Juan Mata scored twice at Anfield on Sunday to give Manchester United the advantage in the race for the top four with a 2-1 victory at Liverpool.
United were the better team and the Reds saw Steven Gerrard shown a red card less than a minute after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Mata struck with a clinical finish as the visitors bossed the first half and the Spaniard got his second with an acrobatic volley.
Daniel Sturridge gave the Merseysiders a life-line with 20 minutes to go, while Wayne Rooney missed a late penalty.
United started the game well and enjoyed lots of the possession.
They got the lead their opening deserved on 14 minutes when Mata was found by Ander Herrera and he beat Simon Mignolet with a low finish in off the far post.
Adam Lallana missed a great chance for Liverpool when they came into the game late in the first half, when he could only guide the ball wide after being unselfishly fed by Sturridge.
Gerrard was introduced at half-time but lasted less than a minute.
He clattered intoMata and then was challenged by Herrera, with Gerrard appearing to stamp on the Spaniard and the referee was quick to show a straight red.
It was 2-0 to United on 59 minutes as Angel Di Maria chipped a pass over the Reds defence and Mata found the bottom corner of the net with a fantastic acrobatic volley.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had a way back intothe game when Sturridge was played free by Phillipe Coutinho and blasted a strike past David de Gea at his near post, but that was as good as it got for them.
It could have been better for United as Emre Can fouled Daley Blind in the box in injury time, but Mignolet pulled off a superb save to deny Rooney.
