Liverpool: James, Kvarme, McAteer (Collymore 51), Wright,
Bjornebye, Harkness, Barnes (Berger 67), Thomas, Redknapp,
Fowler, McManaman.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Warner, Matteo.
Goals: Barnes 19.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Pallister, Cantona, Butt, Cole,
Beckham, P. Neville, Keane, Scholes (McClair 81), Johnsen.
Subs Not Used: Irwin, Poborsky, Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer.
Booked: G. Neville, Pallister.
Goals: Pallister 13, 42, Cole 63.
Att: 40,892
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
By Rob King, PA Sport Football Correspondent
Gary Pallister pounded Liverpool into abject submission and left only Arsenal as a distant threat to Manchester United's fourth title in five years. And he also hammered out a warning to German giants Borussia Dortmund as they prepare to defend a slender one goal lead in Wednesday's European Cup second leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The colossus of Old Trafford strode into Anfield and powered home a rare and priceless headed double to set up the victory that lifts Alex Ferguson's men five points clear of a home side that literally had no defence. Twice left cruelly exposed by the England giant on corners, jinxed goalkeeper David James's latest floundering handed the decisive third goal to the brilliant Andy Cole from a battle that was more about nerve and bottle than skill.
United, hardened to the challenge by past triumphs and this season's European tightrope, always had the edge over the old East Lancs Road enemies who have forgotten what it takes to win the title in the seven years since Kenny Dalglish's last. Roy Evans' men have now dropped 21 points at home, the sort of return that would have Bill Shankly spinning in his grave. Even a Liverpool victory might have only delayed the inevitable, United further cushioned by a game in hand for their demanding run-in when they play their last four games over nine days. But with Cole's darting runs and the precision work of David Beckham and Eric Cantona, the quiet young professionals of United had the edge from the start over their flashier rivals.
Robbie Fowler, desperate to sign off with a flourish before his three-match suspension for his reckless dismissal in Wednesday's Merseyside derby, was left forlorn and frustrated by United's masterful defenders. Oh that Liverpool could say the same of theirs. James took all the flak but he was left groping by the poor marking which allowed Pallister to head past him in the 12th and 41st minutes. John Barnes also had a free header to level in between, but when James completely misjudged Gary Neville's early second half cross, the in-form Cole fully justified his selection ahead of Ole Solskjaer with a clinical finish for his seventh goal of the season.
It was only United's second win in 109 visits but it gave them the double over Liverpool this season, and that is the stamp of champions. Security was watertight at Anfield to prevent terrorism disrupting a Merseyside spectacular for the second time in a fortnight and Ferguson had the added protection of Peter Schmeichel back in goal. Ryan Giggs, Denis Irwin and David May did not manage to beat their injuries, while Paul Scholes came in for Solskjaer as Ferguson went back to a more orthodox formation.
The only change in the home line-up was the return of Jason McAteer for Rob Jones in defence. But they were soon rolled back by United's early possession game, barely getting a touch before Cole headed up Beckham's 90-second cross from the right for Cantona to launch an athletic volley dipping just over the bar. Cantona, trading passes with Scholes, then scraped a ball into the path of Cole, breaking clear of a square Liverpool defence, and James had to be quick off his line to plunge at his feet. United's only vulnerability was of their own making, Pallister's misplaced pass allowing Stig Bjornebye to break down the right and cross through an outmanned defence. But Steve McManaman shot wide.
Pallister made up for that with the simplest of breakthroughs in the 12th minute, only his second league goal of the season. A 50-1 bet for first goalscorer, he mocked those odds as he was allowed to rise majestically in the crowded area, with mark Wright a yard off him, to power Beckham's right wing corner past James. Cole should have made it 2-0 in the 16th minute, nipping in ahead of James onto Bjorn Tore Kvarme's awful back header, hooking it round the goalkeeper and then completely miscuing with the goal at his mercy.
But two minutes later Liverpool were level from a corner, taken short by Bjornebye to McAteer on the right. He swung the ball over and this time it was Barnes with a free downward header from eight yards. Schmeichel's fingertips could not dig out the 33 year old's fourth goal of the season from inside his right hand post and a huge roar exploded from Scouse throats. Fowler, highly-charged for the occasion, exchanged passes with McManaman to get through onto Schmeichel but pulled his shot wide of the far post.
