Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, right, celebrates scoring the opening goal against Manchester United from a free-kick. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

This was the strangest of North West derbies, though Sir Alex Ferguson selected a starting line-up that was barely recognisable as Manchester United, with Phil Jones in midfield and Danny Welbeck on his own up front.

Wayne Rooney began on the bench, perhaps to get him used to watching important games from the sidelines, but more likely because Ferguson thought a Liverpool-United derby was no place for a player with a short temper and a sense of injustice. Liverpool used Steven Gerrard from the outset, though with both sides replicating each other with a five-man midfield and a lone striker the returning midfielder was unable to stamp his personality on an evenly contested first half, as was Ryan Giggs, his counterpart in the United line up.

Set up in that fashion, neither side managed to commit enough players to attack to make the first half exciting, or even eventful. Phil Jones, a surprise choice in midfield ahead of Anderson and Nani, ran about enthusiastically without bringing a great deal of penetration or cleverness to the visitors’ play, while with the exception of Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique’s occasional link-ups down the left Liverpool’s midfield play was slow and stodgy. United just about managed to spend more of the first 45 minutes in their opponents’ half, though Liverpool created the clearest chance to open the scoring, when a speculative attempt from Charlie Adam rebounded kindly for Luis Suárez, who had a brief sight of goal but could only manage a shot straight at David de Gea.

After the delightfully nimble Suárez had shown strength to muscle past Darren Fletcher and roll a shot narrowly wide the game finally came to life in the 67th minute, with Rooney warming up on the touchline. Adam made a direct run through midfield and was only stopped by a foul from Rio Ferdinand on the edge of the area. Andre Marriner ignored the Kop’s requests to issue a second yellow card, the defender having been booked earlier for a foul on Suárez, and dismissal probably would have been harsh for what seemed only minimal contact. Gerrard ensured Liverpool were fully rewarded by scoring direct from the free-kick, however, before making up for his seven months out with an orgy of celebration including not only badge-kissing but a knee-slide towards the scoreboard corner.

Rooney duly came on to be ritually abused by a suddenly vocal Anfield crowd – “Who’s the Scouser in the wig?” and a few less tasteful chants – and took up a deep position just in front of his back four. The logic of this was not immediately obvious, though Ferguson’s faith that Welbeck and third substitute Javier Hernández could conjure something up front was vindicated when the pair combined for the equaliser 10 minutes from time. Welbeck flicked on a corner, and Hernandez arrived in exactly the right place to bundle the ball past Pepe Reina.

There was still time for Dirk Kuyt to bring a save from De Gea with a late chance that could have won the game for Liverpool, then for Jordan Henderson to bring an even better response from the United goalkeeper with a dipping shot on the run in the final minute. De Gea has had his moments and his critics this season but he came through this test well, even if he knew little about the header Henderson flashed over his bar in stoppage time. Like United, Liverpool seemed to leave their best till last. This was a game the home side could have won.