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00:00On March the 31st 2001, Liverpool played host to Manchester United in what is always regarded as one of the most fiercely contested games in the Premiership.
00:10Earlier in the season, Liverpool had gained their first win at Old Trafford for over 10 years with a Danny Murphy free kick.
00:16But United went into this encounter knowing they were only three wins away from guaranteeing their third successive Premiership title.
00:24Liverpool were about to start a gruelling schedule that would see them play in the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup.
00:31Michael Owen was rested after being on international duty, but Steven Gerrard returned from injury.
00:37Patrick Berger was also fit again after five months.
00:40Manchester United welcomed back David Beckham who'd been rested, his accurate passing and touch of flair so important to the team.
00:48Surprisingly, Yat Stam wasn't included, but United were boosted by the return of Fabian Barthez in goal and tricky winger Ryan Giggs who'd been out injured.
00:57Liverpool's home form had been excellent, they'd won 10 of their 14 league games, so the scene was set for a gripping encounter.
01:05Alan Parry is the commentator.
01:10It'll be Manchester United who'll get us on the way.
01:15They won 3-2 here last season, and are unbeaten in their last four visits to Anfield.
01:26Sixth in the table at the start of play, the home team, but Liverpool do have games in hand on everybody.
01:33They've played 28 games, they have 46 points, and if they should win here, they will go third in the Premiership table at least for a couple of hours.
01:44Here's Gerrard.
02:02Early pressure from Liverpool as Heskey makes the challenge.
02:06Referee Paul didn't like it, and the free kick goes against the Liverpool man, who's their leading scorer this season, with 18 goals.
02:14Frantic early exchanges as you would expect here.
02:18The fans of both sides allow nothing more than total commitment from their players in this, the most fiercely contested of all the league games for these two famous clubs.
02:31Here's Robbie Fowler for Liverpool.
02:33Good effort from that range!
02:35Very good effort.
02:38Fowler claiming, I think that Fabien Barthez got a hand on the ball, but the referee seems to have indicated a goal kick.
02:45Intelligent, quick thinking here by Fowler.
03:01Oh!
03:07Irwin for United.
03:09Good ball into the box, to a Yorks header!
03:11And it took a very unpleasant bounce right in front of Westerwelle, which could have deceived the Liverpool goalkeeper.
03:17Both teams going close in the opening five minutes here.
03:21That bounce was what had Westerwelle fooled.
03:25On a wet pitch, you really wouldn't have expected the ball to rear up quite as high as that.
03:31Sime Houpiat clearly didn't get the call from his teammates, I think that's what he was complaining about there as the cross came in.
03:38He didn't think there was a danger, he was wrong.
03:42Beckham.
03:45Foul on him.
03:47David Beckham incidentally needs one more goal to equal his career best total for a season for Manchester United.
03:54He's on eight at the moment.
04:17Gallagher lets the ball run for a Liverpool throw.
04:23Danny Murphy, just back from injury himself.
04:27And Liverpool, with so many games coming up, very grateful that Murphy, Barnaby and indeed Patrick Berger have all returned to fitness.
04:37Here's Babel.
04:39Fowler!
04:41Well, that was good defending by Neville.
04:45Sweet move by Liverpool, started with that beautiful backheeler from Steven Gerrard out on the right.
04:55First corner of the game, to the home team.
05:00And Houpiat providing a problem for goalkeeper Barthez.
05:06Won't get a very clear view of the ball around the giant Finn.
05:11He came to meet it!
05:13And the header stopped on the line by Barthez.
05:17Clever ploy by Liverpool, you might have expected him to stay where he was, blocking Barthez, but he came away and won the header.
05:32And a foul by the Liverpool central defender.
05:36Ryan Giggs, the man brought down. Giggs playing for the first time in six matches, he's been out with a hamstring problem.
05:52Well within range for David Beckham, as Westerwelle will know only too well.
