FORMER Saints defender Dejan Lovren was guilty of a horrendous error as Liverpool’s dire season continued with a 3-0 hammering at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Lovren fluffed a clearance in the 71st minute, handing Robin van Persie the chance to score Manchester United’s third goal.

Liverpool lived up to their pub-team billing as they handed United an easy Premier League victory thanks to some shoddy defending.

With both teams out of form, Gary Neville had predicted this match would resemble the "Dog & Duck versus the Red Lion", but only one team defended like a Sunday league team in this grudge match.

Liverpool's marking and composure at the back was all over the place and United took full advantage romping to a 3-0 victory over their biggest rivals.

Wayne Rooney was given more than enough space to sweep home Antonio Valencia's cross and put the hosts ahead.

Juan Mata then nodded in at the far post to double United's lead - although replays showed he was offside when he touched van Persie's flick on it.

And the most embarrassing goal from Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' perspective came when Lovren’s mistake led to van Persie having ample time to beat Brad Jones.

Rodgers took a big gamble by dropping Simon Mignolet for Jones and starting Raheem Sterling as a lone striker, ex-Saint Rickie Lambert dropped from the side.

And the move backfired quite spectacularly. Sterling wasted three good chances to score while Jordan Henderson also missed a sitter.

Rodgers turned to Mario Balotelli to inspiration at half-time, replacing ex-Saints skipper Adam Lallana, but the Italian also spurned opportunities, although that was partly down to David de Gea, who once again put in an outstanding display.

United's sixth consecutive win moves them to within eight points of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The repercussions for Liverpool are more serious.

Rodgers insisted he was the right man to lead the Reds out of the mire before kick-off, but he walked down the tunnel to taunts of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from the home fans.

Rodgers' team routed United 3-0 here in March. Now they are ninth in the table, some 18 points off the summit.

It will not take long for Liverpool supporters' patience in their manager to run out if they keep performing like this.

Next up for Rodgers is a huge League Cup quarter final banana skin at Championship leaders Bournemouth on Wednesday.