2-1 again!

Well we didn't need no Diego Forlan this time, as Mickael Silvestre popped up just when it looked like United's embarassing superiority was going to go unrewarded again.

Twice the ball rocketed off the Frenchman's bald pate from the unerring accuracy of Giggs' left foot, and twice Jerzy Dudek grabbed air, although his defenders were the bumbling ones this time.

For all the guile of Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso, and the more direct threat of Djibril Cisse and Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool attack simply had no answer to the way United were closing them down.

All the pre-match hype about the goalkeepers being the weak link failed to materialise, with Roy Carroll replacing Tim Howard, and Dudek having a decent outing.

United flew out of the blocks, as they threw everyone forward in search of a settling early goal. Instead, the Liverpool goal seemed to lead a charmed life, as Cristiano Ronaldo teased and tortured the Riise and Kewell, and even hit the woodwork with Dudek beaten.

This was no one-half wonder, as United possessed a hunger that seemed to signal that their season started now, with Rio Ferdinand proving a rock on which Liverpool foundered.

It was breathtaking stuff, as the swagger and one-touch football returned, and quite simply, Rafa Benitez's men could not cope.

In the end, 2-1 was a flattering result, as United could have been at least three-up by the break. But as Jose Mourinho would say, it is just three points.

But it is also just United's second win in six games. Nevertheless, they can take heart from three points off a title contender, as well as an assured display from the United defence.