BRENDAN RODGERS had billed the clash with Manchester United as the chance to show just how far Liverpool had come. In truth it merely underlined the huge distance they still have to travel.

A degree of pride may have been salvaged by the Reds’ gutsy late rally, but that was scant consolation as they suffered defeat at Old Trafford for the fifth successive occasion.

This was a painfully avoidable setback where the wounds were self-inflicted.

Courage and belief were Rodgers’ watchwords in the build up to the game, but those qualities were conspicuous by their absence during a dismal opening 45 minutes.

All Liverpool showed in a one-sided first half was an inferiority complex as they sat back and allowed United to dictate proceedings.

The respect shown to Alex Ferguson’s side was baffling. United may be running away with the Premier League title, but time and time again this season their defensive frailties have been laid bare.

However, rather than try to exploit the hosts’ weaknesses by playing on the front foot, Liverpool retreated.

The confidence generated by a prosperous festive period was nowhere to be seen and simply trying to contain United was never going to yield any reward.

Where was the passion, the thunderous challenges, the intensity usually associated with fixtures between these fierce rivals? Liverpool were infuriatingly tentative.

Only United’s wastefulness in the final third ensured that the damage at the interval wasn’t more severe than Robin van Persie’s clinical strike.

Of course the hosts enjoyed a degree of fortune early in the second half when Patrice Evra’s header was deflected in off Nemanja Vidic, who got away with the fact he had strayed into an offside position.

But this wasn’t a day for hard luck stories or scapegoats. No accusing fingers could be pointed in the direction of referee Howard Webb. This time the inquest was confined to the away dressing room.

It was only after going 2-0 down that Liverpool sprung to life. The catalyst for the fightback was substitute Daniel Sturridge, who had replaced Lucas Leiva at half-time.

The £12million striker followed up his debut strike against Mansfield by swiftly reducing the deficit and his classy cameo almost rescued a point.

Prior to Sturridge’s arrival, Luis Suarez had been hopelessly isolated, but the Uruguayan was energised by finally having some company.

Together they helped Liverpool dominate the final half hour but it was all in vain. The manner in which United were clinging on at the end only heightened that sense of ‘what if’.

What if Rodgers had been bold and started Sturridge alongside Suarez? What if the manager had kept faith with Jordan Henderson in midfield rather than Joe Allen?

The only change to the side which had hammered Sunderland in their previous league outing was the return of Allen in place of Henderson. It didn’t pay off.

Allen endured one of those days where he started badly and his desperation to make amends meant the errors just kept on coming. Passes went astray and needless free-kicks were given away in dangerous areas.

After such a bright start to his Anfield career, the Welshman’s form has dipped alarmingly.

Just 22 and still learning his trade he deserves to be cut some slack. That £15million was an investment in the long-term but his struggles yesterday meant Liverpool were unable to get any semblance of control in midfield.

The opening exchanges were surprisingly low key but the Reds’ repeated failure to retain possession on a poor playing surface enabled United to gain momentum.

Martin Skrtel on his 200th appearance for the club had already made one block to deny van Persie before the prolific Dutchman struck in the 19th minute.

Where was the relentless pressing game Rodgers advocates? It was far too easy as under no pressure whatsoever United knocked the ball around 30 yards out.

Stewart Downing got sucked inside, leaving Evra unmarked down the left and the defender crossed for van Persie to slam a first-time shot past Reina.

It could have got considerably worse as van Persie blazed over after being picked out by Ashley Young.

Allen’s misplaced pass was then pounced on by Danny Welbeck but Daniel Agger got back to save his team-mate’s blushes.

Welbeck failed to hit the target from a tight angle before Tom Cleverley volleyed narrowly wide after latching on to Allen’s slack defensive header.

Liverpool’s attacking threat in the first half was non-existent. When they did break off the shackles and get out of their own half, passes went astray and Suarez was left to feed off scraps.

The visitors were infinitely more impressive off the pitch with their fans refusing to respond to sick chants about Hillsborough and Heysel from the Stretford End.

Just before the interval the Reds enjoyed a major let-off. Rafael got away from Glen Johnson in the box and crossed for van Persie, whose flick was cleared off the line by Skrtel. Shinji Kagawa appeared destined to put away the loose ball but succeeded only in clattering into Reina.

Rodgers took decisive action at the break but Lucas Leiva could count himself unfortunate to be the man to make way as Sturridge’s arrival saw a switch to 4-4-2.

Nine minutes into the second half Liverpool shot themselves in the foot. Van Persie swung a free-kick to the far post where Johnson made a mess of tracking Evra whose header was inadvertently diverted home by Vidic.

The response was emphatic. Steven Gerrard dispossessed Michael Carrick and exchanged passes with Raheem Sterling before firing goalwards. His low right-footer was palmed away by David de Gea but Sturridge followed up to stick away the rebound.

Suddenly, there was hope and the contest was transformed. Just past the hour mark Fabio Borini made his comeback after three months out with a broken foot in place of Sterling.

Sturridge’s pace and power provided a new dimension going forward and Gerrard’s influence on proceedings increased.

Johnson, Sturridge and Borini all fired wide as the home supporters grew increasingly anxious.

Sturridge could have restored parity late on after Suarez wreaked havoc but he blazed over from eight yards.

Half an hour after the final whistle, Rodgers took a stroll through the rows of empty seats and approached the packed away end.

His applause for the 3,000-strong travelling Kop, who had been kept behind, was returned with interest as they chanted his name.

It was a show of unity at the end of a deeply frustrating afternoon when a strong finish couldn’t atone for such an insipid start.