Liverpool 1 Manchester United 1: Gerrard back to give Reds a kickstart

It had everything you would expect from a Liverpool-Manchester United game: passion, excitement and goals.

Well, for 20 minutes at least. Shame we had to endure 68 minutes of tedium prior to that.

Maybe it was the odd team selection that saw Sir Alex Ferguson omit Wayne Rooney, play Phil Jones in midfield and then, later, Rooney as a holding midfielder.

Easy does it: Steven Gerrard celebrates in front of the Liverpool fans

Maybe it was the early kick-off that is standard for these fixtures nowadays. Kenny Dalglish suggested it was the mutual respect the two sides had for each other.

Whatever, the much anticipated clash of these two giants of the English game for the first time since United had overhauled their rival's record with a 19th League title, was thoroughly underwhelming for much of the afternoon.

Breakthrough: Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard curls home his second-half free-kick

No chance: Javier Hernandez nods past Pepe Reina to level matters at Anfield

'It didn't really start until they scored,' admitted Ferguson, 'It was a good game after that but not a lot happened really, before that.'

Dalglish agreed: 'It was pretty sterile to start with. Both teams cancelled themselves out.'

Thank goodness then for those last 20 minutes. And thank goodness, from Liverpool's perspective, for Steven Gerrard.

The Anfield captain, making his first Premier League start since he played against United here in March, was self-effacing enough to admit that he mis-hit the free-kick that opened the scoring and transformed the game.

'I don't think it was the best,' he said. 'The idea was to get it over the wall.'

Instead, it found a hole in the wall, where Ryan Giggs had inexplicably pulled away from Danny Welbeck, allowing Gerrard's strike through to goal and giving the excellent David de Gea no chance.

'Bad defensive play,' said Ferguson in a tone that suggested that Giggs is not too old to experience the wrath of the manager.

Still, Gerrard raced away in front of the Kop in a frenzy of badge kissing before sliding into the corner as Anfield erupted.

Men in the middle: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tries to get away from United's Darren Fletcher

Good job the acrobatics did not damage the groin muscle on which he has had surgery and which kept him out for the past six months.

For, despite the arrival of £100million worth of talent and the startlingly obvious class of Luis Suarez - 'I'm running out of vocabulary to describe him,' said Dalglish - it is Gerrard who will remain talismanic for Liverpool for some time.

Plenty of progress has been made since John W Henry and Tom Werner's takeover of this club last year but much of it has been achieved with Gerrard in rehabilitation.

On the run: Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck tries to lead the attack at Anfield

Should he return to his old self, there may be still more to come from Dalglish's team this season.

'I think everyone connected with the football club is happy with where we've reached so far and we'll continue to do everything we possibly can to take it further,' said Dalglish.

'Wherever that takes us remains to be seen, but I'm sure Steven and Jamie Carragher will be a huge part of that because it's great to have those two in the dressing room.'

Gerrard's free- kick was preceded by controversy, being awarded because Rio Ferdinand had touched Charlie Adam as he powered through midfield, apparently causing the Scot to stumble and fall.

Rough and tumble: United's Park Ji-Sung feels the full force of a challenge from Lucas

'There was slight contact but I'm not sure it was enough to make a 12- 13st fella fall on the floor like that,' said Ferdinand wryly, as Gerrard sniggered in the background.

Ferdinand, already booked for a foul on Suarez, might have had a second yellow; as it was, the decision was probably proportionate.

Suddenly the game was everything we had anticipated. Rooney and Nani immediately came on, a change Ferguson had been planning even before the goal, though Rooney was playing deep in midfield, a ploy not without some merit.

Oh no you don't: United defender Chris Smalling makes an attempt to stop Jose Enrique's progress

The key substitution came six minutes later when Mexican Javier Hernandez came on. He has started this season slowly, two goals at Bolton aside.

He took just four minutes to transform this game, his darting movement from Nani's corner causing Martin Skrtel to slip and permit the opportunity for a free, closerange header from Danny Welbeck's decisive flick.

Almost immediately, Liverpool responded. Stewart Downing hitting a superb 40-yard cross pass which found Dirk Kuyt through on goal about 10 yards out.

Frustrated: Wayne Rooney was left on the bench for most of the match by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Not for the first time De Gea produced a superb reflex save to deny Liverpool. The Spaniard's first good moment had come on 34 minutes when he denied Suarez, who had turned past Jonny Evans to strike on goal.

Another came in injury-time when Jordan Henderson had a looping shot tipped over.

Picture perfect: Basketball star and Liverpool shareholder LeBron James takes a photo at Anfield 

Liverpool had another two good chances: Skrtel snatched wildly at a volley then Henderson skimmed a header just over.