Liverpool against Manchester United

Three minutes for United to hold out

Crouch controls - it looked like handball but it wasn't given - and his drive from the edge of the box is well wide

Another woeful cross - straight to Van der Sar. There was only one red shirt in the box anyway!

Hyypia's playing as a striker now, trying to help out up top

Terrible. Nowhere near a Liverpool player and sidefooted away by Evra. That was so bad at such a crucial time

Chance now though. Benayoun fouled on the right and it's a free kick way out on the right. Can they find a red shirt with this?

You just can't see Liverpool getting back on terms here. The crowd are not exactly making it a vicious theatre either

A chance for Liverpool to lump it to the head of Crouch. It's a poor, deep free-kick and the Liverpool fans are still left waiting for Van der Sar to be tested

Hargreaves does expertly to get a last ditch challenge in on Babel who was on a fine run to the box

Defensive switch for United now as Michael Carrick is introduced in place of Carlos Tevez

Giggs' attempt to break down the left is stopped by a dual challenge from Arbeloa and Mascherano

Babel again shoots from the edge of the area, this time it's blocked by a defender

A final change for Liverpool as Aurelio is on for Riise

Van der Sar again comes out and doesn't get to it - very close to more trouble and Crouch jumped for it

United playing on the break to good effect now as Liverpool commit numbers forward

Amazing! He puts it well wide! Maybe a little credit for the out-rushing Reina? Still, that should be the game to bed. A bad miss

Great move from United here. Final ball down the line for Ronaldo who spot Rooney unmarked at the far post for a tap-in...

Rooney and Ronaldo almost link up superbly to get the Portugese through, a last ditch interception from Hyypia thwarts it

A loose ball drops for Babel on the edge of the box - it's a screaming effort which goes just inches wide. Great effort and so close

Another cross into the box from Riise, again away by Evra. It's all too easy at the moment

Wahay! Rafa's finally seen it! Off comes the 'legend' Kuyt and on comes Crouch to huge cheers

Giggs takes, Carragher has to be strong to beat Vidic to the ball at the near post. Great challenge again

Tevez tees up Hargreaves for a 30-yarder. It goes well over but the slightest of touches provides a corner

Mascherano is penalised for a jump into Evra. It's a free-kick and there's a few words from the player to the ref. He's already been booked, remember

Utterly pathetic attempt. No confidence or conviction, and the ball bobbles to Van der Sar. If he'd really attacked that ball it was a decent chance. He didn't. Get him off.

A challenging ball from the left goes through the box and lands for Kuyt!

Corner to Liverpool. There's a real melee in the box - a claim for handball, no effort on goal but lots of hacking. United survive

Gerrard's cross looks for Kuyt deep - Van Der Sar's long arms claim the ball

Vidic heads clear after a decent ball in from the left by Riise

Time for a change for Liverpool - but not Crouch! Harry Kewell is replaced by Ryan Babel and somehow Kuyt is STILL on

Yet again Rooney is penalised for jumping into Carragher

Free-kick to United played right to Brown - and it comes to nothing

Riise brings down Ronaldo - free-kick. But Mascherano is furious with the decision and rams the ball into the ground. Yellow card for his actions

Now Kewell over-hits a cross. The Liverpool fans voice their disapproval at their team's inability to break through a resolute United defence

Riise and Gerrard are ready. It will be the Norwegian to strike it - and just like in the first half the effort smacks into the wall.

Handball by Hargreaves in a central area, just 25 yards out. Real chance for Liverpool here

And now Crouch begins to warm up. Not a moment too soon.

Kuyt has time to pick out a pass from the right. He swings over a superb cross which picks out the guy in the second row wearing a santa hat. £11million. Kuyt. Waste of space.

Ronaldo's cross is headed away by Carragher only as far as Tevez - but the ref spots a handball by the Argentine.

Kuyt is penalised for catching Evra, free-kick and chance to breathe

Kewell spots the late-arriving Gerrard very well - for once the skipper gets it wrong and the first time effort is miles wide

The atmosphere is electric now - the Kop baying for a leveller

Bit of handbags between the pair when Torres gets up. You've got to be, so macho.

Torres isn't strong enough to get past Ferdinand and goes down looking for the penalty - never going to get that.

