Liverpool FC 1 Manchester United 2 - Match Report

A late penalty from Robin van Persie condemned Liverpool to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in their first home game since the revelations of the Hillsborough report.

The great rivals played out a heated encounter in a poignant afternoon peppered with moving tributes to the 96 who lost their lives on that tragic day.

It was intense end-to-end football from the off, with Ryan Giggs firing an early warning shot on six minutes, and Luis Suarez forcing Anders Lindegaard into action at the other end moments later.

Liverpool were the stronger team in the first-half, but could not force an opening. Brendan Rodgers's side were reduced to ten men shortly before the break when Jonjo Shelvey was given his marching orders for a high challenge on Jonny Evans.

Despite the visitors' numerical advantage, Liverpool continued to press the United defence in the second period, and they took the lead on 46 minutes when Gerrard fired a left-footed volley beyond Lindegaard to send the Kop into a frenzy.

However, Liverpool's advantage was short-lived. Shinji Kagawa chested Antonio Valencia's cross into the path of Rafael, and the Brazilian curled the ball past Pepe Reina between the Liverpool sticks for 1-1.

Both sides had clear cuts chances to take the lead as the two-way traffic continued, but it was Liverpool's indiscipline that handed United a 2-1 advantage. Glen Johnson brought down Valencia in the area, and Van Persie smashed home the resulting spot kick with less than ten minutes remaining.

The hosts should have drawn level on 83 minutes when Suarez whipped in a perfect cross to Martin Kelly, who could only head wide of the target.

To make matters worse for Liverpool, Kelly was stretchered off at the death with what looked like a nasty knee injury. Daniel Agger had previously picked up a knock during a collision with Johnson prior to United's penalty.

It was a dignified afternoon at Anfield, with both sets of players and the vast majority of supporters showing the utmost respect. There were reports of some incidents after the full-time whistle, but the actions of a small minority should not be allowed to tarnish an otherwise apt display of solidarity.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kelly, Agger (Carragher 80), Skrtl, Johnson; Allen, Gerrard, Shelvey, Borini (Jesus Fernandez Saez 46), Sterling (Henderson 66), Suarez

Subs not used: Jones, Jose Enrique, Sahin, Assaidi

Booked: Reina

Sent off: Shelvey

Goals: Gerrard (46)

MANCHESTER UNITED: Lindegaard, Rafael (Welbeck 89), Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Nani (Scholes 46), Kagawa (Hernandez 81), Van Persie

Subs not used: De Gea, Buttner, Anderson, Cleverley

Booked: Scholes, Van Persie

Goals: Rafael (51), Van Persie (81,pen)

Referee: Mark Halsey

Attendance: 44,263

"when will refs be graded based on such shoddy officiating so that bad refs are also relegated to the championship and so on?" patrick chali, lusaka around 7 months, 4 weeks ago

"Liverpool lost to the referee but not united thanks we shall never walk alone lets be strong. " otimbonny, lira around 8 months ago

"LFC played well but the red card and penalty spoiled the match. We badly miss another striker. Hope Mr. henry is taking note." Yash, Mauritius around 8 months ago

"liv and mu game was good to watch but ref desition was poor poor .this clearly shows that the reffries need to attend more course to handle " kesavan, malaysia around 8 months ago