Welcome to our coverage of Liverpool v Manchester United.

Big team news: Steven Gerrard starts for Liverpool

Bombshell team news: Wayne Rooney is on the bench for Manchester United

Here are those teams in full:

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Kuyt, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Gerrard, Suarez

Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Jones, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Welbeck

Except it’s arguably Manchester United’s bench that’s more interesting: Lindegaard, Anderson, Rooney, Hernandez, Carrick, Nani, Valencia

And odd one today. Manchester United started the season strongly but, although results have kept up, performances have waned lately. By contrast Liverpool have been much more inconsistent, often brilliant and baffling in the same game. They’ve been on an upward swing lately though and the timing of this game might be nice for them.

In saying that, there hasn’t been a draw in this fixture since 2005-06. Is this the day for it?

It is very hard to know what to make of the Manchester United team. Much less pace there than the start of the season. Only Young and Welbeck offer a bit of impetus. Seems United are going to go for containment early on.

Andy Burton asks Brandon from Pennsylvania why he’s in New York to watch this game.

Bigger question for Sky: why is Andy Burton in New York watching this game?

Alex Ferguson has said Rooney is “devastated” by his Euro 2012 ban. Potentially feels he needs the mental rest?

Ray Wilkins sounds like the scripted commentary you’d hear on Fifa or something.

And we are off.

Liverpool press very energetically straight away. That might have been what Ferguspn was afraid of, indicating the surprising team.

This has started at a blistering pace.

Liverpool have adjusted to 4-4-2… reaction to United’s set-up?

Jones wins the ball well then passes it straight out for a throw.

Little ingenuity so far. Both teams have actually tried to lump it at goal in the first five. It’s a very 1980s match.

Enrique just bursts past Smalling, Smalling recovers then falls. Going to be an interesting, fast-paced battle between those two on that wing today.

United suck he pace out of the game there and almost create the first opportunity. Welbeck ultimately crowded out well though.

Gerrard should have left that free-kick to Adam.

If you hold football values from somewhere in the English north in the 1950s, you won’t have been impressed by Evra or Suarez there. The Liverpool striker dives in a few yards of space. Evra appeals for the booking. Class.

That was Downing with the dive of course. Subconsciously, my brain mustn’t have been able to handle the idea of an Englishman diving.

Jones should have done better there! Tried to head in from an acute angle after a superb ball from Evra. Should have nodded it back across.

Evra’s probably just had his best 15 minutes of football since 2009

Liverpool have now lost a lot of their early impetus. United beginning to win ball easier and get on it.

Oh! Great ball from Gerrard across the box, inviting a touch. No-one n the end though.

A thought I’ve always had on card-waving: if someone tried to rob your house, you’d tell the police. If someone is trying to do you, is it not just that he gets booked?

United have completely taken the sting out of this game. It’s very flat.

Gerrard with another dangerously whipped ball from a corner but United scramble it away…

Liverpool coming back into it now and beginning to find more space around United’s box. Final ball lacking though from everyone except Gerrard.

Should be 1-0 Liverpool! Suarez capitalized on Evans slip, turned in but then shot straight at De Gea.

Very poor from Suarez. He should have scored. Straight at De Gea.

Meanwhile, Celtic are THREE-NIL down at Kilmarnock. Wow.

Skrtel does a Phil Jones with a surging run from deep, Ferdinand does well to shepherd him out though.

Many describing Celtic’s defeat as Neil Lennon’s “Tony Mowbray at St Mirren” moment

United’s midfield has shown minimal spark. But then I don’t think  that’s what there there for. Think Ferguson just wanted to weather the Anfield storm early on.

Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United

Liverpool endeavour to open United up, United content to keep it tight. The only time the twain broke was when Suarez broke… and finished poorly. Expect Ferguson to bring on the big guns as the game wears on.

Not looking good for Phil Jones after that challenge with Lucas Leiva. Seems like it’ll be a surprise if he comes out for second half. Souness worries it could be long-term.

Jones is back out.

And the second half is started.

Bit of spark from Young. Comes inside, wins ball, takes it on but then shoots wide from distance.

No changes half-time. The game COULD do with changes.

Young forces Reina’s first real save of the game. Decent power and direction on his free but Reina stops easily enough then collects before a United player can pounce.

Nice battle between Suarez and Smalling there. Suarez turned him inside out only for Smalling to recover well.

That might have been a peno to Liverpool. A Kuyt header definitely struck Evans arm, which was slightly stuck out from his body.

Young has started the second half very well. Really injected life into United.

Another chance for Liverpool. Adams free is hung into the box but Suarez can’t reach it with his head.

Henderson coming on for Lucas.

Henderson on for Lucas.

Sorry about that, some technical issues there. Game has livened up.

This from @Zonal_Marking

Gerrard and Adam midfield partnership. Fine for now, but Rooney would surely fancy that space between the lines…

Wow! Anthony Stokes has just pulled two back for Celtic with 14 minutes to go!

It’s Kilmarnock 3-2 Celtic

Free-kick Liverpool as Ferdinand sticks his leg out to block Adam’s brilliant run. Didn’t look like Ferdinand made contact though. He was on a booking but has avoided being sent off.

Rooney is also about to come on.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United

What was that about Gerrard and frees? He cleverly curls one between Giggs aand the wall and it goes in low near post.

Giggs should have done better.

Rooney is on though. As is Nani.

Park and Young off.

Celtic now drawing 3-3! Charlie Mulgrew

Ultimately, the referee bottled that decision though. If it was a free, Ferdinand should have got his second booking and be sent off. If it isn’t, it was a dive. Mealy-mouthed, he went in between.

This tweet from @McDonnellDan

The first big test of Gary Neville as a pundit will be his description of Giggs’ attempt at defending that free kick…..appalling

Opportunity seemed to open for Nani but he blazes over the bar,

Hernandez on for Young. Seems, unlike in March, United are going to go for this.

Hint of a handball there as Nani tried to flick ball up and it hit Enrique’s arm. That was similar to the Johnny Evans one.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

Hernandez heads in from the corner with extreme prejudice.

Welbeck did very well for the flick-on but Skrtel just let Hernandez go.

Two massive let-offs for United straight away!

First, De Gea does magnificently to save from Kuyt from close range, then a corner is somehow hooked away just as it looked like it was going to pin-ball past De Gea

The game is suddenly the open one we expected.

Teams just testing each other out now for final few minutes. Both afraid to take chance.

What a strike from Henderson, tried to lob De Gea, but an equal save from the young Spaniard.

Oh and Skrtel! Rooney did superbly there to come across and head away what would have been a certain goal from Suarez after a lovely knock-down from Adam. The ball comes to Skrtel, who then blazes over.

And Henderson heads over now. United’s defence stood motionless as he rose to head over.

Full-time: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

Feeling is that United will be happier with that. Got what they came for – as suggested by Ferguson’s early teamsheet. First draw between the two teams since 2005-06.