THE noise was unrelenting and the passion ubiquitous as English football's greatest rivals locked horns, but long before the smoke had cleared after six yellow cards and a single goal, it was evident that Alex Ferguson's hope that "we'll be talking about good football afterwards" had been unfulfilled.

All Ferguson had to discuss was a couple of halfchances and an horrific accidental injury to Alan Smith just before the finish.

United players catching sight of the damage held their head in their hands and it was later confirmed as a broken leg and dislocated ankle. "It's the worst I've ever seen, " Ferguson said. "Obviously it's a big blow but that sums up our season. You need a bit of luck in the Cup and I think it went against us."

Like the goalless draw here in the Premiership five months ago and Manchester United's late, undeserved victory at Old Trafford last month, the quality of the football was disappointing. United bore the greater share of blame for that, failing to respond to Peter Crouch's 18th-minute goal in the manner of a team seeking a third successive FA Cup final and on a run of six victories in seven games. Indeed, there was an 80-minute gap between the two straightforward saves required of Jose Reina in Liverpool's goal, both from tame low drives by Cristiano Ronaldo.

So Ferguson's team are left to concentrate on next Sunday's Carling Cup final against Wigan as their only hope of avoiding a second season without a trophy. But they can only sit and watch their rivals resume Champions' League adventures on Tuesday against Benfica.

Rafael Benitez, though the FA Cup will be only third on his list of priorities, is learning about the competition's importance, and clearly regarded this as one of those games in which all that matters is the result. Unfortunately, that has come to apply to every meeting between these sides. "We started with high tempo and were controlling the game in the first half, " he said. "In the second half they had four strikers and a lot of long balls and second balls, and it was important to work as a team."

Crouch's goal was the first by any Liverpool striker this year - not counting Robbie Fowler's FA Cup hat-trick for Manchester City against Scunthorpe, which rendered him ineligible yesterday. Benitez therefore persevered with Fernando Morientes and recalled Crouch, who was his usual awkward self in pressurising Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic; Rio Ferdinand was absent with a tight hamstring.

"We didn't have enough height and losing Rio was a blow, " Ferguson said. "Liverpool can play for only five minutes and win the game.

That is the way they are."

Kewell, unexpectedly, might have headed the home side in front a minute before Crouch did. The Australian, meeting Steven Gerrard's free-kick from the left, was thwarted by Edwin van der Sar's fine save at the expense of a corner. Gerrard moved to the other flank to take it and fed Steve Finnan for a cross met by Crouch with a header that was touched onto a post before rolling along the line and creeping over it.

Vidic then had to block a shot by Kewell, who claimed a penalty in vain when Giggs tackled him right on the edge of the area, earning the first of the half-dozen cards.

Before half-time Finnan ought to have scored his first of the season, side-footing wide as Gerrard picked him out with another free-kick.

That prompted Ferguson into numerous tactical switches as Louis Saha came on to replace Mikael Silvestre and Wayne Rooney was moved to the left wing in an attempt to find some space.

But they had no great effect, and it was Liverpool who looked more likely to score, Crouch poking a good chance wide as Vidic hesitated.

Jamie Carragher, excellent again, allowed no such lassitude to Ruud van Nistelrooy or Saha, and the most encouraging moment of a dispiriting second half for United was when seven minutes were added on following Smith's injury. He had left the pitch on a stretcher with an inflatable bandage round his leg, the initial abuse from Liverpool supporters having turned to generously sympathetic applause.

Now that would have confused some.