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Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as Liverpool closed to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea with a 3-0 win at beleaguered rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
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| Liverpool's English midfielder Steven Gerrard (L) celebrates with Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez |
Gerrard found the net from 12 yards either side of half-time before Luis Suarez added a third goal in the 84th minute to give Liverpool their first victory at Old Trafford in five years.
Gerrard should have had a hat-trick of spot-kicks, with a third penalty hitting the post after United captain Nemanja Vidic had been shown a second yellow card for felling Daniel Sturridge, but it was to prove anecdotal.
Gerrard said that the result proved that Liverpool were "genuine contenders" for the title, but although they have a game in hand on Chelsea, manager Brendan Rodgers sounded a note of caution.
"Our dominance in the match was clear," he said. "We could arguably have scored five or six and that is testament to the quality of the players.
"But we won't get carried away. It is a wonderful result and our confidence is high at the moment, but our only focus is on the next game."
While Rodgers's side look more like potential champions with each display, United's season continues to unravel.
This was the defending champions' fifth home defeat of the campaign and having started the day 11 points below the Champions League places, their hopes of a top-four finish have been all but extinguished.
As a result, Wednesday's Champions League home game with Olympiakos now takes on crucial significance, but with United 2-0 down from the first leg of the last 16 tie, there could be more misery around the corner.
"It was important we came out in the second half and got a goal back, but instead we gave one away and that made it very difficult for us," said United manager David Moyes.
"It looks like we are a long way off (the top four). We are well aware of that, but we are going to keep fighting."
- Gerrard silences United catcalls
Moyes had admitted prior to the game that Liverpool's form "probably" made them favourites, but he will have been alarmed by the ease with which the visitors found holes in the hosts' defence.
There were fewer than three minutes on the clock when a Jordan Henderson pass down the inside-right channel set Sturridge free, but he shot wide with his weaker right foot.
United demonstrated plenty of commitment in the opening exchanges, with Phil Jones and Robin van Persie both flying into early challenges, but they had not mustered a shot worthy of the name by the time Liverpool went ahead in the 34th minute.
As Suarez looked to dink the ball past Rafael da Silva on the left-hand side of the area, the Brazilian jutted out a hand and referee Mark Clattenburg immediately awarded a penalty.
Having been booked for clattering Gerrard moments earlier, Rafael was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card, but the Liverpool captain showed no mercy from the spot to silence the catcalls from the Stretford End.
Liverpool's fans at the opposite end of the ground celebrated deliriously, and although United briefly rallied, with Wayne Rooney stinging Simon Mignolet's palms, there was more of the same to come.
Only 25 seconds of the second half had elapsed when Jones barged into Joe Allen after he had chested down a lofted pass from Henderson and Gerrard's second spot-kick, into the bottom-right corner, was again unerring.
After Van Persie had headed wide from a Rooney cross, Gerrard was handed an opportunity to complete a first ever hat-trick against United when Sturridge tumbled over Vidic's outstretched leg.
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| Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic (back) confronts Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge after the latter dived to win a penalty |
This time, however, his aim was slightly off, with the ball cannoning against the base of the left-hand post and away.
Liverpool were not finished though. Moments after being thwarted by a stunning save from David de Gea, Suarez ghosted in behind the hosts' flatfooted defence to roll home and make United's misery complete.
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| Liverpool's Luis Suarez celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League match against Manchester United |
Rosicky lashed home a spectacular half-volley after just 72 seconds to complete a third win in all competitions for Arsenal over their neighbours this term.
The victory moves Arsene Wenger's men to within four points of Chelsea with a game in hand after the leaders suffered a surprise reverse at Aston Villa on Saturday.
"It is a great result for us," Rosicky told Sky Sports. "These derby games are always very tough and it means a lot for us, obviously for our fans as well.
Discussing his stunning goal, Rosicky conceded there was a touch of fortune, with the ball falling perfectly into his path when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to control a return pass.
He said: "I just wanted to play Chambo through and his technique was not the best! After it bounced back to me, I just wanted to hit it. I just wanted to get it in at the far post. It was a great goal.
"It's one of my best, against Tottenham as well. I'm delighted by a goal like that and it is most important that we won the game."
The visitors came under sustained pressure in the second half as Tottenham sought a more direct route to goal, but Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker excelled in repelling an attack spearheaded by ex-Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Koscielny said: "Adebayor is a very good player. It's difficult, he's good in the air.
"But I think we worked very hard. All the players who were on the pitch tried to give themselves for the team and for the win.
"With Per, we communicate very well on the pitch. It is very important for a centre-back.
"When we work very hard on the pitch we can win so we need to keep this for the end of the season."
Rosicky believes a thrilling title race will go down to the wire and refused to rule out Tottenham's chances of claiming a top-four berth despite their latest setback.
"I don't think you can count them out," he added. "This is a very tough league. Every game is very important and there are plenty of games to go so it will be very tough until the end."
