After a goalless first half, when David De Gea made a couple of smart stops, the Blues opened the scoring with a sweet volley from Marcos Alonso.

However, the Reds' response was swift, with Nemanja Matic scooping a through ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who controlled it perfectly and then smashed in his 23rd goal of the season.

The impressive Reece James could, and perhaps should, have restored the visitors' lead when striking a post in the 80th minute.

Both sides searched in vain for a winner, with Juan Mata coming on for a lively cameo and Edouard Mendy gratefully clutching the ball from an injury-time United corner.

When it came to the voting, Cristiano earned 60 per cent and another deserved victory in the final game of the month.

Ronaldo was the last Red to win a Man-of-the-Match award, in the 3-2 win over Norwich City, when he scored a hat-trick, and he also took the accolade with his treble against Tottenham last month as he makes a late charge for the Player of the Year award.

De Gea was in second place on the night, with 28 per cent, and Matic earned third spot for a good display against his former club with six per cent.