Carlos Tevez's goal gave Manchester United a 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday and sent the champions to the top of the English Premier League.

• Images from the match

The Argentine scored in the 43rd minute by diverting a Wayne Rooney [Images] shot into the net at close range following a Ryan Giggs corner.

United overtook Arsenal at the top of the table, although Arsene Wenger's side have the chance to make a quick return when they host third-placed Chelsea.

Liverpool were a shadow of the side that had beaten Marseille 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Their best chance fell to Harry Kewell in the 28th minute. His shot was cleared off the line by Anderson with Fernando Torres heading the rebound over the bar.

United rarely threatened as an attacking force but still managed to take the lead through Tevez.

Substitute Ryan Babel [Images] came closest to equalising with a fierce shot that flew narrowly wide, while Steven Gerrard landed a last minute free kick on the top of the net.

Rooney wasted an excellent chance to score a second for United in the 78th minute by sidefooting wide Cristiano Ronaldo's [Images] cross when unmarked in the box.

The defeat sees Liverpool drop nine points behind United and seriously damages their chances of gaining a first league title in 17 years.

It was the sixth time United have beaten Liverpool in their last seven Premier League meetings.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has yet to beat his rival Alex Ferguson in a league match, although he does have an FA Cup victory over United on his record.

Benitez had been hoping for an impressive display in the first of the day's matches between the Premier League's "big four" sides.

He was meeting American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett after the match to discuss his future following his outspoken criticism of the club's moneymen in recent weeks.

It was Liverpool's first league defeat at Anfield since being beaten by United on March 3.