Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand helped put Manchester United back in first place in the English Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday.
Scholes, making his 500th appearance for United, scored in the 39th minute and Ferdinand added the second in the 66th as United reclaimed first place above defending champion Chelsea.
Both teams have 22 points but United leads on goal difference. The Blues beat Portsmouth 2-1 on Saturday.
``After losing to Arsenal we couldn't afford to lose a big one again,'' said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team finished eight points behind Chelsea last year. ``So the players responded to that and I thought this was an excellent performance.''
The loss leaves Liverpool in 11th place _ 11 points behind the leaders _ with only one point from five games on the road.
``When you are at the top or the table or the bottom or in the middle it's the same _ you have to think about the next three points,'' said Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, whose club holds a record 18 league titles but has not won the championship since 1990. ``The only time you can improve is the next game.''
Liverpool nearly took the lead in the 30th minute before a record Premier League crowd of 75,808 at Old Trafford when Netherlands striker Dirk Kuyt met a left-wing cross from Mark Gonzalez. But he headed straight at goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar from six yards.
Nine minutes later, United went ahead when a low cross from Ryan Giggs found Scholes totally unmarked in front of goal. Although Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina raced off his line to block his first shot, the midfielder followed up to beat Sami Hyypia to the rebound and force the ball over the line.
``As long as the team wins it doesn't really matter who scores the goals,'' Scholes said. ``It was quite special. If it's your 500th game or your first game, playing for Manchester United is a big thing. Just to get the win it the most important thing.''
It was almost 2-0 two minutes later but Reina fingertipped a 25-yard shot from Louis Saha around the post after a great run and pass from Giggs had set up the opening.
Giggs also created the second goal in the 66th with another cross which Jamie Carragher failed to clear. Ferdinand pulled the ball onto his left foot and fired into the top corner for his first goal since an injury-time winner against Liverpool on Jan. 22.
``We're doing very well considering we don't have most or our recognized team yet,'' Ferguson said. ``Players like Gabriel Heinze and Mikael Silvestre are not 100 per cent and Cristiano Ronaldo missed the game today because of illness.
``We started the season with the hope and the desire and the intention to do well this season. And so far, they've not let us down.''
Also Sunday, it's: Blackburn vs. Bolton; Middlesbrough vs. Newcastle; Tottenham vs. West Ham; and Reading vs. Arsenal.
On Saturday, it was: Wigan 4, Manchester City 0; Charlton 0, Watford 0; Everton 2, Sheffield United 0; and Aston Villa 1, Fulham 1.
In Sunday's only League Championship game, West Bromwich Albion beat neighbour Wolves 3-0 to stay third in the standings behind Cardiff and Preston.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
