Belated birthday gifts don't come much sweeter than a precious three points against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Just ask Joe Allen, who celebrated turning 24 on Friday before toasting a dominant 3-0 victory over the Red Devils in their own backyard on Sunday.

The Wales international watched as Steven Gerrard held his nerve, not once, but twice, from the penalty spot to hand the Reds a handsome lead in the match.

Luis Suarez was determined to get in on the act, and with six minutes remaining, he swooped on a loose ball in the penalty area to hammer home Liverpool's third.

As the away fans jigged with joy in the aisles of a ground they last triumphed at a full five years previously, their team climbed to second place in the Barclays Premier League table, within four points of Chelsea.

"It's a great feeling to be involved in a game like that," Allen told Liverpoolfc.com. "It's what it's all about.

"The hunger and desire we showed throughout the game was great. To come and pick up three points from a game at Old Trafford is a feeling I'm sure many of us will never forget.

"I'll count this as a birthday present. From a personal point of view, it was great to be involved from the start in a game like this."

Steven Gerrard's display in the controlling position and his precision and focus from the penalty spot will rightly take the headlines, but Allen's input was invaluable.

More often than not, when United thought they had carved a small pocket of space in which to work the ball, it was immediately invaded by the effervescent Allen, who rushed and harried throughout.

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It was his driving run into the heart of United's penalty area which won Liverpool their second penalty after a minute of play in the second half and gave Gerrard the chance to secure a two-goal advantage.

"When there's only a goal in it, you're always looking to get that cushion," said Allen. "We started the second half well and got the second goal from the penalty spot and I think that really set the tone for the rest of the game."

On Gerrard, who drove past David De Gea twice from 12 yards before firing a third penalty onto the post, Allen said: "Since I've been here, day in day out, I've learned so much from him. He's certainly the kind of man you want to take the penalties in those kinds of situations."