Ji-Sung Park’s diving header gave Manchester United a priceless victory in their quest to overtake opponents Liverpool’s haul of 18 English League titles.

United recovered from going behind to their bitterest rivals, after only five minutes, to largely dominate a tight affair.

But they were thankful for an erroneous penalty award five minutes after Liverpool had gone ahead, and for a late miss by the visitors’ scorer Fernando Torres.

Liverpool’s recent record against United has been second-to-none and they again stunned the Old Trafford faithful when an unmarked Torres steered his header from Dirk Kuyt’s cross past United keeper Edwin van der Sar.

United levelled from the spot after Antonio Valencia was fouled by Javier Mascherano, the Liverpool midfielder deliberately fouling Valencia outside the area but falling foul of a referee’s assistant’s misjudgement.

Wayne Rooney equalised from the penalty rebound after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina saved his original kick.

The winner arrived on the hour mark, Park diving to meet Darren Fletcher’s sweetly-struck right-wing cross.

But Liverpool ought to have grabbed a point with a minute remaining. But Torres scuffed his effort from ten yards and substitute Yossi Benayoun could only head the loose ball into Van der Sar’s arms.