Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool handed United boss Alex Ferguson his first home defeat in this fixture to close in on an 18th league title.

The Reds headed into the match on the back of a 19-game unbeaten run and were ahead after 15 minutes when John Barnes sprung the offside trap, carried the ball for 40 yards, and slotted past Jim Leighton.

Barnes added a second from the penalty spot and a rampant Liverpool should really have been out of sight before Ronnie Whelan chipped his own goalkeeper from 30 yards and caused Liverpudlian hearts to flutter for the final eight minutes.