But Liverpool's defence and James' outlandish antics were giving Evans' palpitations on the sidelines and encouragement to United's talented forward line. They might have a penalty when Kvarme clearly blocked Cole's lob with his hand, ignored by referee Graham Poll, who later saw nothing wrong with Ronny Johnsen's well-timed interception which sent Fowler flying. United littered the environs of their penalty area with free kicks as they resisted increasing Liverpool pressure, both Cantona and Keane making good headed clearances to supplement the sterling work of Pallister and Johnsen.
The Norwegian defender nearly made it 2-1 in the 41st minute when he connected with an inswinging corner from the left, James showing great reactions to palm the ball up and over his bar. But from the second corner, this time it was Pallister ducking in towards the near post, again ahead of Wright, to glance a beautiful header home for his second, a sensational double for the big England defender. James saved smartly from Cole as Liverpool's defence again wilted and it took only five minutes of the second half before Evans readjusted, replacing Jason McAteer with Stan Collymore to support Fowler, McManaman going to right midfield.
But United snared the Liverpool spearhead in their offside trap to the frustration of the home fans, and so on came Patrick Berger for Barnes after 66 minutes. It was all-or-bust time and Collymore's looping header came down on Schmeichel's angle as the pressure was piled on the United goal. Gary Neville was booked for a foul on Collymore, followed by Pallister for a foul on Berger 11 minutes from time, but United had easily weathered the storm.
And Fowler's chance to sign off with his 31st goal was denied when Schmeichel blocked at almost point blank range as the little pickpocket darted onto Berger's cross. But it was Cole who should have added the postscript, running through clear but slicing his shot nearer the corner flag. It could not quell the taunts of 'champions' which stuck in the craw of the Liverpool fans as they poured away.
Two goal hero Gary Pallister refused to lay a final claim to the title after Manchester United put a huge dent in Liverpool's fast fading championship hopes with their 3-1 win at Anfield. The England defender admitted: "That was a massive result for us. It was a big game. It was always going to be difficult but the lads rode the storm. "The result was the main thing for us today. It was a massive result for us, but Arsenal are still in there as well and it is down to them now to keep up with the pace." Pallister's goals were a direct result of set-pieces practised on the training field last week. He said: "We talk about the set-pieces during the week, and worked on them, which we don't usually do so much and what we did on the training ground has paid off." John Barnes' header equalised for Liverpool but Pallister's second and a poacher's goal by Andy Cole sealed the points for United.
Victorious boss Alex Ferguson said: "It was a marvellous result for us. It is a very difficult place to come -- you relish victories when you get them. I was greatly pleased to get the result. "I think we now have to just concentrate on our job and if we do that we will win the league." Ferguson heaped praise on Cole, who had chances to add to his single goal. "He was razor sharp, absolutely brilliant," enthused Ferguson. "He's got another goal and won't do him any harm at all."
Liverpool manager Roy Evans refused to throw in the towel completely but admitted: "It was a game we had to win to maintain our challenge." He added: "We won't be throwing any towels in but you can't give away goals like that at this level and come back. There was no way back for us today after the third one." "Mathematically it is still there but we have still got the thing about second place as well. We will not say it's over but it is obviously a big dent in our pride and in our chances." Evans refused to criticise keeper David James, whose mistake let in Cole for his goal. "It is always a worry when your keeper has had a dodgy time but in the last two matches, at Everton and Sunderland, he really played well," said Evans. "But today, how do you organise for a goal like that?".
Ferguson admitted he was in total shock after watching Pallister score twice. "It'll take me two days to get over that," joked the Manchester United boss after the giant defender's match-winning performance. However Ferguson was wary of predictions that the title race was as good as over after the champions' victory. He said: "It's a really significant result for us and we're in a good position, but that's all. We know through experience how easy it is to lose titles, and with these four games in eight days coming up we need to think about winning them. "But we have a much better side and a much stronger pool of players than when we lost the League from that position in 1992," he added.