Initially I started writing this report as soon as I got back from the game, but after a couple of paragraphs I decided to scrap it and take a couple of days to reflect on it before passing judgement.
I'm glad I did, because I'm a lot more positive about things this morning than I was on Sunday night. Coming out of Anfield after the game I wanted Emile Heskey hung drawn and quartered, and those first few paragraphs were little more than a tirade against our underachieving number eight.
Having had time to reflect, I'm still furious with the big clumsy oaf, but have decided that I'm sick of writing about him and he's simply not worth the column inches. So from now on, the 'H' word is banned from TLW.
Ignoring the result for a second, and just looking at the game as a whole, we played pretty well and deserved at least a point. But just like against Chelsea and Arsenal, we did not get what we deserved, and the pressure is back on Houllier again.
I've been one of Houllier's biggest critics in the last twelve months, but right now I'm cutting him some slack. I like the style of football we're playing, and think that generally things are getting better.
United posed very little threat throughout this contest, but we just can't seem to get out of this habit of giving away bad goals. Aside from a 15 minute spell in the second half, this game was all Liverpool, yet once again we lost. Even Alex Ferguson admitted afterwards that United didn't do enough to deserve a win, but that's what Champions do.
A full strength Liverpool would have won on Sunday, of that I'm certain. Injuries are not an excuse, because we should have a big enough squad to cope, but the reality is that we don't.
Had Carra and Steph been in the back four, with Didi in front of them offering protection, would we have conceded two such sloppy goals?
With Milan and Michael up front would we have tested the dodgy Tim Howard more? It's all ifs and buts, but surely few could argue that the players missing would have improved us dramatically.
The result means that Liverpool now stand 11 points behind the mancs, and miles behind leaders Arsenal. Not that it really matters, as only the most optimistic or foolhardy amongst the supporters harboured any title amibitions this season.
We've been in a battle for fourth place since the season kicked off as far as I'm concerned, but with five defeats suffered already, then even that may prove to be a tall order. The press claimed on the morning of the game that Spurs are monitoring Houllier's situation at Anfield, and upon seeing his team selection a few friends of mine were more than willing to help him pack his bags for North London.
I wasn't thrilled with it myself, but playing Devil's Advocate I can understand Houllier's choice. Without Owen and Baros, his options were severely restricted. Yes, Sinama is exciting and much more of a goal threat than our other so-called striker, but he's been causing havoc coming off the subs bench, and may not have the same impact if he started.
If Sinama had started, and after an hour had struggled to make an impression or had burned himself out, we'd have no ace left up our sleeve to play. At least when he's on the bench you know you have some hope if things aren't going to plan.
So I could understand Houllier's choice, and I'm not going to criticise him for it. We had enough attacking players on the field, and were in no way negative. But without Owen and Baros we simply had no cutting edge.
Kewell was a threat, but until the arrival of Sinama there wasn't too much else for the United defence to be concerned about. Smicer did his best, but couldn't get into the game and looked very lightweight, constantly being nudged and shoved off the ball by Keane or Phil Neville.
Diouf showed his customary skill and work rate, and gave O'Shea a few problems without ever really threatening an end product, before he was subbed by Houllier, who was clearly worried the Senegal man was about to be sent off.
Diouf had been booked for a silly tackle, and then accidentally caught O'Shea a bit late, who did his level best to get Graeme Poll to produce a red card. After that, Houllier wasted no time in getting Anthony Le Tallec on.
The reds had dominated the first half, and the early stages of the second, but for all their good play and dominance, Tim Howard was not having to work too hard. Neither was Dudek to be fair, who hadn't had anything to do until his weak kick fell to Giggs about forty yards out. The winger produced a brilliant volley which Dudek had to scramble back and save at full stretch.
Giggs would have the last laugh though, when his cross from the right eluded everyone and found the far corner of the net. It was a pure fluke, but the reds paid the price for dropping too deep to defend the cross. It's a common failing, and something which has to be addressed.
Giggs got his second when a cross from the left found its way to him on the back post and he fired a shot through Dudek, who should have done better. I don't actually blame Dudek for either goal, but I have to say that he didn't inspire confidence at all throughout this game, especially when it came to dealing with crosses.
During the first half Traore was forced to head behind to concede a corner from about four yards out. Dudek should have been plucking that out of the air to save Djimi from having to deal with it. He did the same thing in the build up to one of the goals (can't remember which one) and with Kirkland fit again, the Pole must be feeling the pressure now.
So despite being the better side, the reds found themselves two down. On came Sinama, and he immediately began to make things happen. His first contribution was to beat Ferdinand in the air to win a flick on, something which you know who has not managed in two seasons against United.
With Murphy and Gerrard constantly probing for the darting runs of Sinama, the United defence were finally being stretched, and when Sinama pulled the ball back for Kewell to smartly finish, it was game on again.
The lively young French kid was then disgracefully denied a blatant penalty by Poll when he went round Howard only to be tripped by Silvestre. From my seat in the Main Stand it was as clear cut a pen as you'll see, yet Poll waved play on. Even Ferguson said afterwards it was a foul and he'd have been furious had they not been given that at Old Trafford. Fat chance of that ever happening of course, but credit to him for admitting it.
Liverpool continued to press for an equaliser, and Le Tallec was denied by Howard after another wonderful piece of play by Sinama. Tony then saw a header sail just over the bar, and the number eight should have done better with a flicked header which he failed to hit the target with.
Just when it looked like the reds were not going to find the breakthrough, Murphy picked out a wonderful first time ball which presented him who's name I won't say with the simplest of finishes, which he somehow contrived to fluff in front of an angry Kop.
The reds should have gotten at least a point out of this, but didn't, prompting Houllier to admit afterwards that any hope we had of the title has now gone. To be honest, that doesn't bother me as much as it normally would, because as I keep saying, I never expected any different.
From the moment the first ball was kicked this season we've been playing for fourth place, and nothing has changed on that score. What has changed this season is that we're playing good attacking football, and I'm enjoying watching it.
We are bound to experience a few teething problems with the new style of play, and the goals we're letting in are certainly a side effect from the total revamp in style. After Christmas the players should be used to the new approach, and with the return of key players such as Carragher, Owen, Baros, Henchoz and Hamann, things should improve a great deal.
So although defeat to the mancs is always hard to take, there are still some things to take heart from. Le Tallec and Sinama keep getting better and better, and Kewell is proving to be a great signing. But the most encouraging thing for me to come out of this game was the return to his brilliant best of Sami Hyypia.
The Big Finn has looked much more like his old self since losing the captaincy, and he was easily the reds' best player yesterday, keeping the cheating, goalhanging bastard Van Nistelhorse very quiet all day.
Biscan played well too, and it's just unfortunate for Igor that whenever he plays we concede goals. It's through no fault of his, but still, the sooner Henchoz is restored to the back line the more secure we'll be.
I also thought Murphy had his best game of the season. He may have given the ball away a few times, but Danny never hides and is always looking to make that killer pass. Had a certain hapless striker managed to convert the most routine of finishes at the end, Danny would have been receiving plenty of plaudits for the wonderful pass which cut the United defence to ribbons.
But it's a fine line between success and failure, as the reds are finding out. With every defeat comes more calls for Houllier's head, but if the side can keep playing to this standard, cut out the defensive lapses and start to be more clinical in front of goal, then there's no reason why a CL place and a couple of good cup runs can't be assured.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia, Igor Biscan, Djimi Traore; El Hadji Diouf (Anthony Le Tallec), Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer (Florent Sinama-Pongolle), Harry Kewell; E**** H*****:
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