Back up the other end and Riise sees a tame shot find Van der Sar

Rooney sets Ronaldo away on the right, the return pass into the area almost comes off but Hyypia intercepts.

Riise loses out to Tevez on the touchline after stumbling to the ground. It comes to Rooney who finds Brown for the volley - understandably he doesn't connect well and it's Reina's ball

Rooney takes a scissor swipe at Arbeloa after the ball had been lost. Liverpool's fans are enraged again! Just a word from the ref

Liverpool's players have come out with a flea in their ears. Determined to get back on level terms - then more!

Gerrard tries a shot from 20 yards - straight into the grasp of VDS

Torres has an early chance to cause mischief in the box - he looks up for options while the ball rolls on and the chance is gone

Liverpool get un started for the second period. Time for a comeback! No changes on either side

Rafa's men were by far the better side. But domination doesn't win you games - it's goals. It should make for a pulsating second 45.

Liverpool are shellshocked. After the goal they had nothing to offer and looked desperate for the interval. Rafa looked furious on the bench. And quite rightly so.

And there we have it. Half-time!

Just one minute to be added, we're told by the ever-enthusiastic Liverpudlian announcer. He always sounds so, so bored! Even when they're winning!

No-one was marking Tevez. And with Benayoun on the line and Tevez level with Reina there's no offside. Intelligent attacking play from Tevez to stay in with the man on the line, while everyone else rushed out!

Completely against the run of play! Rooney's shot was goalbound, but Tevez, stood four yards off the line, helped it into the roof of the net and beyond Benayoun on the line

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Giggs takes from the right, it's played along the floor the to the edge of the box for Ronney....

Tevez feeds Hargreaves on the right and his cross deflects off Carragher for the corner

Brown finsds Ronaldo, but again he runs into a red wall and it's cleared.

Tevez, in the deep again, looks to play a ball through the centre - it goes hopelessly through to Reina

Still nothing from United in this match. Only Ronaldo's ninth minute shot - which was blocked outside the area - is on their tally of effors

Finally Ronaldo gets it on the right - but his cross just hits Riise, and the Norwegian clears.

The ball ends up at Torres in the box on the right - he comes up with neither a cross nor a shot and it goes out for a goal-kick

The free-kick's 35 yards out. Riise and Gerrard stand over it - trying to catch out the charger Anderson at first. It's set up for Gerrard who obviously hits the wall

Kewell breaks through the centre but Brown tracks and stops his progress. Halsey gets the yellow out again

Liverpool looking by far the better side at the moment. United toothless. Is Ronaldo playing?

Riise cuts inside onto his right - but the shot is wayward once more.

Gerrard and Anderson both enter the book after a coming together in the centre

Ferdinand and Van der Sar are having words! Rio's not too happy about his keeper's decision making - and he's damn right!

Kewell takes a pot shot from 30 yards. Not sure how he could have got his shot much more wrong.

Evra just manages to get back there ahead of Kuyt to clear from three yards out. So close!

Free-kick to Liverpool again, lobbed in from deep by Gerrard. It looks harmless Ferdinand gets a head to it but again Van der Sar runs into his own man - Vidic - and lands on the floor. It's running in for an own goal!

Anderson goes on a superb run from his own half, at least 50 yards right to the edge of the box only for that man Gerrard to track back and make a brilliant challenge to win the ball

Torres somehow nods a simple chance wide of the post - that should have been 1-0. We could do with more of that. A lot more.

It falls to Kewell who sees his shot blocked on the line by Anderson! It loops back up and Torres must score!

Gerrard delivers from the right - Brown's header is a poor one then Van der Sar runs into his own defenders! He can't get the punch in!

Corner to Liverpool. Can we have a shot please?

Ooh! It's heating up again! Kewell is penalised for a challenge on Brown and then Riise makes double sure it's a free-kick. There's a bit of posturing between the cards - ref Halsey keeps his cards close to his chest

Now it's starting to get a little scrappy. Don't say this game is going to descend into stalemate?

Gerrard goes through Anderson after trying to win back the ball which he himself lost - no foul though. We've seen reds for that recently!

Still no shots for the keepers to deal with. Come on!

Tevez drops deep to get into the game - he's not getting any joy up top

Torres finds himself on the left but looks to get into the box against Hargreaves. His footwork doesn't fool the England man and the tackle's a good one

Typically rubbish control from Kuyt when in a good position on the edge of the box. £11million... scored some great Premier League goals this season though...

