This was the 150^th meeting between the two sides – and it was a feisty encounter with the headlines set to be dominated by Mascherano’s dismissal moments before the half-time whistle. 

The midfielder was booked mid-way through the first-half for a rash challenge on Paul Scholes. He then decided to persistently ‘mouth off’ at the referee as United gradually wore down the Scousers. 

Already 1-0 down, Fernando Torres was booked by Bennett on 44 minutes. Not content with winning a free-kick, the striker chipped away at the official for not handing Rio Ferdinand a yellow card and worked himself into the book. 

Mascherano clearly wasn’t happy with the decision and charged 20-yards across the pitch, ignored attempts to be pulled away by Alonso, and continued to launch a verbal assault on the referee. 

He was deservedly booked for a second time and Liverpool were down to 10-men. All hell broke loose – the Argentinean had to be restrained by his furious manager and captain as he aggressively tried to confront Bennett once again. He was eventually forced down the tunnel to a barrage of shaky hand gestures from a gleeful Stretford End. 

That’s the ugly incident dealt with – now for the football. 

This wasn’t United’s most impressive performance of the season but it proved more than enough to deal with Liverpool. Wes Brown was the game’s unlikely hero, breaking the deadlock on 34 minutes as he met a Wayne Rooney cross, out jumping the hapless Jose Reina to put the hosts in front. 

There was a nervous twenty minutes after half-time where Liverpool started to boss possession. Edwin van der Sar had to make a series of good saves but United eventually weathered the storm and put the game beyond doubt on 79 minutes.  

Cristiano Ronaldo won a corner after firing a deflected shot onto the woodwork; finding the target seconds later by heading home the resulting set-piece as Reina came flapping once again.  

The Scousers were rattled and Nani finished the job only moments later. The diminutive winger latched onto a neat flick from Rooney and fired a thunderbolt effort home. Game, set and match. 

A quick side note – it was bitterly disappointing to hear a number of the travelling fans singing anti-Munich songs throughout the match. After all the respects paid across the country for the 50^th anniversary and City fans’ show of solidarity back in February, the chants were in shameful taste. 

On the pitch though it’s all good. Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Arsenal means it is starting to look like a two-horse race. The Blues are five points behind United but entertain Fergie’s men at Stamford Bridge in a few weeks time. 

Full Time – Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool
Attendance – 76,000

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