MANCHESTER UNITED v LIVERPOOL, 2-0 Sun 22 Oct 2006
Rio Ferdinand struck a spectacular goal to upstage Paul Scholes on his 500th appearance for Manchester United in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool.
Scholes marked the occasion in perfect style with the opener after good work by Ryan Giggs late in the first half.

But the famously private midfielder will be only too happy to let Ferdinand take the headlines after he smashed home a stunning second to settle the match.

United asserted their dominance more and more as a lively game went on, after Liverpool had started the brighter.

The visitors pushed forward straight from the kick-off, but Mark Gonzalez's cross was disappointing. Riise then tried his luck from his own half, but the ball sailed over the bar.

Luis Garcia and Steven Gerrard then closed in on Edwin van der Sar, but the former was penalised for a trip on Ferdinand, replays suggesting the decision may have been harsh.

Wayne Rooney - also reaching a significant landmark, his 100th game for United - produced a delightful ball to pick out Gary Neville in United's first attack, but the full-back's cross was cleared under pressure by Sami Hyypia.

From a Michael Carrick corner shortly afterwards, the ball bounced off the chest of a static Nemanja Vidic to Louis Saha, whose shot was parried by Jose Reina.

Saha then cut inside Steve Finnan and unleashed a fierce curling shot which an uncertain-looking Reina could only parry, before gathering at the second attempt.

Dirk Kuyt was given a golden opportunity for Liverpool as he was picked out by Gonzalez's pin-point cross, but was only able to direct his header into the arms of compatriot Van der Sar.

Saha's header at the other end was tame under pressure from Jamie Carragher, and Reina was able to snatch the loose ball with Rooney bearing down on him.

Scholes then provided the fairy-tale moment with the opening goal seven minutes before half-time.

Giggs crossed through the legs of Finnan to the former England midfielder, unmarked six yards out in the centre of the goal.

His first effort was half-stopped by Reina, but Scholes reacted quicker than Hyypia to stab the loose ball home from virtually beneath the crossbar.

United almost doubled their lead just three minutes later when Saha let fly with another long-range effort, Reina diving full-length to superbly turn the ball around the post.

Xabi Alonso shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box after Gerrard's corner cannoned to him via the chest of Darren Fletcher as Liverpool went in at half-time a goal behind.

Saha shot wide from 20 yards shortly after the restart before Scholes - seeking to emulate the brace he struck against Port Vale 499 appearances previously - also fired wide from a similar range.

Rafael Benitez introduced Jermaine Pennant for Gonzalez after 51 minutes but Gerrard remained in his right-wing berth, with Pennant lining up in an unfamiliar role on the left.

The attendance was announced as a new Premier League record of 75,828, and they were given something more to shout about as Ferdinand doubled the advantage with a fine strike.

Giggs' corner was cleared back to him and he delivered a second cross with his right foot, which Saha attempted to bring under control only for Jamie Carragher to hack the ball away from him.

Ferdinand, though, brought the loose ball down neatly with his right foot before lashing it home with his left for his first goal since an injury-time winner in the corresponding fixture last season.

Benitez responded by introducing a second striker in the shape of Peter Crouch, with Alonso the man to be sacrificed.

Giggs set off on a mesmerising run to try and kill the game off with 20 minutes remaining, but team-mate Rooney ended up in his way and the chance slipped away.

Gerrard shot wide from distance before Crouch picked up a booking for a challenge on Van der Sar after the keeper unusually mis-controlled a back-pass.

Gerrard headed over the bar at the far post from a Pennant free-kick before he and Luis Garcia were both off target with efforts from distance as the Reds' challenge petered out.