Liverpool

Jerzy Dudek - 5: Had nothing to do until a horror mistake for Rooney's opener and did not have much to do after.

Jamie Carragher - 7: Booked for a lunge on Ronaldo but a great goal-saving block to deny Saha and adapted well to being moved to right-back again.

Djimi Traore - 6: Battled away well but struggled to get forward and help Riise down the left flank.

Mauricio Pellegrino - 6: Looked a bit short of match fitness and may take time to adapt to the English game.

Sami Hyypia - 7: Involved in an aerial deul with Saha for much of the game and dealt well with the Frenchman.

Dietmar Hamann - 6: A quiet performance from the German in a central midfield area dominated by Keane and Scholes

Steven Gerrard - 6: Tried to get his team going after Rooney's goal but was effectively shackled by Keane and his set-pieces were also below-par.

John Arne Riise - 5: Much of Liverpool's attacking threat came down the other flank and the Norwegian was not as involved as he would have liked.

Luis Garcia - 5: The Spanish winger got into great positions but was wasteful and must improve his final delivery.

Fernando Morientes - 6: Showed some nice early touches on debut but faded badly after the goal and looked desperately short of match fitness.

Milan Baros - 6: Another 90 minutes of hard graft from the Czech but chances were at a premium against a rock-solid United defence.

Substitutes

Florent Sinama Pongolle (replaced John Arne Riise, 72 mins) - 5: Put himself about but starved of service

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Antonio Nunez (replaced Fernando Morientes, 75 mins) - 5: Got booked and saw very little of the ball.

Igor Biscan (replaced Dietmar Hamman, 79 mins) - 5: Spent most of his time up front as they chased a goal.

Manchester United

Roy Carroll - 7: Dominated his area and saved well late on from Carragher.

Phil Neville - 6: Was rarely threatened by Riise after Rooney's goal and put in an effective shift.

Gabriel Heinze - 9: Fabulous display from the Argentine firebrand, he made a host of crucial tackles when it counted and attacked with gusto. STAR MAN

Mikael Silvestre - 7: A very efficient display and made several important blocks after Brown was dismissed.

Wes Brown - 6: Only played due to Rio Ferdinand's injury and dealt well with Morientes' aerial threat, but two clumsy tackles earned a red card.

Roy Keane - 8: Blockbusting volley crashed back off the bar and kept the usually influential Gerrard quiet.

Paul Scholes - 8: Gave the ball away too much early on but improved dramatically and provided a crucial link between the midfield and the tireless Saha.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6: Not at his maverick best, but a willing runner before being sacrificed after the sending off.

Darren Fletcher - 6: Part of a combative midfield that over-powered the hosts and played his role proficiently.

Wayne Rooney - 8: Fortunate when his shot crept under Dudek but the ex-Everton striker dealt well with the boo-boys and was a great outlet for United.

Louis Saha - 6: Had a thankless job as United's only central striker but battled manfully with Hyypia.

Substitutes

John O'Shea (replaced Cristiano Ronaldo, 65 mins) - 6: Slotted in alongside Silvestre and kept Liverpool out.

Quinton Fortune (replaced Louis Saha, 79 mins) - 6: Kept Nunez quiet for the crucial last 10 minutes.

David Bellion (replaced Wayne Rooney, 90 mins) - 5: Did not touch the ball.