06:07Took a deflection as well, but the deflection didn't help Beckham really.
06:12Came off a Liverpool man, and United get their first corner.
06:17Cascade of boos for Beckham.
06:22Heard it all before, seen it, been there, got the t-shirt, won't bother him.
06:30Clutch of players here on the near post.
06:33As they spin away, another well-practiced routine, and Babel has had to concede a second corner.
06:52Just to prove they're even-handed, one side of Anfield having given abuse to David Beckham, the other side joins in now.
07:03It wasn't a bad corner, but no United man was close enough.
07:10Irwin gets it back in again, and it's a good ball back in, and Wes Brown's header goes just wide.
07:15He's never scored in a first-team fixture for Manchester United, Wes Brown.
07:20Might not get a better chance than this today.
07:22Wasn't easy by any means, Patrick Berger jumping ahead of him, made the angle difficult.
07:32This is Brown for Manchester United, now Nicky Buck.
07:35Closed down quickly by Didier Hamann.
07:41Phil Neville in a bit of trouble for a moment.
07:45Quarter of an hour gone at Anfield, and still goalless.
07:49Quarter of an hour gone at Anfield, and still goalless.
07:51Barthez slipped as he cleared the ball there, stumbled, and almost gave it away.
07:56Here's Steven Gerrard, great effort, what a wonderful goal by Gerrard!
08:03Fantastic strike!
08:08Quarter of an hour gone at Anfield, as good a goal as you'll see, gives Liverpool the lead.
08:15Lovely lay-off by Fowler, there was only one thought in Steven Gerrard's mind.
08:20He took the ball on three strides, and then hit an absolute unstoppable drive.
08:27Barthez powerless to keep it out, and Liverpool in front here.
08:34Steven Gerrard's eighth goal of the season, brings a smile to the face of his manager.
08:45Scowl on the face of Sir Alex Ferguson says it all really, his team a goal behind here.
08:53Irwin on the overlap.
08:55This is Roy Keane setting up the long-range drive.
08:57Vestavol made a bit of a mess of it, although he did at least keep it out.
09:01Dwight York back to Ryan Giggs, and Liverpool survive.
09:07They are poor conditions for goalkeepers, a wet pitch, the ball very slippery of course.
09:12Wonderful end-to-end game it's been so far.
09:17Berger.
09:22Now Murphy. Fowler.
09:25Good ball.
09:27Steven Gerrard.
09:29Fowler!
09:30That was an important interception by Brown, Fowler's kept it in play.
09:38And here's Hamann.
09:40Didn't really catch it, but Liverpool keep possession.
09:44Carrigan.
09:46Patrick Berger!
09:48Oh, that was inches away from doubling Liverpool's lead, and he knows it.
09:54Superb play by Liverpool, who really look up for this one this morning.
10:00It was a wonderful five-six man move, culminating in Patrick Berger's shot.
10:06What a comeback that would have been if that had gone in for the man who's been out for five months.
10:12And United looking hesitant.
10:31But Manchester United are far, far too good.
10:35To write off at this early stage of the game.
10:37And they've got a free kick here, and that yellow card is about to be brandished.
11:06But it goes without saying that that second goal against a team of the calibre of United is all important.
11:12This could be it for Fowler.
11:14It is!
11:15Robbie Fowler's strike, five minutes before half-time.
11:19Liverpool double their lead.
11:22What a half they've seen at Anfield.
11:29They get the second goal they needed at exactly the right moment.
11:33Steven Gerrard with a superb ball.
11:36Robbie Fowler with excellent control.
11:39The slip by Neville helped him for sure, but the left-foot shot, accurate and powerful.
11:45And Liverpool are in dreamland here at the moment.
11:54They'd have accepted a 2-0 lead under any circumstances.
11:57The fact that they've played so well will be really pleasing.
12:02Here they go again.
12:04Fowler's lay-up, Gerrard.
12:06Emil Heskey could make it three!
