Points please Ferguson as Liverpool edged out

The Scot accepted some of his side’s defending – their Achilles heel all season – had been “erratic and desperate” in the second half but ultimately it did not matter.

Robin van Persie’s 21st of the season put United ahead in the 19th minute and Nemanja Vidic doubled the lead just after the break – inadvertently deflecting in Patrice Evra’s header.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge pulled one back, his second in as many games after joining from Chelsea for £12m, when he fired home after goalkeeper David de Gea had parried Steven Gerrard’s shot, setting up a tense finish for the Barclays Premier League leaders, but they ground out victory.

“I would have taken that score before the game,” said the United boss.

“The first-half performance, and until we scored the second goal, was absolutely brilliant.

“It was as good a performance as we have had for a long time and we should have been three or four up but when they got their goal they got inspired by it.

“Their supporters got going and it was hard work after that. I am just glad we won the match.

“I haven’t seen the (Liverpool) goal again but it looked a bit soft; once again the keeper has parried one out and nobody is following in the rebound.

“It lifted them. Some of our defending after that was a bit erratic and even desperate at times.

“But we managed to get through it. The last three or four minutes they were shoving players into the box and there was some interchange play we had to deal with.

“The name of the game is winning. There are moments where you have to defend. Today was one of them.”

Prior to the game Ferguson had claimed their arch-rivals were so far behind them he did not know where they were in the league.

But after extending the gap between themselves and the eighth-placed Merseysiders to 24 points he changed his tune slightly.

“Winning against Liverpool is important. It doesn’t matter where you are in the league,” he added. “Manchester United-Liverpool games are fantastic challenges.

“They are the two most successful teams in the country. Today hopefully those three points will be very important.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admitted a limp performance in the first 45 minutes had cost his side.

“I felt we were too tentative in the first half – but you can understand with young players playing here,” he said.

“I said before we went out that when you play a rival – and this rivalry is massive – you need courage and you need to have belief.

“We wanted to pass the ball, which is great, but it has to be aggressive and we presented them with the ball and three opportunities just by being tentative.”