The Red Devils staked further claim to a place in the top four with an impressive win over deadly rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

Going into the match, Liverpool was on a 17 match unbeaten run, having not lost since the reverse fixture last December. United, meanwhile, were looking to do the double over Liverpool and exorcise the demons of their calamitous 2013-14 campaign.

It was the visitors who got off to an electric start, when on 14 minutes Ander Herrera’s perfectly weighted pass found Juan Mata on the edge of the Liverpool area. With his first touch he expertly steered the ball past Alberto Moreno, and with his second he drilled a low shot across goal and into the bottom corner.

As on last Sunday, United dominated the first half. The high pressing tactics of manager Louis Van Gaal finally seemed to click, as he looked to emulate the fabled success of his predecessor Alex Ferguson.

For the most part, Liverpool were toothless in attack, but shortly before the half hour mark Daniel Sturridge played the ball in to Adam Lallana who, with an open shot at goal, dragged his effort agonizingly wide. After the half-time break, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was subbed on to a rapturous welcome, in what would be his last ever game against United before his defection to MLS next summer. However, this would be less a fairy-tale ending and more of a comedy, as he was shown a straight red card an astonishing 38 seconds in for a vicious stamp on Herrera.

For the next few minutes, the game descended to the realms of farce, after United defender Phil Jones was only shown a yellow card for a bone-shattering challenge, and then Angel Di Maria was not even cautioned for his NFL-style catch of the ball in direct sight of the referee, infuriating the home fans.                                                                                                                                                                                                           Playing to their numerical advantage, it was United who struck next.  Juan Mata played a subtle one-two pass to Di Maria, who gently chipped it back for him to acrobatically scissor kick past Simon Mignolet. It was a fine finish and a fine day for man of the match Juan Mata, arguably his best in a Red shirt since his move from Chelsea just over a year ago.

The 2 goal cushion would prove vital, as 10 minutes later Daniel Sturridge would pull one back for Liverpool, squeezing in a shot at the near post to halve the deficit. The match was uneventful after this, with Liverpool unable to breach the Mancunian’s sturdy defensive line. In the dying moments, United were awarded a penalty after their counterattack had been brought to a halt by Emre Can.

However it was not to be as Wayne Rooney’s spot kick was pawed away by Mignolet. The final whistle brought an unusual sight, with Van Gaal going to celebrate with the players and travelling fans, a peculiar break in character from the normally authoritarian Dutchman.

Perhaps it is that he, too, realizes the significance of this result in the chase for the top four. This victory now leaves Manchester United in fourth place, two points behind Manchester City and six behind Chelsea, both who they are yet to play. They sit five points ahead of Liverpool, who are in fifth place.