Liverpool bounce back to beat Man Utd

Oct 25, 2009 - 5:25 PM By MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool have answered their critics after ending a run of four successive defeats by beating champions Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday.

Fernando Torres's eighth goal of the season and a late David Ngog strike ensured Liverpool came out on top in an ill-tempered clash.

United defender Nemanja Vidic was sent off against Liverpool for the third game in a row for two yellow cards while the hosts also had midfielder Javier Mascherano dismissed for two bookings.

Manager Benitez said: "The players answered a lot of questions that is the most important thing.

"They showed great character and the fans were behind the players. The passion, the attitude and the mentality was fantastic and everybody was working together from the beginning.

"The team is better than people think. We have the quality and it is just a question of having a little bit of luck and showing this character in every game.

"I knew the only way to change things in football was to win games and that is what we have done."

Liverpool had the better of a surprisingly lacklustre first half and only a fine double save from United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar stopped them taking a 14th minute lead. Van der Sar was at full stretch when he palmed away Fabio Aurelio's 25-yard free kick before reacting brilliantly to block Dirk Kuyt's follow-up shot.

Kuyt should have scored three minutes later but screwed his shot wide after being played through by Lucas.

Wayne Rooney headed Antonio Valencia's cross into the arms of Pepe Reina but United struggled to find any cutting edge.

Torres only declared himself fit hours before kick off after being sidelined by a hamstring injury in recent weeks.

The Spaniard showed his worth to Liverpool's cause with an empathic 65th minute goal. Torres outpaced Vidic and Rio Ferdinand before finishing clinically from eight yards.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after hauling down substitute Michael Owen when he appeared to be through on goal.

United's sense of injustice was compounded as Vidic picked up a second booking for a foul on Kuyt before Mascherano was also dismissed after sliding in late on Van der Sar.

Liverpool sealed the win in stoppage time when Ngog caught United in the break to race in and make it 2-0 with a neat finish.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed referee Andre Marriner's decision not to dismiss Carragher was key to the outcome.

Ferguson said: "I am disappointed because it was a bad performance by us in the first half in particular.

"We did not handle the atmosphere of the game or the decisions that went against us. We should be able to do that because we have enough experience of doing it.

I felt (Michael) Carrick should have had a penalty in the first half, Jamie Carragher clearly went in over the top of the ball and anywhere else on the pitch that would have been a free kick.

"The controversial one was when Carragher brought down Michael Owen. He is their most experienced player and their best defender. If he had been sent off it would have made it difficult for them.

"The atmosphere here is hard to handle for the referee. Whether he had enough experience I don't know but he will learn from it."