On this day: Diego Forlan brace guides Manchester United past Liverpool

In a difficult three-year spell with Manchester United, high points were all too rare for Diego Forlan, but on this day in 2002 the Uruguayan guided his side to a 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Liverpool headed into the game confident of extending their impressive home record, having last tasted defeat Anfield almost a year earlier.

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However, Forlan would make the difference on Merseyside as United continued their bid for the Premier League title by earning a valuable win over their fierce rivals.

It was Sir Alex Ferguson's side who made the brighter start, but chances were few and far between as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tested Jerzy Dudek with a speculative long-range strike.

Despite starting slowly, Liverpool improved as the first half progressed and were denied an opening goal when Gary Neville made a crucial last-ditch tackle to dispossess Michael Owen.

United continued to look the more dangerous early in the second half, and they were rewarded with the opening goal in the 65th minute thanks to a mistake from Dudek.

There didn't appear to be any threat to the Liverpool goal as Jamie Carragher headed back to Dudek, but the Polish goalkeeper somehow allowed the ball to slip between his legs, which gifted Forlan the chance to tap the ball into an empty net.

The lead was doubled just two minutes later when Ryan Giggs sent a through-ball into the path of Forlan, who kept his composure to fire past Dudek at the near post.

Despite being forced onto the back foot by their goalkeeper, Liverpool managed to set up a dramatic finish when Sami Hyypia latched on to a loose ball in a congested box to pull a goal back for the hosts.

A late spell of pressure did arrive, but United held on for all three points thanks to Fabien Barthez, who pulled off a stunning save to tip Dietmar Hamann's powerful strike against the crossbar.

When asked about Forlan's performance after the game, Ferguson told reporters: "Today his perseverance has been rewarded in a big way because the fans will never forget it."

Ferguson was right. Two goals against Liverpool will never be forgotten, and despite enjoying success after leaving the club, it will be Forlan's match-winning brace at Anfield which will remain fresh in the memory of United supporters.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore (Riise), Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Smicer (Diouf), Baros, Owen

Man Utd: Barthez, O'Shea, Brown, G. Neville, Silvestre, Solskjaer, Scholes, Fortune (P. Neville), Giggs, Forlan (Stewart), van Nistelrooy (May)