GOALSCORERS: Rafael (L) and Robin Van Persie

BBC

A late Robin van Persie penalty gave Manchester United victory over Liverpool on a poignant afternoon at Anfield.

On an occasion when the Hillsborough victims and families were remembered in moving scenes before kick-off, these two great rivals produced a typically competitive and contentious encounter.

Liverpool were reduced to 10 men when Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a first-half foul on United defender Jonny Evans - but it did not stop captain Steven Gerrard volleying them ahead seconds after the interval, reports the BBC.

United, barely in the game for long periods, responded with a spectacular equaliser from Rafael Da Silva before Van Persie confirmed a fourth straight Premier League win nine minutes from time after Glen Johnson fouled Antonio Valencia.

It left Liverpool and new manager Brendan Rodgers without a league win in five attempts this season and in the Premier League's bottom three, once again rueing their lack of cutting edge.

Liverpool enjoyed spells of complete domination in territory and possession but failed to make it count, leaving United the opportunity to take full advantage for their first win at Anfield in six games.

As expected, Anfield was an emotional arena after the findings of an independent panel investigating the disaster at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were published.

The panel cleared Liverpool's supporters of blame and the build-up to kick-off was marked with a series of tributes to commemorate the occasion.

Supporters arrived hours before the start to lay floral tributes at Anfield's Eternal Flame Hillsborough memorial and The Kop was emblazoned with a mosaic reading "The Truth" while the word "Justice" decorated the lower Centenary Stand.

Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton then presented flowers to Liverpool's record goalscorer Ian Rush as opposing captains Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons in memory of those who lost their lives.