Stevie G sees red as Liverpool lose ground in CL race

Juan Mata grabbed a vital brace for United

Steven Gerrard was sensationally sent off just 48 seconds after coming on as Liverpool succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

The two sides met in one of the biggest games in the English footballing calendar at Anfield. Liverpool and United are battling for the Premier League top four and the former could have leapfrogged the Red Devils if they had taken all three points.

However, it was a poor day for the red half of Merseyside as Juan Mata struck once in each half to secure the win for their bitter rivals. Gerrard's sending off in his final game against United came less than a minute after he had come on as a half-time substitute, and it was always a long way back for Liverpool from that point on.

Daniel Sturridge gave the Reds a lifeline when he scored with 20 minutes left but the home side couldn't find an equaliser, while Wayne Rooney missed a late penalty to add further gloss to the score line.

United made a really bright start to the game and controlled proceedings from the off. They dominated possession and silenced the Anfield crowd as the hosts struggled to get going.

Louis van Gaal's men took a deserved lead on 14 minutes when Ander Herrera slid Mata into the box and he made no mistake, finding the net with a low finish that came off the inside of the post.

Liverpool were slow to get going and Adam Lallana wasted their only real chance of the first half. Jordan Henderson and Sturridge did fantastically on the counter attack to create the opening, which Lallana guided wide of the post from just inside the box.

Gerrard was brought on for Lallana at half-time for what his last game against United, but no-one could have expected how short that appearance would turn out to be.

He obviously wanted to get Anfield rocking and clattered into Mata straight from the off, before he was challenged by Herrera and appeared to stamp on the midfielder. It was a crazy moment for Gerrard and the referee was quick to correctly brandish a straight red card, just a matter of seconds after he came on.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Liverpool with 10 men, and things got even tougher when Mata doubled his and United's tally with 59 minutes on the clock. He played a one-two with Angel Di Maria before hitting an acrobatic volley that found the bottom corner of the net.

Liverpool got one back with 20 minutes remaining when Sturridge was played into the box by Phillippe Coutinho and the England striker smashed a shot that took a slight deflection off Phil Jones and beat David de Gea at his near post.

The Reds tried in vain to get a second goal to drag them level but United managed the game well and prevented them building up much momentum. The visitors held firm and even had a glorious chance to rub salt into Liverpool's wounds.

In injury time, Emre Can felled Daley Blind inside the area and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Up stepped Rooney but he was denied as Simon Mignolet produced a great diving save to his right-hand side.

A controversial match ended in more controversy. United were angry as Martin Skrtel appeared to catch De Gea when going for a through ball and players from both sides squared up as Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle.

However, United thoroughly deserved the victory, which has now given them a five-point advantage over Liverpool in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League.