The Brazilian right back’s first-half effort set Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on course for a victory, which was wrapped up 10 minutes from time by veteran Ryan Giggs.

Only an unparalleled meltdown will now stop United winning a 20th league crown, while only the greatest of escapes will see QPR stave off relegation.

Harry Redknapp’s side is still seven points adrift of safety but has only 11 matches remaining, with the twin brother of QPR loanee Fabio doing a lot of the damage Saturday.

While the Rs full back was ineligible to face his parent club, Rafael put in a fine performance in west London and rifled home from distance in the 23rd minute.

Giggs made sure of a victory that was never really in doubt late on at Loftus Road, where the only blot on a perfect afternoon for United was a knock to Robin van Persie.

Proceedings got off to a slow start in west London, where it took 13 minutes for the first chance of note to be created.

After being caught on the edge of the box by Jose Bosingwa — making his first appearance since Dec. 8 — Nani connected with the resulting free kick, only to see his flicked header go wide.

Adel Taarabt fired a low shot just wide of David de Gea’s near post soon after but United was in control.

Julio Cesar had to be alert to tip a goalbound Javier Hernandez effort over the bar, with the Mexican meeting a Ashley Young cross with a superb improvised header.

Stephane Mbia soon gifted United another chance. The midfielder was dispossessed on the right flank by Nani, whose driven cross just evaded Hernandez.

United did not have to wait long for the opener, though, with Rafael thumping home in style after 23 minutes.

Taarabt lost possession in his own half and play developed down the right, allowing van Persie to wriggle free and hit a cross. Cesar parried the acute drive but the ball fell kindly for Rafael, who hammered a 25-yard strike into the top corner.

Jamie Mackie and Andros Townsend blazed over as QPR attempted to draw parity, before Taarabt struck tamely wide when a wide ball to Townsend would have been wiser.

When the Tottenham loanee did get the ball moments later, his long-range effort forced a corner from which Christopher Samba saw a header cleared off the line by Rafael.

The right back, playing superbly in Shepherds Bush, then helped United counter, sending a fine ball over the top to van Persie, who saw a brilliant left-footed volley denied in equally impressive fashion by Cesar.

It was the Netherlands international’s last contribution before he was replaced by Danny Welbeck, having appeared to pick up a hip complaint earlier in the half.

Despite his exit, United continued to dominate and almost immediately doubled its advantage as Giggs swung in a free kick for the unmarked Nemanja Vidic to flash a header inches wide.

It was the last moment of note in the first period, which ended with Bobby Zamora, managing a long-term hip injury, pulling up.

The former Fulham striker managed to return for the second half unlike Esteban Granero, who was replaced by Jermaine Jenas after picking up a knock.

United continued strongly after the break but QPR was putting up more of a fight, with Taarabt seeing penalty appeals waved away.

The visitors were still threatening, though, and Hernandez saw an effort saved easily by Cesar before he was replaced by Wayne Rooney, who has been suffering with a sinus problem this week.

QPR also made a change in the 61st minute, with Zamora limping off to be replaced by Loic Remy — a change that almost paid dividends straight away.

The January signing made himself space in the box to unleash a well-struck effort that de Gea head to be alert to stop, with Samba heading wide from the following corner.

United soon settled, though, and QPR captain Clint Hill did well to block a close-range strike by substitute Rooney, before Jenas put in an equally-impressively challenge to deny Welbeck.

The visitors did grab a second goal 10 minutes from time as Nani played a cute ball through to Giggs, whose strike from an acute angle beat Cesar to send the 3,081 visiting supporters into raptures.

Giggs saw a looped strike rattle the crossbar and a Samba header brushed the post late on, but there was to be no more goals despite the best efforts of both sides.

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Robin van Persie’s league-high 17th goal of the campaign gave United a 19th-minute lead, and the hosts looked likely to coast to victory at Old Trafford when captain Nemanja Vidic unwittingly deflected the ball in from close range to make it 2-0 in the 54th.

Daniel Sturridge pepped up a lethargic Liverpool when he came on as a halftime substitute and the new signing from Chelsea halved the deficit three minutes later, but Brendan Rodgers’ team couldn’t find the equalizer to cap its improved second-half display.

“It was a big game, everyone felt that during the week, and this is a great result,” said van Persie, who joined the team from Arsenal in August.

United is now 10 points clear of second-place Manchester City ahead of the champions’ match at Arsenal later Sunday, with its total of 55 points after 22 games the team’s highest tally at this stage of a top-flight season.

The game between England’s two most successful clubs, which share 37 league titles between them, was billed by some as a duel between Van Persie and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez — the division’s most prolific marksmen. Van Persie came out on top.

While Suarez was kept quiet — much to the delight of home fans who jeered his every touch as a result of his recent spats with United defender Patrice Evra — his rival continued his sensational scoring run that is keeping City at arm’s length in the title race.

The Netherlands striker beat marker Daniel Agger to Evra’s driven cross and calmly slotted the ball home from 12 yards for his ninth goal in his last nine games. Van Persie has also scored at least one goal in nine of his last 10 games.

“Robin van Persie is different class,” United striker Danny Welbeck said. “He produces moments in the game others can’t do and we are glad he is on our side.”

With Liverpool’s midfield giving the ball away cheaply and sitting far too deep, United was invited to attack at will and should have been more than a goal ahead at halftime.

Welbeck, given a rare start up front with Wayne Rooney still injured, thrashed wildly wide and Tom Cleverley went close with a volley. Van Persie then saw an impudent flick cleared from near the goal-line by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel before Pepe Reina pushed the ball away from the inrushing Shinji Kagawa.

The first half highlighted the gap that has emerged between the two sides in recent years, with the last of Liverpool’s 18 titles coming back in 1990. It was much different after the break, though.

Sturridge was introduced for the second half for his league debut for Liverpool and his pace and energy sparked a vast improvement by the visitors, who finally tested the United defense.

The former Chelsea striker’s goal came only after United had stretched its lead, however, when Van Persie’s free kick was headed down by the unmarked Evra with the ball deflecting off the side of Vidic’s head into the net.

Liverpool’s riposte was almost immediate, Sturridge sidefooting home from close range after David De Gea could only palm out Steven Gerrard’s low shot, and it set up a tense last half hour for the home side.

Sturridge and fellow substitute Fabio Borini shot wide as United fans became increasingly anxious, and Sturridge had an even better opportunity in the 85th only to blaze over the crossbar from an angle.

United, which has made a habit of edging tight matches this season, is now 24 points clear of eighth-place Liverpool in the standings.

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