United improving now as the temperature rises. Ronaldo's antics are not going to make things calm down in the stadium or on the pitch!

Ronaldo goes down so, so easily from Arbeloa's challenge. The Liverpool fans go mental wanting a booking for diving - and he should have been. Cheating.

Free-kick to United now, out on the left. Ronaldo plays in a woeful low ball and Hyypia clears.

Gerrard takes the free-kick from the right, but there's no-one in red at the back stick meaning Brown and flick it away with his head

And here it is! The first yellow! Evra goes into the book for a carbon copy of Brown's challenge on Kewell. Evra's was on Benayoun

Giggs and Evra link up superbly on the left, Evra crossing for Rooney at the near post only for Carragher to make an outstanding challenge at the death

Torres isn't closed down on the edge of the area, but still delays too long and his rushed, curled effort doesn't curl. Goal-kick.

No chance to speak of as yet, but these two teams are going hell for leather and at this pace it's surely only a matter of time before one of the keepers gets tested

The tackles are flying in now. The first booking in a breathless game must be around the corner

Giggs takes from the right but fails to beat the first man - Gerrard

Ronaldo comes in from the right and is allowed space to shoot - the effort slaps into Carragher and behind for a corner

Hyypia smashes an uncharateristic 35-yard blockbuster - Gerrard-esque - but it never troubles Van der Sar. Don't give up your day job!

Brown stops Kewell from breaking down the left - he'd have been away - and is looking to avoid the book

Evra and Giggs get it all wrong when trying to link up on the left in what looking like being a promising move

Rooney challenges Hyypia with a leading arm - no contact but the ref blows the whistle for his intent

There's an electric atmosphere at Anfield for what is the biggest grudge match in the Premier League. Liverpool fans are desperate for a long-awaiting win in the fixture.

Gerrard takes, Vidic heads clear but Hyypia can only hit Torres' speculative knock back into the box over the bar

The Liverpool fans go crazy after Vidic tugs down Torres on the right flank. The ref has a few words but there's no further action. Chance to swing one in here

Benayoun commits the first foul early on, holding back Anderson

It's Manchester United to kick the game off - Rooney and Tevez on the spot.

As expected, only Wayne Rooney remained in the United side from the team that started the midweek draw in Rome, as Owen Hargreaves was back after a calf strain to partner Anderson in midfield.

With a post-match meeting planned with co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, Benitez knew a first Liverpool win over their old rivals in the Premier League in three years would be a useful negotiating tool as he bids to generate some funds to use in the January transfer window.

Rafael Benitez selected an unchanged side for only the third time during his reign as Liverpool manager as the Reds tackled champions Manchester United at Anfield.

Amazing! He puts it well wide! Maybe a little credit for the out-rushing Reina? Still, that should be the game to bed. A bad miss

Great move from United here. Final ball down the line for Ronaldo who spot Rooney unmarked at the far post for a tap-in...

Rooney and Ronaldo almost link up superbly to get the Portugese through, a last ditch interception from Hyypia thwarts it

A loose ball drops for Babel on the edge of the box - it's a screaming effort which goes just inches wide. Great effort and so close

Another cross into the box from Riise, again away by Evra. It's all too easy at the moment

Wahay! Rafa's finally seen it! Off comes the 'legend' Kuyt and on comes Crouch to huge cheers

Giggs takes, Carragher has to be strong to beat Vidic to the ball at the near post. Great challenge again

Tevez tees up Hargreaves for a 30-yarder. It goes well over but the slightest of touches provides a corner

Mascherano is penalised for a jump into Evra. It's a free-kick and there's a few words from the player to the ref. He's already been booked, remember

Utterly pathetic attempt. No confidence or conviction, and the ball bobbles to Van der Sar. If he'd really attacked that ball it was a decent chance. He didn't. Get him off.

A challenging ball from the left goes through the box and lands for Kuyt!

