Manchester United v Liverpool: player ratings Patrice Evra Good going forward and done excellent to get in at the back post for the goal. For a small man, he can get up and cause problems in the air. Also marked Downing out of the game. Ashley Young Made a few decent runs down the wing but was slightly off the pace. Picked up a knock in the first-half which resulted in his substitution at the break. Tom Cleverley Crisp passing, good getting forward. This was an audition for the soon-to-be vacancy that Paul Scholes will leave. He certainly came across well and could have scored. Michael Carrick His pass to release Rafael just before the break was impeccable. Did not set the world alight otherwise but as ever broke up play superbly and sprayed numerous passes into space. Shinji Kagawa Another who is still getting back to full sharpness. Played a few cute passes that opened Liverpool up but did not make a huge impression on the game and was taken off in a defensive move. Danny Welbeck Worked his socks off up front alongside Van Persie by pressing every ball and forcing Liverpool into countless mistakes. Was a surprise selection, but proved to be a good one. Robin van Persie The Dutchman continues to amaze. It is hard to conceive that some analysts believed spending £24m on him was a gamble. Superb finish, worked tirelessly up front all afternoon. Substitutes: Valencia (5) for Young (46mins), like the man he replaced, rarely got into the game. Jones (6) for Kagawa (78mins), a defensive move to shore up the midfield. Smalling (6) for Vidic (80mins), fresh legs for the weary Vidic. Liverpool Pepe Reina Made a good save to deny Kagawa in the second-half but his nervy kicks in the opening period unsettled Liverpool in the early stages. Certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers. Andre Wisdom Fluffed a great chance at the start of the second half but for a young defender was remarkably composed defensively in a very tough fixture for any player. Daniel Agger Could have been tighter on Van Persie for the opening goal but made some crucial blocks at the right time to make up for errors by his team-mates that could have been costly. Martin Skrtel Was given plenty of running to do by Danny Welbeck who was continuously on the move. Allowed the striker a bit too much space at times but did make some good tackles. Glen Johnson Struggled with Rafael bombarding down the wing but did well with Valencia and Young. Could have got more help, but not his best display in the Liverpool shirt. Lucas Still seems rusty after his length lay-off with injury and struggled to get to grips with the game in the first-half. Was taken off at the break as Rodgers went for an attacking option. Steven Gerrard It was his shot that set up Sturridge's goal but this will not go down as one of his best displays for Liverpool at Old Trafford as he struggled to grasp hold of the game. Stuart Downing Rarely got on the ball. Has been a revitalised character of late but this performance was why Rodgers had deemed him surplus to requirements. Well off the pace. Joe Allen Made two glaring errors in the opening half but thankfully for him the ball fell to Welbeck and Cleverley on both occasions and not Van Persie. Not at his best. Raheem Sterling Struggled to get into the game, was marked tightly by Rafael and could not find space to weave the magic that has made him an impressive prospect. Will certainly have better days here. Luis Suárez Isolated in the first-half on his own up front, Suarez never looked like scoring. He did enjoy having Sturridge with him after the break as he was afforded a bit more space. Substitutes: Sturridge (7) for Lucas (46mins), changed the game and should have started. Borini for Sterling (73mins), made some good opportunities. Henderson (6) for Allen (81mins), no time to make an impact on the game.