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An occasion that had begun with angry Liverpool fans staging a protest march against their clubs owners ended with a precious victory for Liverpool, as Fernando Torres and David Ngog scored the second-half goals that brought an end to a run of four consecutive defeats.

Torres shook off Rio Ferdinand to send a fierce drive into the roof of the net in the 65th minute, rewarding a confident period of play from the home side as they shook off their recent slump. And in a breathless finale, which saw first Nemanja Vidic and then Javier Mascherano sent off, David Ngog scored on the break in the final minute of injury time to bring relief and euphoria to most of Anfield.

Victory lifts some of the pressure on Rafael Benítez, who was again without his captain Steven Gerrard due to his groin problem while Wayne Rooney recovered from a calf injury to line up for the opposition. Torres and Glen Johnson were also back for Liverpool after they missed the Champions League defeat by Lyon on Tuesday.

United had Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick back in their starting line-up while Michael Owen, returning to his former club, was on the bench.

The visiting fans made the most of Liverpool’s recent misfortune. Beach balls, Eric Cantona masks and insulting banners were smuggled into the away section. Some beach balls ended up on the pitch, stewards hurriedly clearing them away, and there were even some from the Kop end, brought in by the Spirit of Shankly group members –who had organised the protests against co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett – just to deflate their rivals’ joke.

More beach balls arrived when Fabio Aurelio tried to take a corner in front of the visiting fans, Torres seeing his header swept away.

Evra was booked after 15 minutes for his second trip on Torres in as many minutes, and from the free-kick Aurelio sent in a curled shot that Edwin van der Sar clawed away. It went straight to Dirk Kuyt, whose follow-up was also saved. Then Lucas robbed Paul Scholes and gave Kuyt another chance, this one guided wide of the far post.

Rooney, who had seen one effort disallowed for offside, rose to meet an Antonio Valencia cross after 20 minutes but his header was held low to his right by Jose Reina. Torres was receiving some tough treatment, and Vidic was fortunate to escape a booking for a fierce challenge from behind.

United had better possession though and threatened with pace and slick movement, but it was Van der Sar again after 36 minutes who needed to dive to his right to keep out an Aurelio header from Yossi Benayoun’s cross.

Kuyt should have scored early in the second period when he was played in by Glen Johnson, but he chose to pass rather than blast an angled effort, and the chance was lost. United ’s threat on the break lingered, however, and it needed a block from Johnson on the far post to keep out a Rooney header from Giggs’ free-kick.

However, Liverpool’s confidence was growing and they took the lead after 65 minutes. Benayoun’s pass sent Torres beyond Ferdinand, onside only by inches. The Spain striker held off the England centre-back and lashed a shot into the roof of the net, beating Van der Sar at his near post.

Tempers began to fray and the tackling became more full-blooded and the eventual sendings off did not come as an enormous surprise, Vidic being dismissed for a second booking in the last minute. Liverpool’s numerical advantage did not last long, however, as Mascherano soon followed for a reckless challenge on Van der Sar.

A frantic injury-time period then reached a stirring conclusion when Liverpool broke and Ngog was released by Kuyt with only Van der Sar to beat and tucked the ball into the corner

Premier LeagueLiverpoolManchester UnitedKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk