the doctor and with Stevie, but I don't think it would be a massive risk. It would be if there was a danger of losing him for 10-15 days, but he has played with these problems before and been OK. I would call it more of a calculated risk.

'It would be good to show the same spirit as in Istanbul four years ago, when we came back from 3-0 down at half-time in the final against AC Milan to win on penalties. The fans will be behind us, as ever, and if we can give them something to cheer early on, it could make a difference.
Liverpool boss Benitez barks out instructions during Saturday's clash with Blackburn

'But it is going to be a very difficult task, but don't forget Bolton showed on Saturday what can be done by scoring three late goals at Chelsea.

'We will be aiming for an early one ideally, so we can put them under pressure.'

Benitez also defended his controversial zonal marking system, which some blamed for his side conceding two Branislav Ivanovic goals from set pieces in the first leg.

He added: ‘Chelsea have six or seven players that are really good in air, and that was clear the other day.

‘We talked about zonal marking but we scored against Blackburn who use man-to-man marking and yesterday you could see goals conceded between Aston Villa and Everton using man-to-man.

Sitting it out: Steven Gerrard (centre) warms the bench during Liverpool's rout of Blackburn

‘So in the end it depends on the quality of the players in the air. [Zonal marking] has been good for us in the past so hopefully it will be good in the future.’

Asked if the Reds could take heart from Bolton's late three-goal show against the Blues on Saturday, Benitez added: ‘Yes. If you play well and have a bit of luck, you can score a goal, so we will see. It will be good for the club if we can win, so we will try to win.’

Liverpool 5 - 0 Aston Villa

Liverpool are breathing down Manchester United's necks in the Barclays Premier League title race after destroying fifth-placed Aston Villa 5-0.

It was the third stunning Liverpool victory in 12 days, having previously put four past Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The champions' lead is now one point - they also have a game in hand - but Liverpool have now scored more goals than Sir Alex Ferguson's men and have also wiped out their goal-difference advantage.

Villa had no answer to a side with a driven desire to take the title from under United's noses.

Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick with a free-kick and two penalties, with the latter one following the dismissal of goalkeeper Brad Friedel for bringing down Reds striker Fernando Torres.

In the first-half Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera had scored, before Gerrard took over with his set-piece onslaught.

Liverpool had Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa back from respective ankle and hamstring injuries that ruled them out of last weekend's win at Manchester United, with Sami Hyypia and Lucas relegated to the bench.

They were joined there by defender Daniel Agger, who has only played one game since mid-December after a variety of injury problems.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill left out striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has scored only twice since before Christmas and was booed by his club's own fans last weekend. Defender Zat Knight was also on the bench, with John Carew and Curtis Davies back in the side.

There was still a solemn start to the proceedings, with a minute's silence following the death yesterday of 56-year-old club secretary Bryce Morrison, after he had flown back from the Champions League draw in Switzerland.

Morrison, who had worked at Anfield for 17 years, suffered a heart attack at home. Both teams wore black armbands.

The game got off to a blistering start, and after eight minutes Liverpool were ahead.

Alonso's header from Gerrard's free-kick cracked against the bar, and Dirk Kuyt reacted quickest to blast the ball home from 12 yards.

At the other end Ashley Young's cross arrowed in from the left and Carew's flick at the near post almost caught out Jose Reina - but the goalkeeper tipped the ball over the angle.

The contest was ferocious, and Gerrard was then rightly booked for a fierce, late, challenge on Davies.

Then Reina made another outstanding save to his left to claw away a towering header from Carew - who played under Benitez at Valencia.

Liverpool were relentless and after 33 minutes they claimed a second goal.

Reina's 80-yard clearance was allowed to bounce once on the edge of the area by a Villa defence pre-occupied with Torres and Riera took full advantage by smashing the dropping ball high into the net.

It could have been three when Arbeloa intercepted a bad Friedel clearance inside the Villa box, but he chose to pass to Torres rather than shooting himself.

But the third was not long coming. After 39 minutes Riera controlled a searching crossfield pass from Kuyt, and was brought down in the box by Nigel Reo-Coker. Gerrard smashed home the spot-kick.