12:08What a good save.
12:10But it should have been three.
12:12Gerrard at the heart of it again.
12:15Well, you've got to credit Fabien Barthez, but for my money here, he shouldn't have been allowed to make this save.
12:21A lovely ball from Gerrard, from that kind of range.
12:24Heskey's really got to score.
12:26He thought he had.
12:28Well, it could have gone from good to even better for Liverpool in that moment.
12:34Still could.
12:36Hamann drives it back in, into the crowd, though.
12:39This has been a scintillating first-half performance.
12:45And there'll be two minutes of added time.
12:58I don't think you really need to add anything to his facial expression at the moment.
13:07Irwin, Keane.
13:10Here's Wes Brown.
13:17Phil Neville a bit short of that ball.
13:20And the tackle on Beckham.
13:22Phil Neville wins it back from Patrick Berger.
13:28That ball winning the header.
13:30Every single Liverpool header, tackle, pass and shot being greeted with uproarious applause at the moment.
13:53As Murphy presses on.
13:54Murphy presses on.
13:56Wes Brown's tackle.
14:03What a boost this will be for Liverpool if they can go on and win this match.
14:25Yeah!
14:28At this present moment, it smiles all round at Anfield if you're a Liverpool fan.
14:33Steven Gerrard scored a stunning goal.
14:36Had a part to play in Robbie Fowler's second.
14:39And Liverpool's first-half performance was nothing short of magnificent.
14:44The half-time score at Anfield.
14:46Liverpool 2, Manchester United 0.
14:55United's pride will have been rattled by that first half.
15:00I would expect to see much more from United in this second.
15:07Liverpool all in red.
15:09Manchester United in their change strip of all white.
15:13First clearance by Wes Brown.
15:25That's Patrick Berger.
15:26Pulled it back for Fowler on the near post.
15:38And then shot.
15:39He was playing for Germany in midweek.
15:55And just one or two encouraging signs from Manchester United's point of view
15:59that they may be getting a foothold in this game.
16:02They're two down, remember.
16:04Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler scoring Liverpool's goals in the first half.
16:09Here's Beckham.
16:10On to Sheringham.
16:12That's a good ball.
16:14Phil Neville.
16:15Goes for return.
16:16Beckham looking for Dwight York who controlled it well.
16:19Sets up the shot.
16:21But the effort well off target.
16:23It was a good move though by Manchester United.
16:25That's the important thing.
16:26I think they'll take encouragement from the fact that
16:29they strung together so many accurate passes then.
16:45Sheringham on the ball now.
16:50Beckham and Neville.
16:52And on to Gary Neville from Phil, his brother.
16:57Keane.
17:02Did well, Keane.
17:03What a lovely ball as well for Neville.
17:04And the cross sets up an easy opportunity for Dwight York.
17:08But the linesman's flag has ruled out his celebration.
17:17Keep your eyes on the man in the middle of the picture there.
17:19Dwight York at this moment.
17:23Wow.
17:24That was close.
17:26And quite possibly onside.
17:36Once again, Barthez decides to do a little trick on the ball
17:39rather than go for the straightforward clearance.
17:50Irwin.
17:54Here's Keane.
18:01And again, Liverpool have got all their players.
18:04Goal side of the ball.
18:09Beckham's cross was a beauty though.
18:11This is Keane.
18:13At the moment, it's all Manchester United.
18:17That was a bad challenge by Danny Murphy
18:20who's already been yellow carded, remember.
18:22And could be in trouble here, Murphy.
18:25It's going to be a second yellow and that means red.
18:43And now Liverpool will be forced to make a change
18:47that they hadn't expected and didn't want to make.
18:53They're going to take off Robbie Fowler
18:56to bring on an extra midfield player named Gary McAllister.
19:12Sensible move by Julio, particularly now that they're down to 10 men
19:16freshening things up with two new players.
19:19They've got 20 minutes to hold on to their lead
19:23and one man less.
