Arch-rivals Liverpool did their chances of qualifying for the European Cup a world of good with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against a below-par Manchester United.

Danny Murphy scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to secure an away win for the Scousers, with the opportunity arising after a foolish challenge from Gary Neville on Liverpool skipper Steve Gerrard.

The defeat leaves Chelsea, who play Newcastle tomorrow, in poll position to claim 2nd spot with a game in hand and one point ahead of the Red Devils. 

Roy Keane returned to the starting line-up but Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy was left out of the squad duo to a minor thigh injury.

Not much happened in the opening stages but Cristiano Ronaldo did tee up duo Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha respectively but neither of them found the net with weak efforts. The Portugal international was then booked for dissent after throwing the ball into the stand.

Ryan Giggs tried to duplicate his two goals against 'Pool like his did earlier in the season but his first attempt smashed the post after Louis Saha set him up for a pile-driving volley moments before the interval.

Just after the hour mark, Gary Neville thoughtlessly hacked down Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Mike Riley, who got the referee job because Graham Poll was injured himself before the game, had no option but to award a penalty.

After numerous penalty misses from Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, Danny Murphy stepped-up and fired past Howard to put his side 1-0 up.

A flurry of errors followed as substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer missed an absolute cracker of a chance and Welshman Giggs hit the bar yet again.

Saha, like many other United players, could have equalised with three minutes to go but Polish goalkeeper Jerzi Dudek's reactions got the better of Saha's attempt.

Desite throwing on David Bellion at the end United failed to bag home an equaliser and level the match as Liverpool marched on and claimed all 3 points.

      Full-time: Manchester United 0 - Liverpool 1
                           Att: 67, 647

Manchetser United: Howard, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea (Solskjaer 65), Fletcher, Keane, Phil Neville (Bellion 81), Ronaldo, Saha, Giggs.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Smicer 61), Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Owen (Heskey 84), Kewell (Cheyrou 80)