Any thoughts of a Villa revival were crushed after 50 minutes when Carlos Cuellar brought down Kuyt on the edge of the box and Gerrard drilled the free-kick low to Friedel's left and into the bottom corner.

Former Reds striker Emile Heskey had a header held by Reina, but was by now being employed on the left trying to halt Arbeloa and Kuyt's flow down the flank - with Young switched to a central attacking role.

The ploy did not last long - Agbonlahor replaced Heskey after 58 minutes, with Young back on the line- but things got worse for Villa after 63 minutes when Friedel was dismissed for clashing with Torres and Gerrard drilled home the fifth past Villa's reserve keeper Brad Guzan.

Lucas, Agger and David Ngog replaced Alonso, Arbeloa and Gerrard in the closing minutes of a comprehensive victory.

Benitez issues a quick guide on....

Manchester Utd 1 Liverpool 4:
Benitez issues a quick guide on the way to defeat United

After watching his fast Spanish striker expose the weaknesses he had identified in Manchester United's defence, the 'fat Spanish waiter' was understandably satisfied.

It was Rafa Benitez, after all, who dismissed Arsene Wenger's declaration that United had become 'untouchable'. Benitez who insisted four weeks ago that the champions of England, Europe and the world were not the invincibles Arsenal's manager would have us think.

Kop that: Rafa Benitez masterminds a stunning victory over Manchester United.

United's heaviest defeat at Old Trafford in 17 years was quite a way for Benitez to prove his point and now he only hopes that others, Wenger included, will copy the blueprint of his tactical masterplan.

If Liverpool are to have any hope of catching United, they need the teams still due at Old Trafford to follow the example of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard and use a deadly combination of pace, power and skill to unlock Sir Alex Ferguson's record-breaking back line. As well, that is, as unsettle United's midfield with someone as destructive as Javier Mascherano.

Until Saturday, United were unbeaten at home in the Barclays Premier League this season, having conceded just five goals. Teams were turning up convinced they had no hope of securing even a point. But United are not impenetrable, no team is, and Benitez is now urging others to take note.

In Liverpool's favour is the fact that there is pace in abundance in the teams that United still have to host between now and the end of the season. Aston Villa are at their best when they get the ball out to their wingers and so are Tottenham, while Manchester City and Arsenal also have quick players capable of terrorising Nemanja Vidic and Co.

Man of The Match: Fernando Torres celebrates after hitting the first of Liverpool's four goals.

'I think United have weaknesses,' said Benitez. 'They have quality, a lot of quality in attack, that is the main thing that they have. They are strong in defence because they have plenty of possession. But when they don't have the ball and you move the ball quickly and play behind the defenders, you know you can beat them. We knew that they are really good at playing between the lines with penetrating passes.

'So we needed to stop these passes and put the midfielders under pressure every time they were going to receive the ball; and after that try to play simple and go forward quickly, because it's an offensive team and they are always high.'

Before this encounter, Vidic was a contender for Footballer of the Year. But the manner in which he was terrorised by Torres before receiving a straight red card for his professional foul on Gerrard has probably ruined any chance of that.

Benitez saw something in Vidic that he knew Torres could exploit. 'That was one of the ideas,' he said. 'We knew that maybe with Fernando's movement we could create problems for the defenders.'

Holding court in an Old Trafford press auditorium Ferguson has long refused to appear in after Premier League matches, Benitez was in his element. He had endured the Spanish waiter taunts from United fans and soaked up insults from Ferguson. 'Disturbed' and 'ridiculous' was how Ferguson described him after that outburst in January, adding last Friday that he will need to read 'Freud' to understand his rival.

Smacker: Steven Gerrard¿s TV kiss after his strike from the penalty spot.

Reminded of all that, and the idea he was 'cracking up' in January, Benitez did something on Saturday he so rarely does. He smiled. 'I can guarantee you that I was calm and I am calm,' he said. 'But I had to defend my club and that is what I did.

Seeing red: Nemanja Vidic is given his marching orders.

'I read Freud in school and university but now I try to improve my English. Maybe he will understand me if I say something again but I have a lot of respect for him. We shook hands after the game because he was not talking bad blood. He is a fantastic manager at a big, big club. But I was not worried about myself. I was thinking only about my club. I think Liverpool has been the best team in Europe in the last five years. It is a fact.'

