Steven Gerrard was sent off 38 seconds after coming off the bench as a Juan Mata double gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Liverpool ...
Steven Gerrard was sent off 38 seconds after coming off the bench as a Juan Mata double gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in a dramatic encounter at Anfield.
Mata fired the visitors in front early in the first half, before Gerrard came on at half-time and was almost immediately dismissed for a stamp on Ander Herrera.
United doubled their lead on the hour mark with a stunning acrobatic second from Mata before Daniel Sturridge pulled one back, and although Wayne Rooney had a penalty saved in the closing moments Louis van Gaal’s side held on to move within two points of second-placed Manchester City.
It ended a run of 13 games unbeaten for Brendan Rodgers’ men, whose last defeat also came at the hands of United when they lost 3-0 at Old Trafford in December.
The result was a massive blow to Liverpool’s top-four hopes as they dropped five points behind their conquerors, who currently occupy the fourth Champions League spot.
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