There was a chorus of Always look on the bright side of life to make their guests

There was a chorus of "Always look on the bright side of life", to make their guests feel at home, then a rendition of "You'll never walk alone", complete with scarves and flags, that rekindled memories of the glory years.It was Liverpool's first win over United since the penultimate weekend of the 1992-93 season That win secured Leeds the title at United's expense. There are still two months to go but this win may have done the same for Blackburn.Liverpool (3-5-2): James; Wright, Ruddock, Babb; Scales, McManaman, Redknapp, Barnes (Thomas, 61), Bjornebye; Rush (Walters, 87), Fowler. Substitute not used: Warner (gk).Manchester United (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Irwin, Bruce, Pallister, Sharpe (Cole h/t); Ince, McClair, Keane (Butt, 83); Kanchelskis, Hughes, Giggs. Substitute not used: Pilkington (gk).Referee: G Ashby (Worcester).More football, page 30. Barnes managed to hook the ball to Robbie Fowler, whose pass found Redknapp in space as Rush dummied Ince.

The match remained desperately tight however.For 24 minutes it simmered; Liverpool probed while United pulled back and sought to hit them on the break. Then, just as United seemed the more dangerous, Liverpool brought the game to the boil The goal came, as might be expected, from a counter-attack. Mark Wright headed a cross clear to McManaman and he drove into rare space before finding John Barnes.Briefly the attack stuttered as Barnes was halted, but Liverpool had penetrated United's outer defence. As Jamie Redknapp had already swung an arm at Ryan Giggs - without making contact - a stormy afternoon beckoned, but the referee, Gerald Ashby, gave an admirable display.He did book Redknapp soon after, for a late tackle on Denis Irwin, but the point had been made and tempers calmed. Within a minute they had something to cheer as Roy Keane clattered into Steve McManaman and was booked. Wright went on to show just how good a player he is when he puts his mind to it.The atmosphere at the kick-off was spine-tingling in its intensity, with the Kop in better voice than for many months.

A midweek experiment with a flat back four had led to a disastrous 3-2 home defeat by Coventry. Officially, he had a thigh strain, but it did not show when he finally joined the fray. More likely there was no room for him in a tactical pattern that sought to confuse Liverpool's three-man central defence.Among that trio was Mark Wright, recalled for his first game in almost a year so Liverpool could retain their defensive shape despite the suspension of Rob Jones. Two goalless games after he scored five against Ipswich, the £7m man was dropped. When the dust settled yesterday United found themselves still six points behind Blackburn Rovers, the Premiership leaders Both sides have eight matches left. "We needed to win this one," a gloomy Alex Ferguson admitted.Even before the match started there was drama as Andy Cole discovered that no one is guaranteed a place in United's cast of stars.

He will probably miss four games, including the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace or Wolves.Now, suddenly, there is a gap. Then, with five minutes to go, Steve Bruce deflected Steve McManaman's shot past his own goalkeeper to secure the points. To compound the Manchester United captain's gloom, he was booked and has now reached 41 disciplinary points. Jamie Redknapp, the game's outstanding performer, put Liverpool ahead after 23 minutes. It began in snow and ended in sunlight, but for Manchester United the mood at the end of yesterday's pulsating match at Anfield was as dark as their black shirts.