Corner to Liverpool. There's a real melee in the box - a claim for handball, no effort on goal but lots of hacking. United survive

Gerrard's cross looks for Kuyt deep - Van Der Sar's long arms claim the ball

Vidic heads clear after a decent ball in from the left by Riise

Time for a change for Liverpool - but not Crouch! Harry Kewell is replaced by Ryan Babel and somehow Kuyt is STILL on

Yet again Rooney is penalised for jumping into Carragher

Free-kick to United played right to Brown - and it comes to nothing

Riise brings down Ronaldo - free-kick. But Mascherano is furious with the decision and rams the ball into the ground. Yellow card for his actions

Now Kewell over-hits a cross. The Liverpool fans voice their disapproval at their team's inability to break through a resolute United defence

Riise and Gerrard are ready. It will be the Norwegian to strike it - and just like in the first half the effort smacks into the wall.

Handball by Hargreaves in a central area, just 25 yards out. Real chance for Liverpool here

And now Crouch begins to warm up. Not a moment too soon.

Kuyt has time to pick out a pass from the right. He swings over a superb cross which picks out the guy in the second row wearing a santa hat. £11million. Kuyt. Waste of space.

Ronaldo's cross is headed away by Carragher only as far as Tevez - but the ref spots a handball by the Argentine.

Kuyt is penalised for catching Evra, free-kick and chance to breathe

Kewell spots the late-arriving Gerrard very well - for once the skipper gets it wrong and the first time effort is miles wide

The atmosphere is electric now - the Kop baying for a leveller

Bit of handbags between the pair when Torres gets up. You've got to be, so macho.

Torres isn't strong enough to get past Ferdinand and goes down looking for the penalty - never going to get that.

Back up the other end and Riise sees a tame shot find Van der Sar

Rooney sets Ronaldo away on the right, the return pass into the area almost comes off but Hyypia intercepts.

Riise loses out to Tevez on the touchline after stumbling to the ground. It comes to Rooney who finds Brown for the volley - understandably he doesn't connect well and it's Reina's ball

Rooney takes a scissor swipe at Arbeloa after the ball had been lost. Liverpool's fans are enraged again! Just a word from the ref

Liverpool's players have come out with a flea in their ears. Determined to get back on level terms - then more!

Gerrard tries a shot from 20 yards - straight into the grasp of VDS

Torres has an early chance to cause mischief in the box - he looks up for options while the ball rolls on and the chance is gone

Liverpool get un started for the second period. Time for a comeback! No changes on either side

Rafa's men were by far the better side. But domination doesn't win you games - it's goals. It should make for a pulsating second 45.

Liverpool are shellshocked. After the goal they had nothing to offer and looked desperate for the interval. Rafa looked furious on the bench. And quite rightly so.

And there we have it. Half-time!

Just one minute to be added, we're told by the ever-enthusiastic Liverpudlian announcer. He always sounds so, so bored! Even when they're winning!

No-one was marking Tevez. And with Benayoun on the line and Tevez level with Reina there's no offside. Intelligent attacking play from Tevez to stay in with the man on the line, while everyone else rushed out!

Completely against the run of play! Rooney's shot was goalbound, but Tevez, stood four yards off the line, helped it into the roof of the net and beyond Benayoun on the line

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Giggs takes from the right, it's played along the floor the to the edge of the box for Ronney....

Tevez feeds Hargreaves on the right and his cross deflects off Carragher for the corner

Brown finsds Ronaldo, but again he runs into a red wall and it's cleared.

Tevez, in the deep again, looks to play a ball through the centre - it goes hopelessly through to Reina

Still nothing from United in this match. Only Ronaldo's ninth minute shot - which was blocked outside the area - is on their tally of effors

Finally Ronaldo gets it on the right - but his cross just hits Riise, and the Norwegian clears.

The ball ends up at Torres in the box on the right - he comes up with neither a cross nor a shot and it goes out for a goal-kick

The free-kick's 35 yards out. Riise and Gerrard stand over it - trying to catch out the charger Anderson at first. It's set up for Gerrard who obviously hits the wall

Kewell breaks through the centre but Brown tracks and stops his progress. Halsey gets the yellow out again

Liverpool looking by far the better side at the moment. United toothless. Is Ronaldo playing?

Riise cuts inside onto his right - but the shot is wayward once more.

Gerrard and Anderson both enter the book after a coming together in the centre

Ferdinand and Van der Sar are having words! Rio's not too happy about his keeper's decision making - and he's damn right!

