JOHN O'Shea scored an injury-time winner to stun Liverpool and give United a commanding lead in the Premiership title race.

The Reds had been second best to Liverpool for long periods, and when they had Paul Scholes sent-off with four minutes left, a point was surely the best they could have hoped for.

But in injury time O’Shea scored in the six-yard box with what was United’s only shot on target in the whole match. The Reds now hold a nine-point lead over Chelsea, who beat Portsmouth 2-0 in the late kick-off.

But it was so crucial. The United fans celebrated as if they had won the title, and their players were soon to join in after surviving a stunned Liverpool’s attempts to fight back in the dying seconds.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez had all his big guns back, and even risked Peter Crouch on the bench despite his broken nose and the need for an operation next seek. Steve Finnan played his 400th career league game.

But that is a little short of Ryan Giggs’ remarkable 700 matches for United, who opted for Henrik Larsson up front and Louis Saha on the bench.

The opening was tense and scrappy, and the first decent effort was a 25-yarder from Daniel Agger that dipped over Edwin van der Sar’s bar on 12 minutes.

A minute later United put together a fine move, instigated by Giggs who gave Patrice Evra the chance to chase to the line and cross for Cristiano Ronaldo to stab wide on the near post.

Then Finnan crossed for Mark Gonzalez to send in a header that Van der Sar saved to his left.

Drift

Liverpool used Steven Gerrard largely on the right, hoping he could drift inside to support Xabi Alonso, but it served only to give Scholes too much room, and the United man dictated much of the play.

Ronaldo burst through to fire over, Scholes having set up the play, before at the other end Craig Bellamy saw an effort deflected away off Nemanja Vidic.

A tapped free-kick then saw John Arne Riise fire a left-footer inches wide from 20 yards.

Liverpool started to peg United back into their last third, and one chance created by Bellamy after he had robbed Vidic, somehow eluded Dirk Kuyt in the six-yard box.

Bellamy’s pace continued to give United trouble, while Gonzalez fired in a 20 yarder that Van der Sar held. But the dangers of United on the break were all to evident.

Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo were an increasing threat, and Alonso got himself booked for kicking the ball away on 40 minutes after incidents with both United men.

Two stunning tackles by Jamie Carragher on Ronaldo and then Rooney before Michael Carrick was cautioned for holding back Riise.

Gerrard and then Bellamy both had good chances in the opening minutes of the second-half, before Bellamy had a close range effort ruled out for offside.

Bellamy and Kuyt both had efforts blocked before Riise fired a 20 yarder just over the angle.

Response

But United responded with breaks of their own, Ronaldo prominent, and on the hour Liverpool replaced Gonzalez with Fabio Aurelio, United soon to take off Evra and send on Mikael Silvestre, both teams now having sent on more defensive players, such was the delicate balance of the match.

Then United made a positive move, sending on the speedy Saha for Larsson, the Swede in his final league match for the club before his loan ends.

Then on 68 minutes Jermaine Pennant replaced Bellamy, who had run selflessly all match. Gerrard was pushed forward.

United lost Rooney after a foul by Carragher that cost the Liverpool man a booking. Rooney had damaged his knee and limped away to be replaced by O’Shea.

Crouch was then sent on for Mohamed Sissoko, and on 80 minutes Neville was cautioned for bringing down Pennant.

Crouch found space at the far post but, when a header seemed his best chance of scoring, he opted to bring the ball down and volley and van der Sar saved well to his left.

Four minutes from time Scholes managed to get himself sent-off for swinging, and missing Alonso with a right hook. The Spaniard had been holding the United man’s arm, and having already been booked was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card.

Van der Sar saved superbly from a Crouch shot, but in injury time United stole the points when O’Shea scored after a Ronaldo free-kick had rebounded off Jose Reina.

The goal stunned Anfield, who had seen their side dominate much of the second period but without adding the finishing touch.

For United, it will be a result savoured for years, one that almost certainly gives them the title.

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