Liverpool's new £6.3 million acquisition scored in his first games for Albacete, Zaragoza, Real Madrid, Monaco and Spain but never got a look-in here, even when a resilient Manchester United team went down to 10 men. The unfortunate Dudek now has a far less desirable record of five consecutive mistakes against the same opponents and this latest gaffe, from a speculative shot by Wayne Rooney, allowed United an unprecedented third successive win at Anfield.

'Mistakes are expensive in massive games,' Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez said. 'It was a problem for us because we were playing better when we conceded. Then we lost our concentration and never controlled midfield.'

The last part of that statement is true. United might have needed a stroke of luck to break the deadlock, but they deserved to win. Roy Keane was peerless in midfield, Mikaël Silvestre outstanding in defence, and although United had to survive 25 minutes at a numerical disadvantage after Wes Brown had been sent off for a second booking, Liverpool were restricted to two half-chances right at the end.

'Three points from Anfield is always welcome,' United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. 'Arsenal and Chelsea have been here, too, but maybe our performance was the best of all. The main thing was that we kept our composure and passed well. We took a lot of the steam out of Liverpool.'

Fortunately, there was plenty of steam left to entertain the fans and with Rooney, Brown, Keane and the splendidly combative Gabriel Heinze helping to keep the match at a rolling boil, referee Steve Bennett deserves praise for keeping the lid on things.

He was lenient for an hour, then began waving the yellow card for almost every challenge, but considering the verbal provocation he received and the antagonism between the teams, he did well to get through the game without a fight breaking out.

Morientes has long said that he admires English football, but after seeing it at close quarters, he must be wondering if it is always so aggressive. The striker was taken off 15 minutes before the end claiming exhaustion, although it could just as well have been shock. 'Fernando needs to get match fit and he said he was very tired when he came off, but he now knows what it takes to play in the Premiership,' Benítez said.

United have known that for years and nine wins in their past 11 games suggest that they are back to something like their best. They bristled with attitude here and, even without Rio Ferdinand, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs, caused Liverpool problems from the outset. Controlling the ball well and waiting for openings, United could have taken the lead in the seventh minute but for astute defending by Sami Hyypia preventing Louis Saha reaching Phil Neville's dangerous cross.

Morientes had three chances in the first half, two from corners and one he created himself with a clever turn that took him past Brown. His shot ended up in the Anfield Road end, however, and by that time United were ahead thanks to a singular piece of finishing by Rooney.

The former Everton player had been in the game so little by the 21st minute that the Kop were still waiting for a decent opportunity to boo him when he took a return pass from Cristiano Ronaldo on the left wing, cut inside and beat Dudek from 25 yards. There was little backlift for the crisply struck shot, but having seen it all the way and got into position to make a save, Dudek had little excuse for allowing the ball through his arms and into the net.

The best that could be said about the goalkeeper is that he did not make any more mistakes, yet he was beaten again after half an hour when Keane's looping drive rebounded from the underside of the bar to safety.

Liverpool never looked likely to get back on terms until Brown's departure for kicking John Arne Riise in the air in the 65th minute, although even when United were obliged to withdraw Ronaldo and defend, they kept their opponents comfortably at bay. Perhaps not comfortably, given that Rooney, Keane and Quinton Fortune picked up bookings for petulance in the closing stages, but Liverpool's chances of saving the game amounted to Luis Garcia volleying wide in the final minute and Jamie Carragher striking Roy Carroll's legs from a free-kick routine in stoppage time.

While neither of these teams might be title contenders this season, United are in much ruder health than their rivals.