The fact is, though, Liverpool have lacked the consistency of United in the title race. Against their main rivals they have been terrific. Home and away wins against United and Chelsea as well as a draw at Arsenal. The kind of form that usually secures the championship. But precious points have too often been dropped at Anfield.

'It's football and it's difficult to explain why we have dropped points when we have,' said Benitez. 'Still we need to be more consistent against the other teams.'

This performance will give them the confidence to achieve that consistency. Not least the fashion in which they fought back after Pepe Reina's reckless foul on Ji-sung Park invited Cristiano Ronaldo to score from the penalty spot.

Four-midable: Andrea Dossena (left) is congratulated by his team-mates after rounding off Liverpool's magnificent victory.

First came that wonderful equaliser from Torres, then Gerrard's penalty for Patrice Evra's foul on the Liverpool captain, before Fabio Aurelio punished Vidic for his red-card challenge with a fine free-kick and Andrea Dossena outsprinted John O'Shea in pursuit of a Reina kick and sent an audacious lob over Edwin van der Sar.

Contrary to Rio Ferdinand's opinion, the red card was not 'debatable' and contrary to a view expressed by Ferguson, United were not the better team. Not on Saturday anyway.

Two games banned for Vidic

....receiving his marching orders for the foul....

From bad to worse! Vidic nightmare not over as two-game ban rocks Manchester United's title hopes. Nemanja Vidic was yesterday banned for two games as the fallout from a humiliating defeat by Liverpool began to take its toll on Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s rivals are waiting to see just how damaging Saturday’s setback will be to United’s hopes of a hat-trick of Barclays Premier League titles and their pursuit of a clean sweep of trophies.

Nightmare: Vidic blundered to let Fernando Torres in to score Liverpool's first......

Now the sending-off has ruled Vidic out of next weekend’s trip to Fulham and the following league game at home to Aston Villa.

...before flattening Steven Gerrard....

The FA confirmed that the straight red card shown to Vidic for hauling down Steven Gerrard at Old Trafford will mean a two-game suspension because it comes on the back of his dismissal for two bookings in the 2-1 defeat at Anfield last September.

At least Ferguson has an accomplished replacement in Jonny Evans to partner Rio Ferdinand at the heart of his defence and Ji-sung Park is confident Saturday’s defeat will not stop United retaining the title.

...and watching Fabio Aurelio curl home the resulting free-kick

Park said: ‘If we produce good performances, like we have been doing, for the rest of our league games this defeat will not be a big problem.’

Meanwhile, Liverpool have been told by UEFA president Michel Platini that the ruling body will try to avoid forcing the club to play the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on April 15, the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Liverpool 4 - 1 Manchester United

It had looked rosy when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a first-half penalty, but an uncharacteristically nervy display at the back allowed Liverpool back into this match; and the subsequent 4-1 defeat means the Reds’ lead at the top is chopped to four points, albeit with a game in hand.

Ronaldo put United ahead but three defensive mistakes led to Liverpool goals, and Nemanja Vidic’s second-half sending-off, which preceded the visitors' third goal, put paid to taking any points. In truth, this wasn’t a great day at the office, it never quite clicked into place. But one thing is certain: this defeat must be used to propel the Reds forward in the title race. The team responds well to set-backs, and this is only a minor stumble.

United made three changes from the team that beat Internazionale in midweek. Whereas Sir Alex chose the experience of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs against Jose Mourinho’s men, the Reds boss favoured the energy and youthful vigour of Anderson and Ji-sung Park, while Carlos Tevez partnered Wayne Rooney in place of Dimitar Berbatov.

It must have stuck in the throats of Liverpool’s players and fans when United were welcomed onto the field as “the Champions of England, the Champions of Europe, and the Champions of the World”. Such is United’s dominance these days that the roles are reversed from when Liverpool dominated at home and abroad years ago.

The shouts of “United, United” were deafening as the teams kicked off, and the sheer gravity of how potentially decisive this match could be added extra spice, though it was hardly needed. Liverpool, who knew that they had to win to keep alive their ailing title hopes, were forced into a change when Alvaro Arbeloa was injured during the warm-up and replaced by Sami Hyypia.

