Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool 16 - ! - points clear at the top of the table, despite a spirited effort from United. For the first time in 30 years, the league title is coming to Anfield; all that remains to be seen is how many records they break and whether they can add any .
.other trophies to it.
Looking at the respective XIs it was hard to see what United could possibly do, shorn of Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and the freshly nobbled Marcus Rashford. But they actually started the better of the two sides until, on 15 minutes, they gifted an opener, Virgil van Dijk allowed virtually a free header with which to send Trent Alexander-Arnold's header past David de Gea.
Liverpool might well have made the game safe in the period which followed, Roberto Firmino having a goal disallowed by VAR while various chances were missed. United, though, came back into things before the break and Andreas Pereira ought to have equalised, sliding in at the far post.
At the start of the second half, Liverpool flew at United, Jordan Henderson drawing a fine save from De Gea. But United hung in there and ought to have equalised when Anthony Martial found himself with a sight of goal, only to smash over the bar. They maintained the pressure, though but lacked the class and composure to take advantage at key moments and, as they piled forwards in injury-time, Alisson sent a kick towards Salah who advanced and slotted home.
So, if we didn't know already - which we did - Liverpool will be champions of England again, while United received yet more evidence of the chasm they must bridge, at the same time as proving that they are going in the right direction.
Liverpool in the Premier League:
16 points clear
13 wins in a row
39 games unbeaten
10+ hours since conceding
A very happy Anfield at full-time #LIVMUN
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TALKING POINT
Do the Glazers care? No they do not. United badly needed more players than they signed in the summer, and with the injuries they have they need them even more badly now. Yet with 19 days of January gone, they have done nothing, because as far as the owners are concerned the club exists to pay them dividends, not to be good at association football.
Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League as it happened
MAN OF THE MATCH
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) Scored the winner and did just enough at key moments, most particularly in flying across the box when Martial had United's best chance. Martial was spooked and finished as such, his usual calmness forsaking him; had Van Dijk stayed at home, his team would probably have conceded an equaliser.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Alisson 7, Alexander-arnold 6, Gomez 6, Van Dijk 8, Robertson 6, Henderson 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Wijnaldum 6, Salah 6, Firmino 6, Mane 6. Subs: Lallana 6, Origi 6, Fabinho 6.
Manchester United: De Gea 7, Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 5, Maguire 6, Shaw 6, Williams 7, Matic 7, Fred 8, Pereira 6, James 5, Martial 6. Subs: Greenwood 6, Mata 6, Dalot 6