Barclays Premier League
19.9.10, Old Trafford
UNITED 3
(Berbatov 42, 59, 84)
LIVERPOOL 2
(Gerrard 64 pen, 70)
United: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Nani (Gibson 88), Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs (Macheda 82); Berbatov (Anderson 88), Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Brown, Smalling, Owen.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky (Agger, 82), Cole, Gerrard, Poulsen, Meireles (Jovanovic, 79), Maxi (Ngog, 62), Torres. Subs not used: Jones, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Lucas.
Dimitar Berbatov was the United hero when the Reds met Liverpool at Old Trafford last season.
The Bulgarian netted his first hat-trick for the club, including a quite incredible overhead kick for his second goal just before the hour-mark.
That strike meant United were two-goals to the good, but the Merseysiders were given a lifeline soon after when Jonny Evans sent Fernando Torres tumbling in the area. Steven Gerrard converted the spot-kick and found the net with a free-kick six minutes later to draw the visitors level.
It was Berbatov and United who had the last laugh though as the striker rose to meet John O'Shea's right-wing cross to head the winner six minutes from the time, much to the delight and relief of the Old Trafford faithful.
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