United made the early running, while Liverpool started with a game-plan of containment, a 4-5-1 formation aimed at constricting United’s free-flowing football, but the Reds were urged on by the fans, the coaching staff and Rooney screaming at his team-mates to press forward. The start typified both team’s styles; United brooding with attacking intent, Liverpool patient and poker-faced.

The visitors blinked first. Tevez slotted a pass through the channel to Park on 23 minutes, and the midfielder was wiped out by Pepe Reina – referee Alan Wiley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ronaldo stood poised ready to strike from twelve yards and his perfectly-placed kick was followed with a collective roar of approval and rousing “We shall not be moved” as Old Trafford bounced and rocked.

The lead lasted only five minutes, however, after a rare error from Vidic, who failed to deal with a high ball forward from Reina. Whether it was the intermittent spring sunshine or indecision, he let the ball bounce and Fernando Torres nipped the ball off his toes. The Serb stumbled and Torres was left to slip the ball past the onrushing Edwin van der Sar. It was a frustrating leveller, largely undeserved and just as the Reds had appeared to take control.

United immediately looked to make amends when Reina just held onto a deflected Ronaldo free-kick, and shortly before half time Michael Carrick sent a wicked shot just over the bar. But seconds later Liverpool took the lead. Gerrard latched onto Torres’ pass and Patrice Evra brought him down. The Liverpool skipper calmly despatched his spot-kick, though Edwin guessed the right way.

In the second half, no doubt with Sir Alex’s words still ringing in their ears, the United players pressed forward, roared on by the Old Trafford crowd. Reina was twice lucky to escape after spilling crosses, once allowing the ball to rebound off his post, another dropped on the goal line. But neither occasion gleaned an equaliser. Nor did Ronaldo’s flashed cross on 63 minutes, or the return ball from Rooney which Tevez couldn’t quite reach. But United were definitely in the ascendancy.

Tevez had an even better chance on 70 minutes when Carrick’s lofted pass found him free in the area. He chested the ball down but could apply the finish. Shortly afterwards, United made a triple substitution with Berbatov, Scholes and Giggs coming on for Carrick, Anderson and Park. But United’s hopes of turning this match around were all but curtailed when Vidic was given a straight red card for hauling down Gerrard who was through on goal, and to make matters worse Fabio Aurelio curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner of van der Sar’s goal.

It all but snuffed out even the slimmest hopes of a Reds recovery and Andrea Dossena's late lob compounded matters and made this a day to forget. Liverpool may claim the bragging rights and a double over United in the league this season, but Sir Alex and co's sights are set on bigger prizes.

Gerrard Out For Three Weeks With Torn Hamstring

Steven Gerrard will miss three weeks of Liverpool's Premiership title campaign after picking up a hamstring injury in Wednesday's 1-0 FA Cup defeat by city rivals Everton, his club said Thursday.

"A scan today has confirmed a tear in the hamstring of Steven's left leg. He will be out of action for about three weeks," a club spokesman told Liverpoolfc.tv.

The 28-year-old limped off after just 16 minutes of the fourth-round replay at Goodison Park and now looks set to miss the club's next two league encounters against Portsmouth and Manchester City, as well as England's friendly against Spain next week.

Gerrard's absence is a big blow as Liverpool, whose last league title came in 1990, chase reigning champions Manchester United, who lead them by two points with a game in hand.

If United retain their title they will join Liverpool on 18 championships.

Alex Ferguson's side have won the trophy ten times since Liverpool's last success.

The consequences of last night’s extra-time 1-0 defeat to city rivals Everton in the fourth round of the FA Cup has left more than wounded pride amongst Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool team.

Reports on Sky Sports News in the last few minutes have revealed that skipper Steven Gerrard, who limped out of the action, will be out for "21 days" after scans revealed that his hamstring injury was a tear.

Gerrard will miss a host of key games during the period, and the wisdom of Benitez’s decision to sell Robbie Keane to Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day now looks a little questionable.

