SUPERSUB Ryan Babel overshadowed Dimitar Berbatov's big day as Liverpool stunned Manchester United at Anfield.

GOAL HERO ... Ryan Babel celebrates

The Premier League champions made the perfect start with Berbatov laying on a goal for strike partner Carlos Tevez after just three minutes.

Berbatov, playing in a central role with Wayne Rooney wide on the right, found space to cut the ball back to an unmarked Tevez to calmly sidefoot the ball home past Pepe Reina.

But the debutant's regular moody expression quickly returned when Edwin Van der Sar palmed a cross onto Wes Brown for the cruellest of own goals to gift the hosts an equaliser in the 27th minute.

Berbatov's misery was completed 13 minutes from time when Babel slammed home from Dirk Kuyt's pass.

And United's day went from bad to worse when defender Nemanja Vidic was red-carded for a second yellow in the 90th minute.

Liverpool ace Jamie Carragher was delighted to see his side finally get one over their fierce rivals after five successive league defeats against United.

The defender said: "It's been too long and its not just the three points it's also the belief and confidence it gives us because we've beaten the best team in Europe.

"It gives us the belief that we can beat anyone in the league.

"We hope we can now push on for the rest of the season. It should spur us on because we've not been playing too well up to now.

"That is the best we've played. It also gives us a bit of breathing space between us and United and top of the table is where a club like Liverpool should be."

Reds boss Rafael Benitez was also pleased to see his side bounce back after Tevez's early strike.

And he highlighted the performance of strike duo Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt as the inspiration behind the win.

He said: "It was good for the confidence of the players.

"At half-time we were talking about having confidence and determination going forward and in the second half we were the best team.

"We showed quality and character to come back and the understanding of Keane and Kuyt was very good.

"Their pressing was really important for the rest of the team."

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Alonso, Mascherano (Hyypia 87), Riera (Babel 71), Kuyt, Keane. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Torres, Ngog. Goals: Brown 27 og, Babel 77.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Carrick (Giggs 46), Anderson (Nani 78), Tevez, Berbatov. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Evans, OShea, Fletcher. Sent off: Vidic (90). Booked: Tevez, Vidic, Nani. Goal: Tevez 3.

Att: 44,192.

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).