Kewell takes a pot shot from 30 yards. Not sure how he could have got his shot much more wrong.

Evra just manages to get back there ahead of Kuyt to clear from three yards out. So close!

Free-kick to Liverpool again, lobbed in from deep by Gerrard. It looks harmless Ferdinand gets a head to it but again Van der Sar runs into his own man - Vidic - and lands on the floor. It's running in for an own goal!

Anderson goes on a superb run from his own half, at least 50 yards right to the edge of the box only for that man Gerrard to track back and make a brilliant challenge to win the ball

Torres somehow nods a simple chance wide of the post - that should have been 1-0. We could do with more of that. A lot more.

It falls to Kewell who sees his shot blocked on the line by Anderson! It loops back up and Torres must score!

Gerrard delivers from the right - Brown's header is a poor one then Van der Sar runs into his own defenders! He can't get the punch in!

Corner to Liverpool. Can we have a shot please?

Ooh! It's heating up again! Kewell is penalised for a challenge on Brown and then Riise makes double sure it's a free-kick. There's a bit of posturing between the cards - ref Halsey keeps his cards close to his chest

Now it's starting to get a little scrappy. Don't say this game is going to descend into stalemate?

Gerrard goes through Anderson after trying to win back the ball which he himself lost - no foul though. We've seen reds for that recently!

Still no shots for the keepers to deal with. Come on!

Tevez drops deep to get into the game - he's not getting any joy up top

Torres finds himself on the left but looks to get into the box against Hargreaves. His footwork doesn't fool the England man and the tackle's a good one

Typically rubbish control from Kuyt when in a good position on the edge of the box. £11million... scored some great Premier League goals this season though...

United improving now as the temperature rises. Ronaldo's antics are not going to make things calm down in the stadium or on the pitch!

Ronaldo goes down so, so easily from Arbeloa's challenge. The Liverpool fans go mental wanting a booking for diving - and he should have been. Cheating.

Free-kick to United now, out on the left. Ronaldo plays in a woeful low ball and Hyypia clears.

Gerrard takes the free-kick from the right, but there's no-one in red at the back stick meaning Brown and flick it away with his head

And here it is! The first yellow! Evra goes into the book for a carbon copy of Brown's challenge on Kewell. Evra's was on Benayoun

Giggs and Evra link up superbly on the left, Evra crossing for Rooney at the near post only for Carragher to make an outstanding challenge at the death

Torres isn't closed down on the edge of the area, but still delays too long and his rushed, curled effort doesn't curl. Goal-kick.

No chance to speak of as yet, but these two teams are going hell for leather and at this pace it's surely only a matter of time before one of the keepers gets tested

The tackles are flying in now. The first booking in a breathless game must be around the corner

Giggs takes from the right but fails to beat the first man - Gerrard

Ronaldo comes in from the right and is allowed space to shoot - the effort slaps into Carragher and behind for a corner

Hyypia smashes an uncharateristic 35-yard blockbuster - Gerrard-esque - but it never troubles Van der Sar. Don't give up your day job!

Brown stops Kewell from breaking down the left - he'd have been away - and is looking to avoid the book

Evra and Giggs get it all wrong when trying to link up on the left in what looking like being a promising move

Rooney challenges Hyypia with a leading arm - no contact but the ref blows the whistle for his intent

There's an electric atmosphere at Anfield for what is the biggest grudge match in the Premier League. Liverpool fans are desperate for a long-awaiting win in the fixture.

Gerrard takes, Vidic heads clear but Hyypia can only hit Torres' speculative knock back into the box over the bar

The Liverpool fans go crazy after Vidic tugs down Torres on the right flank. The ref has a few words but there's no further action. Chance to swing one in here

Benayoun commits the first foul early on, holding back Anderson

It's Manchester United to kick the game off - Rooney and Tevez on the spot.

As expected, only Wayne Rooney remained in the United side from the team that started the midweek draw in Rome, as Owen Hargreaves was back after a calf strain to partner Anderson in midfield.

With a post-match meeting planned with co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, Benitez knew a first Liverpool win over their old rivals in the Premier League in three years would be a useful negotiating tool as he bids to generate some funds to use in the January transfer window.

Rafael Benitez selected an unchanged side for only the third time during his reign as Liverpool manager as the Reds tackled champions Manchester United at Anfield.