MAN UNITED YATAFUNA JOGOO ENGLAND

Manchester United held on for all three points despite late pressure from bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Robin van Persie opened the scoring for United, putting away his 17th league goal of the season after sliding a Patrice Evra cross into the net.

United were 2-0 up shortly after the break when Evra's header brushed off Nemanja Vidic's head, eluding the flailing Pepe Reina. Daniel Sturridge scored shortly afterwards to give Brendan Rodgers' men hope, but they were unable to clinch the equaliser.

In it goes: Nemanja Vidic claimed the decisive goal after the ball brushed off his head before finding the net

Cruising: Manchester United went 2-0 up after Nemanja Vidic scored off Patrice Evra's (left) header

Back on: Substitute Daniel Sturridge pulled a goal back for the visitors to make it 2-1

MATCH FACTS

Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic (Smalling 79), Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Young (Valencia 46), Kagawa (Jones 77), Welbeck, Van Persie

Subs: Amos, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez

Goals: Van Persie 19, Vidic 54

Booked: Evra

Liverpool: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Lucas (Sturridge 46), Downing, Gerrard, Allen (Henderson 80), Sterling (Borini 62), Suarez

Subs: Jones, Carragher, Shelvey, Robinson

Goal: Sturridge 57

Booked: Allen, Skrtel, Johnson, Agger

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

More to follow.

Me again: Robin van Persie scored the opener at Old Trafford to put United 1-0 up

Lethal: Van Persie celebrated his 17th goal of the Premier League season

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Battle: Danny Welbeck tries to hold off Martin Skrtel (right) of Liverpool

Keeping up appearances: Jose Mourinho (right) and Roy Hodgson (left) were at Old Trafford for the match

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Recovery: Steven Gerrard had to make a last-ditch challenge on Van Persie after giving the ball away

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Audacious: Van Persie almost put United 2-0 up with this cheeky flick

Ok? Pepe Reina was helped by Martin Skrtel after running into Shinji Kagawa

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Red mist: Liverpool fans set off a flair during the match

Locking horns: Sir Alex Ferguson sought to guide United to another win over Liverpool at Old Trafford

Young pretender: Brendan Rodgers attempted to topple Liverpool's fierce rivals United in their own back yard