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The game embodied all tensions of this year’s contest for the Premier League, with Manchester United coming from behind to end a bad recent record against Liverpool with a winner from Park ji-sung. The reigning champions, who now lead the League, will feel relieved that the substitute Yossi Benayoun merely headed into the hands of the United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in the 90th minute.

There was relief of another sort for United in the return as a substitute of Ryan Giggs, who has recovered from fracturing his arm. His side required every possible resource here.

There had been scepticism over Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim in his programme notes that he has “a twinge” of sympathy for Rafael Benítez. Considering recent results the feeling might just as easily have been a pang of indigestion while trying to absorb three consecutive defeats by Liverpool. The United manager’s stomach would have churned once again when the visitors took the lead in the fifth minute through a goal from a forward who keeps distressing the Old Trafford side.

After Michael Carrick had lost possession, Steven Gerrard, from his very advanced midfield position, fed the ball to the right and Dirk Kuyt delivered the deep cross that an utterly unmarked Fernando Torres headed handsomely beyond Van der Sar. The occasion had galvanised visitors who had probably forgotten their Europa League fixture last Thursday evening and showed no signs of fatigue.

All the same, United did equalise swiftly. Javier Mascherano persisted in fouling Antonio Valencia until both men had crossed the 18-yard line and the referee Howard Webb, having initially played the advantage, awarded a penalty. Ferguson wanted a red card for the Liverpool midfielder, but Mascherano may not have been the last man since Jamie Carragher was attempting to cover.

Pepe Reina then dived to his left to block Wayne Rooney’s spot-kick but had directed the ball back into the middle of the goalmouth, where the United forward knocked it into the net. The game was intriguing if attritional and Ferguson’s side went ahead thanks to a man whose very involvement may have been debatable to some.

Dimitar Berbatov had impressed against Fulham the previous weekend, yet the languid Bulgarian did not start here because Ferguson counted on the work-rate of Park in a congested midfield. The South Korean offered somewhat more than that, getting in front of Glen Johnson to head home a Darren Fletcher delivery after 60 minutes. United had inched a little closer to retaining the title.

Premier LeagueManchester UnitedLiverpoolKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk