English Premier League Review: September 13

Rafa Benitez broke his long-running Manchester United hoodoo as his Liverpool side beat their fierce rivals for the first time in the Premier League under his management. Former Tottenham team-mates Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov started on opposing sides and it seemed like the Bulgarian would be the one to enjoy the spoils as the visitors raced into a third minute lead. Berbatov danced past two defenders and pulled back neatly for Carlos Tevez, who smashed home in clinical fashion.

United controlled these opening stages, and it was only a bit of misfortune that got the hosts back in it. Xabi Alonso's cross from the right deflected off Patrice Evra and Edwin van der Sar's punch rebounded off Wes Brown and went into the back of the net to level things up. Liverpool dominated from then on as United struggled to settle, and it was no surprise that they found the winner thirteen minutes from time through Ryan Babel's scuffed finish. Nemanja Vidic was then sent-off as United's day ended disastrously.

United are now six points behind Liverpool and five behind Arsenal after Arsene Wenger's side cruised to a 4-0 victory over Blackburn. Theo Walcott was in the starting line-up after his hat-trick heroics for England in midweek and the youngster played an influential role in the first goal. Jinking though the Rovers defence with all the skill he showed on Wednesday, the 19-year-old fed Robin van Persie with a neat pass and the Dutchman shot home to make it 1-0. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson delivered a scathing verdict on his team's display in the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield. He said: "We can take nothing positive from this. We didn't have one performer on the pitch apart from possibly Rio Ferdinand.