Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1

Rio Ferdinand and Luis Suarez

Wayne Rooney's double sent Manchester United top of the Premier League after a dramatic and controversial clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The tone was setbefore kick-offwhen Liverpool striker Luis Suarez embroiled himself in another confrontation with Patrice Evra after refusing to shake the hand of the United defender.

The United captain offered his hand to the Uruguay international, who was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the defender, but he bypassed the Frenchman and went straight to goalkeeper David de Gea.

Evra did not accept that and attempted to grab Suarez's arm to complete the formalities, but the striker shrugged him off. Rio Ferdinand, next in line to De Gea, then refused to shake Suarez's hand.

The first half was hard fought, with Paul Scholes going closest when he headed straight at Pepe Reina after a fine move.

After the break Rooney scored twice in three minutes, first volleying home a crisp effort after a corner before clipping the ball through Reina's legs after good work from the impressive Antonio Valencia.

Suarez pulled a goal back for Liverpool when he latched onto a rebound off Ferdinand in the United box to finish from close range, but United held on for the win.

City will have the chance to regain the lead when they face Aston Villa on Sunday.

Action

Early on Ferdinand collided with Evra as both United players went to challenge Suarez, and after treatment Ferdinand eventually carried on.

Nothing much happened for a long time after that, with the game getting stuck in a midfield scrap.

Glen Johnson had the clearest opportunity, only to curl his shot wide after skipping in! side Evr a.

Rafael responded with a similar opportunity, which was saved by Pepe Reina.

It was not long before United opened their visitors up though.

Scholes continued his run after finding Ryan Giggs with a quite brilliant pass to the left touchline.

When Giggs delivered the cross, Scholes was all on his own on the edge of the six-yard box.

It should have been the opener. Instead, the veteran midfielder's header went straight at Reina, who batted it away.

After the flurry of activity, the contest reverted back to the mundane.

That was until the final minute of the half, when Ferdinand sent Suarez to the deck with a tackle TV replays showed was perfectly legal.

Suarez felt differently and when referee Phil Dowd refused to award the free-kick that would surely have brought Ferdinand's dismissal, he reacted furiously.

Booting the ball at towards the dug-out as the half-time whistle blew, Suarez had to be escorted down the tunnel by team-mates.

Once inside though, the whole thing exploded once more, with Evra apparently intent on confronting the Uruguayan, with players from both sides involved in a melee.

Goals

The Football Association will be wanting to know more about that but the spark suited United better judging by the way they began the second half.

When Jordan Henderson could only get the faintest of touches to Giggs' curling corner, it sent the ball straight to Rooney.

On his own at the far post, the England striker swept home a first-time shot.

The home fans barely had time to catch their breath before Rooney struck again.

This time, Liverpool only had themselves to blame as Jay Spearing surrendered possession to Valencia in a dangerous area.

Unselfishly, Valencia found Rooney immediately and the United man finished off his 17th Premier League goal of the seaso! n.

The whole complexion of the afternoon had changed.

After Michael Carrick had sent Suarez flying, Rooney was denied a hat-trick when he brilliant effort was ruled out for an earlier foul by Jonny Evans.

More good work from Valencia presented Rooney with another opportunity, which he spurned.

It triggered a double substitution from Kenny Dalglish, who introduced Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy.

Then, after Danny Welbeck had scuffed a shot straight to Reina, Charlie Adam came on.

Suarez remained throughout, so was on hand to finish off after United's defence had got themselves in a tangle as they tried to clear Adam's free-kick and the ball bounced kindly off Ferdinand.

Welbeck would have eased a few nerves if he had not wasted a good chance on United's next attack.

However, after an excellent save from David de Gea to deny Johnson in stoppage time and Suarez missing from close range when he was offside anyway, the hosts held on to claim a valuable win, even if the hope of both clubs that the match should remembered for the football was sadly not met.

What is your verdict on the game? Have your say.

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