Paul Ince dealt his former club Manchester United's title hopes a severe blow last night when he equalised in the dying seconds to earn Liverpool a draw after they had trailed 2-0 at one stage.
It left United, who were reduced to 10 men when Denis Irwin was sent off in the 75th minute, three points behind Arsenal and although they have a game in hand, the north Londoners now have the edge in terms of goal difference.
It was a most breathless evening. Anfield has always appreciated thoroughbred sides and in between the frenzied bouts of Scouse partisanship, there seemed a genuine respect for United, if not individually then certainly collectively. It is called grudging admiration.
Liverpool's coach Gerard Houllier boxed clever before the game, praising United for their achievements while reminding his own crestfallen players that victory would serve to partially absolve them of their more transparent sins.
But for as long as they must perform without Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, Liverpool teams will look unbalanced, too heavy at the back, too lightweight up front.
New players will likely pour through Anfield's front door in the summer - the Czech international Vladimir Smicer and Guinea's Titi Camara head the queue - but until then Houllier will continue to pass off fools' gold as a precious metal.
His approach to what he described as a "cup final" was admirably cavalier and by pushing three men forward he was possibly subscribing to the theory that, when pitted against superior opponents, it is better to fight on your feet than die on your knees.
Although Jaap Stam and Roy Keane were restored to the heart of United's defence and mid-field respectively, Ryan Giggs's ankle was not risked. Even bigger tests lie ahead for United.
The opening was a blur with United, perhaps, a little surprised by the level of their hosts' commitment. The problem was, and it is a familiar one, that Liverpool's football was underpinned by no great intelligence - energy, yes, guile, no.
Rigobert Song plotted much down the right flank, but even when Irwin was undone there was no hint of an end product simply because Liverpool's only recognised striker, German Karl Heinz Riedle, was well shadowed by the Dutchman Stam.
The evening was almost brutal in its intensity with a cavalcade of late, high and plain nasty tackles coming in from the most unlikely of sources. It had not yielded a single chance before United moved in front midway through the half with a sublime goal.
Keane filtered the ball down the right and David Beckham's first-time cross was exquisite, sailing over the Liverpool back line and into the path of Dwight Yorke, who scored with the cleanest of headers.
The spell had been broken and as Anfield fell silent, Liverpool seemed likely to allow all the old uncertainties come to the surface and render them impotent.
Their self-belief punctured, the Mersey-siders permitted the pace of their game to slacken and on a night when sheer physical effort was their best ally, it did nothing to improve their prospects.
For all their possession Liverpool did not fashion even a half chance until early in the second period and even then it was insufficient to precipitate an increase in Peter Schmeichel's heart rate.
Dominic Matteo moved smartly down the left flank and while his cross appeared misdirected and under-hit, it found Paul Ince, but his volley was wild and high.
It was a costly miss because within minutes United underlined their growing supremacy with a second goal. Jesper Blomqvist rounded Song and seemed likely to score until he was caught in the throat by Jamie Carragher's desperate lunge.
After much arguing and no little jostling, Irwin steered home sweetly from the penalty spot. Thereafter, Liverpool lost their way and their temper.
But, unexpectedly, they moved back into contention after 69 minutes when Jamie Redknapp whacked home a penalty after Blomqvist was adjudged to have fouled Oyvind Leonhardsen.
Liverpool: Friedel, Song (Berger 56), Staunton (Thompson 79), Babb, McManaman, Leonhardsen, Redknapp, Riedle, Ince, Matteo, Carragher. Subs Not Used: James, Ferri, Bjornebye. Goals: Redknapp 69 pen, Ince 89.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam, Beckham, Cole (Butt 76), Blomqvist (P. Neville 76), Keane, Scholes, Yorke. Subs Not Used: May, Sheringham, Van Der Gouw. Sent Off: Irwin (75). Booked: Scholes, Irwin, Keane. Goals: Yorke 23, Irwin 56 pen.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow on the Hill).