Benitez, looking very disappointed as he spoke to post-match reporters in the wake of the replay defeat at Goodison Park last night, intimated, with a certain amout of bitterness in his tone, that Gerrard was over-tired due to being played too often, with Benitez saying that those who pressurise him into playing the England man every game had now seen what the result was.

Whether that is yet more of the Spaniard’s ‘mind games’, an activity at which he enjoys questionable success, is uncertain. What is more sure is that the talismanic Scouser Gerrard, the heartbeat of this Reds team, will not face Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday, nor will he be fit for England’s friendly with Spain in Seville.

He will also be missing for Liverpool’s home game with Manchester City, but, as Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup last night, his team has a blank weekend. However, that is little comfort, as in 20 days time the Reds travel to the Bernebeu to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League.

If Liverpool’s figure of "21 days" is accurate, then their captain will be struggling to be fit in time for a game that many would class as the biggest of their season so far.

Transfer Window Deadline day Robbie Keane back to spurs

Hot just in! Robbie Keane has agreed to join Spurs !Liverpool have broken their silence and have confirmed a fee with spurs that will allow the Irishman to return to White Hart Lane.

Keane admitted it was a tough decision to leave Spurs in the summer and he has vowed to win over any fans still unhappy with his initial departure.

Keane quoted (sky sports)

"It was a difficult decision to make to leave Tottenham in the summer," Keane said. "It proved not to be the right move for me.

"I know some Spurs fans will feel I let them down by leaving but I can assure them I shall be giving my all for this club - this club has terrific fans and I want to repay them for all their support. We’ve got to get on and fight our way up that league table."

Arsenal looks like they now have signed the very talented Andrei Arshavin just waiting on final paperwork issue

These where some of the transfer rumours that are hitting football fans this yesterday on the last day.

• Santa Cruz to Man City
• Robbie Keane to Tottenham (done)
• Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal ( 95% done pending)
• Javier Saviola to Liverpool (on loan)
• Jo to Everton (on loan) (done)
• Micah Richards to Aston Villa
• Ricardo Quresma to Chelsea (done)
• Charles N’Zogbia to Wigan ( done)

Alonso: Reds have ''best chance'' for title

Xabi Alonso has been buoyed by Liverpool's 2-0 win over Chelsea and insists he sees no reason why the club cannot end their 19-year title drought this season.

The Reds, who have been crowned champions of England a record 18 times, last won the top-flight crown in the 1989/90 campaign, but thier chances of ending thier barren spell this season have been hit recently after a run of below-par performances.

While Rafa Benitez's side have drawn far too many games for their liking this season, the 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday sees them just two points behind pacesetters Manchester United.

Former Real Sociedad midfielder Alonso, who has been at Anfield since the summer of 2004, believes Liverpool can pip Sir Alex Ferguson's troops and become Premier League champions for the first time.

''I am sure this is the best chance we'll have of winning the league since I arrived,'' explained Alonso.

''When I first came to the club I saw what the project was and now it's finally beginning to happen.

''At the moment it's looking good and we know Manchester United are the team we need to catch.''

Rafael Benitez rejects new Liverpool contract

Rafael Benitez has rejected the terms of the contract which was offered to him this week, according to a report.

The Spaniard has refused to commit to the deal because of a disagreement with owners George Gillett and Tim Hicks over his level of control.

Benitez told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: ‘The owners feel that the manager’s decisions need to be subject to the chief executive.

‘But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.

Speaking earlier in the week, Benitez claimed he was baffled by reports he was on a collision course with the club’s American owners.

It was suggested he was locked in a power struggle with Hicks and Gillett over the terms of his proposed new contract.

There were claims Benitez had demanded complete control over transfers and more say in the running of the club’s youth academy

Benitez feels that he should be given more input into the club’s academy and is keen to see more home-grown talent emerge.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher both came through the ranks at Anfield and the Spaniard is keen to see more youngsters emerge on Merseyside.

He said: "I believe the academy is a very important part of the future of the club. The length of the contract was already agreed and this showed my long term commitment to the club.

"I know the academies of Ajax, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Valencia and they are producing players regularly.

"The way the system works there means the manager has an input into development and I think this could be the way forward here and we would hope that this would help us make better use of local talent."