Liverpool could not have handed Kenny Dalglish a better birthday present.
Back in the Anfield hot seat, albeit temporarily, would have been ample reward for the humble Scot but a significant victory over the man who infamously talked about Manchester United knocking the Reds 'off their perch' was as delectable as his serenading by the Kop after turning 60.
And whilst Luis Suarez may have failed to emulate Diego Forlan in scoring against a long-standing adversary from the other side of the East Lancs Road, hero status amongst the Kop was certainly sealed with three spectacular assists which handed Dirk Kuyt his first Liverpool hat trick.
Their ability to converse in Dutch may have confused United's defence but it was more the Uruguayan's dazzling array of skill and pace which bamboozled Chris Smalling and Wes Brown, gift-wrapping Kuyt with the easiest three goals the striker has ever scored in the process.
The speed with which Suarez unlocked the Red Devils' defence, leading Brown, Rafael and Michael Carrick a merry dance in the process, before Kuyt was allowed to fire home on the line was a clear indication of why the £22.8million paid for his services was money very well spent.
And the Eredivisie combination breached United's back line again just five minutes later as Kuyt powered home a Suarez cross, via of a misguided Nani header back into his own penalty area.
Whilst the duo celebrated with their team mates, Pepe Reina led his own procession in front of the Kop. Although the Spaniard has refused to declare his 'eternal love' for the club, there can be no question that he continues to embody the adoptive Scouse heart of the side.
Liverpool's penchant for regularly delving within themselves and deliver sterling performances to record landmark victories over their major rivals, and especially United, has become the club's speciality over the past decade or so, but losses to the likes of West Ham often follow suit.
However that cannot detract from the dominance of Dalglish's side in a game that rarely looked out of their destiny even when tempers began to explode deep into first half stoppage time, Phil Dowd reprimanding just three players during the the skirmishes.
Nani was stretchered off after a Jamie Carragher tackle whilst, sandwiched in between further fracas, Rafael lashed out at Lucas Leiva after following up a Maxi Rodriguez lunge which saw added time tally up to six minutes in total, rather than the two originally indicated.
A third followed for Liverpool a quarter-hour after the restart as United launched several unsuccessful attempts to claw the game back, Ryan Giggs blazing a volley over Pepe Reina's crossbar whilst Dimitar Berbatov's header was denied on the line by Raul Meireles.
The defence was aided in the first half by a reshuffle following Fabio Aurelio's withdrawal due to injury, as Glen Johnson was shifted to left-back with Jamie Carragher deputising on the right.
Suarez refused to alleviate the accelerator in the second half, providing a third assist for Kuyt with a curling free kick reminiscent of his effort against Wigan three weeks ago, which was parried by Edwin van der Sar but only as far as his compatriot, who bundled in Liverpool's third.
With the man dubbed 'El Pistolero' firing on all cylinders, Andy Carroll's 16-minute cameo was expectedly overshadowed somewhat. An ambitious looping header from outside the area served as his first touch and although untroubling for Van der Sar, drew a roar of anticipation from the Kop.
His debut contribution could have been very different had Kuyt's thunderous volley crept under the crossbar ten minutes from time but Liverpool's ability to find the net eluded them as the game wore on, with Steven Gerrard firing a number of long-range efforts narrowly wide of goal.
Suarez could have capped off an impressive jaunt past Brown and Patrice Evra by registering his name on the score sheet as the clock ticked down but sliced his shot wide from a narrow angle.
Javier Hernandez has often been United's trinket this season but only offered a late consolation late into stoppage time by nodding home a Giggs cross.after evading Gerrard's watch. And whilst Dalglish was happy to revel in the celebrations, he also warned of the task still remaining.
"For us it is a huge win and the lads deserve great credit for the way they played, their discipline, their application and the pride they showed in themselves and the football club," he said.
"It's been a tough season, it's not finished yet, but I think that would be the highest point of the season for Liverpool fans and to be part of it was an absolute pleasure.
"The boys that played today were magnificent.".
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio (Kyrgiakos 24); Meireles (Carroll 74), Gerrard, Lucas; Maxi; Kuyt, Suarez (Cole 89). Subs (not used): Gulacsi, Poulsen, Spearing, N'Gog
Goal: Kuyt (34, 39, 65)
Booked: Carragher (45+1), Skrtel (45+5)
MAN UTD (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Rafael (O'Shea 76), Smalling, Brown, Evra; Nani (Hernandez 45+2), Carrick, Scholes (Fletcher 84), Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov. Subs (not used): Kuszczak, Fabio, Obertan, Gibson.
Goals: Hernandez (90+1)
Booked: Van der Sar (45+2), Rafael (45+5), Scoles (83)
Attendance: 44,753
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 53% Man Utd 47%
Shots: Liverpool 17 Man Utd 12
On target: Liverpool 10 Man Utd 7
Corners: Liverpool 6 Man Utd 4
Fouls: Liverpool 12 Man Utd 12
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Ross, Bournemouth around 1 year, 2 months ago