Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0

An Injury time winner from David N’Gog gave Liverpool and manager Rafael Benitez a vital three points in a dramatic derby victory over rivals Manchester United.

N’Gog scored deep into injury time after replacing Fernando Torres who had given Liverpool the lead earlier in the second half.

Nemanja Vidic and Javier Mascherano again saw red in this fixture in a dramatic last ten minutes in which the game exploded.

Liverpool went into the game looking for a win over their great rivals to ignite a season which has seen them already lose four Premiership games, and more recently four games on the bounce.

Rafael Benitez was under a lot of pressure in recent weeks and was booed during Liverpool’s most defeat against Lyon on Wednesday night.

His side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation which included Fabio Aurelio playing on the left to help keep things tight against in form Antonio Valencia, and Dirk Kuyt partnering the returning Fernando Torres.

They started with the look of a side hungry to avenge recent results but were fortunate when the returning Wayne Rooney had a goal disallowed for United after only two minutes for a marginal offside decision.

United began brightly and kept the ball well but found themselves faced with a strong, combative Liverpool side who were closing them down all over the pitch.

Despite United’s early pressure, the games first chance fell to Liverpool. After a foul by Patrice Evra which earned him a deserved yellow card, a fantastic free kick by Aurelio was destined for top corner before Edwin Van Der Sar produced a top save and got up in time to save the rebound from Dirk Kuyt.

United responded strongly and a flowing move saw Valencia get past Emanuel Insua and put a cross on Rooney’s head only to see his effort saved by Pepe Reina.

United continued controlling the game, keeping the ball nicely without really troubling. Liverpool’s resolute defending was typified by Captain Jamie Carragher’s crunching slide tackle in the penalty area on Michael Carrick.

The best chance of the half fell to Aurelio, after a long defence splitting ball came to Yossi Benayoun, whose cross came nicely for the Brazilian. His header fell straight into the grateful arms of Van Der Sar.

Liverpool finished the half strongly and the crowd started to sense the side were putting their recent poor form behind them. Prior to the game, a protest outside the ground was carried out by Liverpool fans to signal their discontent at the clubs American owners.

It was Liverpool who continued their good first half work at the start of the second half but again failed to make the most of an inviting opportunity.

After an uncharacteristic mistake from Patrice Evra, whose misplaced pass fell straight to Benayoun, he found Dirk Kuyt who inexpicably opted to pull the ball back to the unsuspecting the Israeli, instead of taking on a shot from eight yards out.

Like Kuyt previously, Fernando Torres appeared at a loss for ideas when he raced through down the left only for his eventual product to be neither a shot or cross, instead blazed across the box and out for a throw in.

Liverpool became increasingly dominant and the breakthrough finally came for Liverpool after sixty five minutes.

The ball fell to Benayoun in midfield, who hit a perfectly placed through ball into Torres who held off Rio Ferdinand and fired the ball high past Van Der Sar.

It was no more than Liverpool’s efforts in the game had deserved and the onus was now on United to break down the resolute Liverpool defence.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s response was to introduce Nani and Michael Owen to the game, which was greeted with a chorus of boos and chants of Judas around Anfield following his move to United after Owen’s previously successful career with the Merseyside club.

Their introduction had an immediate impact, with Nani firing a shot at Reina who had been untested for much of the game.

United became increasingly ominous and produced their best opportunity as the last ten minutes approached. Good work from Owen produced a chance for Valencia, but he fired his effort off the cross bar from an acute angle inside the six yard box.

That sparked United into life and a moment of great controversy followed.

Owen again caused havoc in the Liverpool defence when he got through on goal only to be pulled down by Jamie Carragher. Referee Andre Mariner opted to only produce a yellow card, much to the dismay of the United players and particularly Sir Alex Ferguson, who felt Owen was denied a clear goal scoring opportunity.

United’s anger was doubled moments later when Nemanja Vidic was sent off in a similar situation.

His second yellow card for pulling back Kuyt on the half way line when he was clean through on goal was deserved, but questions will be asked about the consistency of refereeing after the decision to only book Carragher moments earlier in a much more threatening situation.

Moments later, Mascherano also saw red for a second yellow after a desperate lunge on United keeper Van Der Sar deep in injury time.

But that wasn’t the end of the drama, as a minute after the allotted 5 minutes injury time was over and United piled forward in search of an equaliser, Liverpool found themselves two on one and David N’Gog slotted away the winner for Liverpool.

The mass celebrations which ensued around Anfield were epitomised by Goalkeeper Reina who ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of a jubilant Kop.

The result and performance were exactly what Liverpool manager Benitez needed and desired in recent weeks meanwhile Ferguson will surely be questioning the refereeing decisions despite his sides lacklustre display.

So Heskey will move on from Villa to secure his England place.... good riddance!

After reading Emile Heskey's comments following England’s defeat in Ukraine on Saturday, fans who attend Aston Villa games regularly will have breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Heskey believes he will need to find a new home in January after making just 5 appearances this season, the majority as a substitute.

And from attending every home game this season, I get the impression that the majority of the boo boys at Villa Park would be willing to drive him to his next club.

During last Monday nights game against Manchester City, Heskey's introduction in the second half didn't exactly trigger an increased level of optimism amongst the Villa faithful.

Heskey's most telling contribution during his stay on the pitch was to collide with his own player, when he had the chance to slide through a team mate for a goal scoring opportunity in injury time.

The jeers and disgust seen around the ground said it all.

Since being signed to boost Villa's Champions League aspirations last January by boss Martin O'Neill, Heskey has managed just 2 goals in 19 appearances.

In that time, his only performance of any repute came against Portsmouth in his debut, where he struck the winning goal and showed signs of developing a promising relationship with fellow England hopeful Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Safe to say that hasn't been the case. Even when selected continuously ahead of fan favourite John Carew last season, Heskey failed to develop any relationship with Agbonlahor. When selected along side Carew, he has looked even worse.

Also in that time, his poor finishing which was highlighted in a recent International against Croatia has blighted both his and Villa's progress.

Despite that, England boss Fabio Capello has picked him consistently, sighting his contribution to the teams overall play.

This attitude directly contradicts Capello's overall ideology that he only picks players who are in form for their respective clubs and has seen him turn his nose up at starting Jermaine Defoe and Agbonlahor, and not even giving a place in the squad to Sunderland's Darren Bent, all of whom have been in fine goal scoring form this season.

Heskey is probably right that he may need to move on to secure his England place, but a message to any potential suitors, beware. The player Capello loves does not turn up 90% of the time at club level. The ability to consistently bully defenders and win headers is not present. Goal scoring is anonymous.

What you are left with is a player who spends more time on his backside, usually down injured, than being a threat in the opposing penalty area.

If that’s what you look for in a Premier League striker, then there is an entire fan base who will give any manager a character reference.