Liverpool vs. Manchester United: Steven Gerrard red helps Red Devils to win

2. Daniel Sturridge is very, very good -- OK, so we didn’t learn this per se, but with Sturridge missing much of the season with injury, perhaps we needed a reminder of it. He took charge in a big way after Gerrard was sent off, taking on and beating most of United’s defense and then scoring with a jaw-dropping finish to the near post. Even beyond that, his runs were disruptive to Manchester’s back line, leaving them unsettled and giving Liverpool chances to score goals that they simply wouldn’t have had otherwise. The end of this match isn’t nearly so competitive without him.

3. Brendan Rodgers might make adjustments better than any other Premier League manager -- If things aren’t working for Liverpool during a match, you can guarantee one thing: Brendan Rodgers will find a way to make it work better. Liverpool’s midfield got overrun in the first half hour, so he tweaked the formation in to more of a midfield diamond, and they found themselves back in the match. Steven Gerrard got sent off right after subbing in to the match, and Rodgers shifted his men around again to keep the squad solid. When they had trouble breaking down United’s defense, he made the bold move of bringing on another striker despite being a man down, and that decision helped create Sturridge’s goal. Now if only Rodgers could get more things right from the first whistle so we don’t need to see him making all these mid-match adjustments.

Manchester United are five points clear of rivals Liverpool in the race for top four, thanks to a 2-1 win on Sunday. The Red Devils were helped to victory by a stunning red card to Steven Gerrard, who was sent off for a stamp on Ander Herrera just 48 seconds after coming into the game as a substitute.

From the start, Liverpool had some trouble taking control of the game, and the Anfield crowd was silenced just 14 minutes in by a brilliant United goal. Herrera set it up with a perfect through ball down the right channel to Juan Mata, who composed himself and placed a classy finish inside the far post from 12 yards away.

England’s biggest rivalry has been virtually meaningless for one club or another lately, but this edition of Manchester United vs. Liverpool is massive. Both clubs are fighting for Champions League, and it looks likely that only one makes it.

Two months ago, Liverpool were struggling in the middle of the table and Brendan Rodgers’ job was in question. The Merseyside club looked like they had little chance of challenging for a Champions League spot. But some bold moves by Rodgers have sparked a revival, and Liverpool are knocking on the door of the top four.

Two of England’s biggest rivals meet at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool welcomes Manchester United for a crucial match in the race for the final Champions League spot. United currently hold that position with 56 points, but a win for the Reds would move them past United and into fourth.

United were impressive last time out in a 3-0 demolition of Spurs, but there are few teams in better form at the moment that Brendan Rodgers’ side. Liverpool are unbeaten, and have taken 33 out of a 39 possible points since a 3-0 defeat at the hands of United left them 10th in the table back in December. The Reds are a much different team now, so they’ll feel they can turn that result around.