Wes Brown was the unlikely scorer of United's first when he leapt to head in Wayne Rooney's cross and the visitors ended the first half with 10 men after Javier Mascherano was sent off for a second bookable offence after arguing with referee Steve Bennett.
Liverpool failed to make a period of second-half pressure tell, and Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the second from a corner in the 79th minute before Nani added a third two minutes later after good interplay with Rooney
Ferguson was hugely pleased with the display and told Sky Sports: "It was a really good performance - a performance of maturity.
"We've seen a team mature over the last six months and today they hit their high peak."
Asked to comment on the dismissal of Mascherano, the Scot added: "He has been booked and kept badgering the referee. We've talked about dissent and I think that was dissent."
Ferguson refused to accept the title was in the bag, and said: "It's going to go right to the end, Chelsea and Arsenal going really well. We've beaten a strong Liverpool side playing good football."
United striker Rooney added: “It’s always nice to beat Liverpool and it’s opened up a bit of a gap now at the top of the league.
“I’m delighted with the win. I know the goals will come (for him personally) - I’m not too concerned with that.”
Asked whether he thought the red card was a turning point, Rooney said: “We were always on top. The Liverpool players were tired at the end, but overall I don’t think it would have made any difference.
“We know it’s in our hands now - we have to try and win as many games as possible and stay top of the league. We’ve got a good mix in the dressing room and we know what we have to do between now and the end of the season.”
What do you think? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 20 and replies | View All
Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (23/03/2008 at 18:29)
JAX, Calgary (23/03/2008 at 18:47)
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (23/03/2008 at 19:08)
Patrick McLOUGHLIN, North Carolina, USA (23/03/2008 at 19:42)
Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (23/03/2008 at 19:48)
Bobbyboo (23/03/2008 at 20:37)
Southern Red (23/03/2008 at 22:52)
Slight worry is that Chelski haven’t lost at home this season and they only have one difficult away game. But we are playing like a true winning team – not like the one-man show in London
Salford Ken, South Australia (24/03/2008 at 00:17)
1 United 73
2 Chelsea 68
3 Arsenal 67
4 Liverpool 59
5 Everton 57
6 Ports'mth 50
7 A Villa 49
8 Blackburn 49
9 City 49
blood red, Sydney (24/03/2008 at 09:31)
RedRonny, Nairobi (24/03/2008 at 11:25)
The Gordon Hill Fanclub (24/03/2008 at 12:49)
OR IS IT JUST ME?
IF YOU AGREE LET ME KNOW YOUR OPINIONS.
si 4 kop, Runcorn (24/03/2008 at 15:23)
I was thinking the opposite to be quite honest? I think the media outlets are often pro Man Utd. If i didnt know, id say that Man Utd have a secret deal going on with numerous media sources so they dont get bad press!
How have you come to the conclusion that Sky are anti-Man Utd?
I dont think it really matters anyway, the important thing is Man Ure have the blessing of the Referees acc. They always butter you up, and thats the best thing you can ever hope for.
Bfast Red, Belfast (24/03/2008 at 16:38)
Just watched a re-run of The Final Word and his whole demeanor and attitude suggested he was quite peeved that United won the game.
He gave little or no credit to United for how they played and presented a totally biased view of the game based mostly around (in his opinion) the incorrect sending off and how Torres was roughly treated by United defenders. Even Richard Keys seemed genuinely puzzled by some of his responses to certain questions.
Another possibility is that in the beginning Sky's coverage of football was innovative for its time and Gray was part of that but its all old hat now.
It would not be the first time that someone courted controversy for its own sake in an attempt to hold on to their job. Pundits are two a penny nowadays and who knows what changes are a foot within Sky.
Maybe Gray sees the writing on the wall that he is fast approaching his sell by date.
COLIN,, Canada (24/03/2008 at 16:52)
TMUF, Manchester (24/03/2008 at 17:44)
After Ferguson totally outclassed Benitez in the league(5 straight wins) and Anfield being our second home, it is little wonder why you continue to show your support to our great team.
Torres was once again in Rio's back pocket, it wasnt until he got substituted that i realised he was playing!
To be honest it should have been a cricket score with no-one being surprised if it ended 8-0! Especially in the first half, totally outclassed!
Lets just hope we get Liverpool in the CL final. We could create a new record of the amount of goals scored by one team in the final!
(I think I would fear Derby more!
Careless Whisper (24/03/2008 at 17:46)
REDSEADOG, lovely thank's (24/03/2008 at 18:02)
IF YOU TELL A REF TO F OFF IT SHOULD BE A STRAIGHT RED,NO SECOND CHANCE.
aND EVEN IF HE HADNT BEEN SENT OFF WE WOULD STILL HAVE WON THEY WERE IN OUR BACK POCKETS ALL GAME,IN 1 FRAME IT SHOWED A LOB FROM OUR HALF THAT WENT STRAIGHT OVER THERE ENTIRE TEAM AND TO OUR MAN,IF THATS NOT COMMANDING A GAME I DONT KNOW WHAT ISNT.
ANDY GRAY IS A LOSER LIKE LIVERFOOL.
Rugbygirl, Urmston (24/03/2008 at 22:26)
Thomas, Norway (25/03/2008 at 08:25)
CaptainPark (25/03/2008 at 09:16)
Your team were played off the park, even before the sending-off, and that is fact. I know the truth hurts but accepting the truth will liberate you and take away that bitterness, and that is fact too!!!