'The crowd began by hailing one centre-half and ended the evening in grateful acclaim of the other. Rio Ferdinand returned but the comeback savoured most of all was the reinstatement of Manchester United's lead when Mikael Silvestre headed his second goal against a mostly ineffective Liverpool. Such invigorating tumult had been sought at this ground.
Apart from the practicalities of gathering more points, United needed to counteract the impression that they have become insipid. They opened here as if local rivalry had restored passion and ambition at a stroke, with Liverpool left to look ineffectual as the outset.
Stern action had been taken by United. Ferdinand, as expected, made an instant return at the close of his eightmonth, but while one man was delivered into the aural embrace of the Old Trafford crowd, another was sent into exile. No place for Tim Howard was found even on the bench.
Hitherto, Sir Alex Ferguson had thought that a dose of loyalty would restore his form, but the most recent mistake by the American goalkeeper, against Lyon proved an error too far. The manager will also have taken into account United's need to begin climbing the Premiership, as well as wet conditions that demanded the surest glovework.
Even boots carried no guarantee of grip if Paul Scholes's fall, within seconds of the ball leaving the centre-circle at kick-off, was any indication. The wintry, windy conditions that prevailed for half-an-hour also gave this game the feel of a traditional affair, even if there is a Spanish accent to Liverpool nowadays.
Rafael Benitez could not have demanded on a night such as this that his side nurse the ball as men do in La Liga, and particularly not after his captain Steven Gerrard went off injured in the 40th minute. The players acted as if they had better achieve an instant impact before they lost possession.