Manchester United Thumped 3-1 by Liverpool on Sunday - 03-07-11

March 7 - Up until last week, English Premier League leaders Manchester United could do no wrong, but then they lost to Chelsea midweek, and poised to beat Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield were themselves convincingly thumped 3-1.

What's more, all three of Liverpool's goals were scored by top Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt, who played arguably one of the best matches of his career, and who will have endeared himself to his teammates and fans even more with his superb hat-trick.

Before the game, the almost 45,000 fans packed into Anfield stadium in Liverpool were asking the same question: What kind of chance did Liverpool have of beating the virtually indestructible Manchester United? Well, they would soon find out.

From the opening whistle, both teams were on the defensive, neither willing to give an inch. But it also became clear that the Red Devils that have dominated throughout the season were simply not the same side facing Liverpool in Sunday's game.

For instance, Manchester's defensive partnership of Chris Smalling and Wes Brown - who were replacing Nemanja Vidic (suspended) and Rio Ferdinand (injured) - never really looked comfortable, and Liverpool eventually capitalised on this.

Kuyt opened the scoring for the home team in the 33rd minute, thanks to talented new signing Luis Suárez of Uruguay, who skilfully weaved his way in front of United's goal, found himself blocked, and passed to Kuyt who effortlessly tapped it in.

To the shock of Manchester United and their fans, Kuyt scored his second of the match a mere six minutes later. That time his biggest help came from United's own Nani, who strangely headed the back into his own area, which Kuyt nodded in.

The second half started out differently, with a reinvigorated United. However, it was Liverpool that scored next, when in the 64th minute, Kuyt knocked in a goal when his countryman and Man U goalie Edwin van der Sar spilled a Suárez free kick.

Liverpool fans went crazy at the thought of a 'whitewash' against their fiercest rivals, but to the credit of the visitors, the Red Devils pulled one back in the 90th minute, courtesy of Mexican forward Javier Hernández, who nodded in a superb effort.

Here are the complete English Premier League results from the weekend:

Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd
Wolves 3-3 Tottenham
Birmingham 1-3 WBA
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Bolton 3-2 Aston Villa
Fulham 3-2 Blackburn
Newcastle 1-2 Everton
West Ham Utd 3-0 Stoke city
Manchester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic