O'Shea strikes late to give United win at Liverpool

LONDON, Mar 3 (Reuters) Substitute John O'Shea fired a stoppage time winner to give Manchester United a 1-0 victory at Liverpool and a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League today.

United hardly deserved their victory and had ridden their luck at times at Anfield, only for O'Shea to rifle home a loose ball in the area after a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick.

Victory put United on 72 points, while second-placed Chelsea have 60 before the champions face Portsmouth in the day's late kickoff. Chelsea also have a further game in hand.

Liverpool's Wales forward Craig Bellamy had a 50th minute strike disallowed for offside, while United had a penalty appeal waved away when French substitute striker Louis Saha went down under a challenge from Danish defender Daniel Agger.

United were already down to 10 men when they scored after midfielder Paul Scholes was shown a straight red card four minutes from time after raising his hands at Liverpool's Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool stay third, with 53 points.

REUTERS PDS RAI2047