An early Liverpool goal from the boy Daniel Sturridge separated the two giants of English football at Anfield.
Liverpool continued their impressive start to the season with another bout of Premier League deja vu.
Daniel Sturridge goal. Check.
Important Mignolet save. Check.
Clean sheet. Check.
1-0 victory. Check.
Liverpool's only enforced change from last week's Premier League win over Aston Villa was the return of Martin Skrtel for Kolo Toure. And what a change that ultimately turned out to be, as both Agger and Skrtel kept Robin Van Persie quiet, and equally frustrated for large swathes of the game.
The reds raced out the blocks in similar fashion to the mid-week League Cup fixture, and again registered a goal within 4 minutes. This time it was Daniel Sturridge who had brilliant positioning and finesses, to redirect Daniel Agger's header away from Tom Cleverley on the Man Utd goal-line.
It would ultimately be the goal that separated the teams, but this game had so much more.
Sturridge turned 24 today, and the game was preceded by a tribute and Kop mosaic to a more illustrious Anfield legend - Bill Shankly - the 100th anniversary of his birth being celebrated this week by the club.
The reds dominated the first half with some slick passing and refusal to allow United's forwards time on the ball. By the end of the half it was all getting too much for Robin Van Persie who was involved in an altercation with Martin Skrtel before Steven Gerrard waded in.
As much as Liverpool dominated the first half - United dominated the second. But their play lacked any killer finish, and the reds coped reasonably well with the numerous set pieces and corners the opponents had. Martin Skrtel, once again, was at the heart of all Liverpool's good defending.
Liverpool lacked midfield stewardship in the second half - Lucas Leiva yet to regain full form, and Steven Gerrard all too often guilty of attempting the Hollywood pass, when the reds should have been concerned with regaining possession and forcing United in to chasing the ball.
Daniel Sturridge was doing his utmost to hold the ball up - but neither Coutinho or Aspas had their best games. For the latter, this game appeared to be too much of a step up in class.
Liverpool's suffered late irritation when Glen Johnson was taken off with a knock to his ankle - suffered in a challenge with Patrice Evra.
Nonetheless, the reds saw the game out comfortably against what appears to be a shadow of former United teams.
The reds recorded their third straight win to enjoy their best start to a season for 19 years. Liverpool are top of the league and the only team in the Premier League with a 100% record.
The international break means Liverpool fans will have to wait 15 days until the club travel to Swansea in the next Premier League fixture.
