Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Robin van Persie Wins It Late

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Final Score 2-1 As United Scrape Past Ten-Man Pool

Manchester United emerged victorious from Anfield, thanks to some self-sabotage from Liverpool and some controversial refereeing decisions.

Manchester United Vs. Liverpool: Daniel Agger Injured, United Go 2-1 Up On Penalty

Robin van Persie has put Manchester United on top of 10-man Liverpool with an absolutely perfect penalty in the 81st minute, and his side are well in control of their Northwest Derby against Liverpool with a 2-1 lead. Van Persie has been arguably United's best player in the second half, but it took a spot kick for him to create or score a goal. The Reds have 10 men and will really have to expose themselves defensively to push for an equalizer.

The penalty was actually given nearly five minutes prior to the goal, in the 76th minute, Glen Johnson hacked down Antonio Valencia in the box, and Mark Halsey pointed to the penalty spot.

Also during that sequence, Daniel Agger was injured, and his injury appeared to be fairly serious. He was down on the pitch for around four minutes, and a stretcher was required to take him off. As he exited the pitch, he was visibly in pain and clutching his left knee. Jamie Carragher has come into the match to replace him.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: More Goals, Reds Seem Imminent

Generally, when one team is down to 10-men and either ahead or tied, they put everyone behind the ball and stop making very aggressive tackles. Brendan Rodgers didn't get the memo. Liverpool are still pushing forward and going hard into everything, and Manchester United don't seem too intent on keeping their man advantage either. They're flying even harder into challenges than their opponents, and if this intensity keeps up, Mark Halsey's going to be forced into another tough decision.

Manchester United have taken control a bit and look like the much more likely side to score the next goal, but this isn't total domination. Heck, it's not even the kind of domination that Liverpool enjoyed in the first half 11 vs. 11. Robin van Persie's creative touches have been brilliant and Paul Scholes has been a calming presence in the middle, but United seems to be lacking something going forward.

If this played out 11 vs. 10, with the score 1-1 for the rest of the match, it would be surprising.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Rafael Equalizer Comes Quickly

Well, that Liverpool lead didn't last long. Manchester United are back on level terms, and they'll be pushing hard for a winner due to Liverpool's man disadvantage. Steven Gerrard's opener seemed to be a bit of a wake-up call for the Red Devils, and they've surged back into the match thanks to Rafael.

Shinji Kagawa provided the assist for Manchester United's right back, though the goal was all about the finish. With Rafael coming forward and cutting in from the right, Kagawa chested the ball down to him and shielded off defenders from closing him down quickly. He took an absolutely brilliant shot, curling a perfect finish around Pepe Reina to the far post, giving him no chance to make a save.

Also, lost in the madness that was two early goals was a big substitution. At halftime, Manchester United brought on Paul Scholes for Nani to solidify their midfield. Even though they gave up that goal one minute into the half, it's working.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Steven Gerrard Goal Gives Reds Shock 1-0 Lead

The second half had been underway for mere seconds when 10-man Liverpool surprisingly struck, though the way they scored was in the most predictable of fashions. Once again, while Liverpool looked to be in trouble, they've been rescued by Steven Gerrard in a Northwest Derby.

Liverpool brought Suso on for the fairly poor Fabio Borini at halftime, and that move immediately paid dividends in the 46th minute. Manchester United let him get free down the left and he cut a ball back for Glen Johnson. He controlled the ball with his chest and attempted to play it into the box, but his pass took a deflection off of a United defender. Lucky for him, it deflected in a way better than he could have hoped to pass it.

The deflection fell right to Steven Gerrard, who chested down the ball and struck a brilliant half volley past Anders Lindegaard to give Liverpool the lead.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Half-Time Score 0-0 As Shelvey Sees Red

The first half ends goalless as Liverpool dominate but waste their chances, then end up going in at half-time down to ten men.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Home Side Dominate ... Until Jonjo Shelvey Sees Red

Jonjo Shelvey has seen red for Liverpool, perhaps a bit harshly. The Liverpool midfielder went into a flying tackle on Jonny Evans and had his studs showing with his boot a bit high, but it was both an honest attempt to win the ball and not particularly dangerous. Mark Halsey just seemed to care about the high boot and fairly reckless nature of the tackle and gave Shelvey a red in the 38th minute.

Before that sending off, there was a lot of good passing and possession, but not much in the way of chances for Liverpool. They've had a lot of the ball, but they seem to lack the quality to create chances when Manchester United get back behind the ball, and they'd probably lack someone to finish them even if they did.

Shortly after the red, Luis Suarez drew a foul and forced a good save out of Anders Lindegaard with the ensuing free kick. At the moment, Liverpool don't look like letting up even with 10 men.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: A Penalty Shout For Daniel Agger

It's still all Liverpool through 21 minutes of play, and they've put the Manchester United defense under pressure once again. Maybe under so much pressure that they were forced to concede a penalty, but not in the opinion of referee Mark Halsey. Daniel Agger looked to be taken down in the box, but Halsey waived play on. Rio Ferdinand, who made the iffy but ultimately fair challenged, looked a bit shaken up afterwards.

Steven Gerrard was the man who played in the ball for Agger, and he's had a brilliant game thus far. Through almost all of last season and the first four games of this season, Gerrard has looked his age and then some. Many wondered whether or not this slower version of Gerrard would ever fit into Brendan Rodgers' system, but he's driving his side on today like he has in many Northwest Derbies gone by.

Unfortunately for them, it looks like his work rate and passing isn't going to be enough for Liverpool, since they're still having trouble finishing. He might have to score the goals too.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Hosts Still On Top

More chances for Liverpool! Manchester United's defence is having real problems tracking the runs of Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini so far, and when the former drops back into midfield to collect the ball, the visitors lose their concentration for long enough to allow the latter through the back line. The Italian international latches onto the ball, but his shot from a tight angle is blocked by a recovering Johnny Evans, with the bounce falling United's way and allowing them to clear.

A little while later, Patrice Evra's forced into a lunging challenge to prevent Suarez bursting into the box. It's successful, but this is certainly not the start that the visitors, who're looking at perhaps the worst Liverpool side in a generation, would have envisioned. They'll need to settle down, control play, and let their quality show -- casual giveaways from Michael Carrick in midfield are, therefore, exactly not what the doctor ordered. It comes to nothing, but that mistake was rather symptomatic of their play so far. Still 0-0.

Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Match Underway

After a stirring rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, we've kicked off at Anfield, where Liverpool host Manchester United in what is perhaps England's biggest rivalry. The visitors, as you might expect, have had most of the possession thus far, but they're yet to carve out a clear-cut opportunity. Instead, it's Steven Gerrard who's twice come close in the early stages as Liverpool look to ruin Sir Alex Ferguson' day with a surprise victory. Nothing doing just yet though.

Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3): Pepe Reina; Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Martin Kely; Joe Allen, Jonjo Shelvey, Steven Gerrard; Raheem Sterling, Luis Suarez, Fabio Borini.

Substitutes from: Brad Jones, Jose Enrique, Jamie Carragher, Nuri Sahin, Jordan Henderson, Oussama Assaidi, Jesus Saez.

Manchester united starting lineup (4-4-1-1): Andres Lindegaard; Patrice Evra, Johnny Evans, Rio Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva; Nani, Michael Carrick, Ryan Gigs, Antonio Valencia; Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes from: David de Gea, Alexander Buttner, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Tom Cleverley, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck.

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