19:24You don't want to play Manchester United with 10 men.
19:28It's bad enough with 11.
19:30If you had 12, you might still lose to them.
19:33But with 10, well, it's certainly put a different complexion on the game.
19:38Liverpool will be grateful now for that two-goal margin.
19:44Pesky.
19:46Dispossessed by Irwin.
19:50One back by Babel.
20:00Well, if ever there was a moment in the game
20:03when Liverpool were down to 10 men
20:05Well, if ever there was a moment in the game
20:07when Liverpool were vulnerable
20:09that moment is now.
20:15Beckham.
20:17This is Nicky Butt.
20:20On to Yorke.
20:21Miscontrolled.
20:29Bancho concedes the throw.
20:31There's a slight anxiety about Liverpool's play now.
20:34They're not playing with the flowing confidence
20:37they displayed early on.
20:45I think this is possibly the most anonymous game I've ever seen Giggs play.
20:49He just hasn't done anything at all.
21:0113 minutes remaining at Anfield.
21:03Liverpool lead Manchester United 2-0.
21:05The game in the second half hasn't been as good as the first.
21:08Nowhere near as exciting.
21:10But Manchester United certainly have improved a lot.
21:15Paul Scholes for them.
21:18Silvestre.
21:22Lovely little dummy allowing the ball through to Roy Keane.
21:27Here's Dwight Yorke.
21:29His lay-off picks out Beckham.
21:31Look how many men there are in the middle here for Manchester United.
21:34There's a bit of pushing going on as the cross came in, I think.
21:38And Liverpool have been awarded a free kick.
21:45Pupil and referee Graeme Paul in conversation.
21:48The pressure from Barnaby, fresh into the game, having only been on a few minutes.
22:00Vartez, back to his tricks again.
22:02Silvestre.
22:10There's a bit of pushing going on here.
22:12The pressure from Barnaby, fresh into the game, having only been on a few minutes.
22:21Vartez, back to his tricks again.
22:29Dwight Yorke doing well but Liverpool have it back with Carragher.
22:32Here's Paul Scholes
22:35And that's not like him and gives Liverpool the opportunity to get in United's heart for a change
22:42Because certainly the last 15 minutes or so of this game has been dominated by the visiting team who are still
22:492-0 adrift
22:51Keane
22:53Silvestre
22:56You
23:01Gary Neville
23:03Now David Beckham
23:08Big booming cross to the far post is dealt with easily
23:13Gerard
23:15What a good ball that was
23:18What a good tackle, but Heskey still going up against Wes Brown. Oh
23:23Oh
23:25How unlucky?
23:26Well, it was a far far more difficult opportunity than the one he had just before halftime
23:31But Heskey almost turned it into a goal another brilliant ball by Gerard Wes Brown was strong Heskey slightly stronger
23:41Shook him off and that's how close he was to a goal it brushed against the post
23:53Oh
23:59Here's Beckham
24:04Keane
24:07One back by Brown
24:10On to the United captain
24:14Scholes
24:15Dwight York good save by Westerweld
24:18Liverpool's defense almost penetrated with two minutes remaining here
24:23Did
24:26Well Sander Westerweld had his critics this season the Liverpool keeper
24:30But he's been equal to everything that Manchester United have produced today, and that was a brave save
24:40Attendance confirmed full house forty four thousand eight hundred and six
24:46And the majority of them will be going home very happy it's been a day of glory for Liverpool
24:52They played exceptionally well in the first half. They scored two goals
24:56They could have had more final scoreline here at Anfield of Liverpool to
25:02Manchester United nil
25:05Two great goals sealing it for Liverpool Steven Gerrard's finish was to become a trademark of course
25:11It was the first time in 22 years that Liverpool had beaten Manchester United home and away a stunning feat
25:17Considering that United were on the brink of yet another Premiership title the Red Devils finished ten points clear of Arsenal