Captain Steven Gerrard marked his first start of the season for Liverpool with a controversial goal in this pulsating draw at Anfeld on Saturday.
But it was Manchester United's before Javier Hernandez who equalised in a game which saw Wayne Rooney start on the bench following his red card in Montenegro.
The game which offered little in the first half, sprung into life in the second and provided the talking points expected from this fixture.
With Gerrard starting the game, Andy Carroll dropped to the bench as manager Kenny Dalglish chose to limit Manchester United rather than go for the kill.
Liverpool's first real breakthrough came from a corner which Charlie Adam took short to Gerrard and his cross into the box flashed across the face of goal with only Luis Suarez getting anywhere near it.
Adam did seem the most likely of those in red to open the scoring and when he ran from deep leaving Darren Fletcher in his tracks, only a block from Jonny Evans prevented the immediate threat.
Luis Suarez picked up the loose ball but with just United keeper David de Gea to beat his lame effort was easily dealt with.
The first half ended on a our note as an innocent coming together of Jones and Lucas left both players sprawled out shaking off blows to their heads.
Both managers must have given fiery half-time speeches in the dressing rooms as the tempo increased after the interval.
Controversy was just round the bend when a corner kick from Gerrard was met by the head of Dirk Kuyt and his effort could have been goal bound had it not hit the arm of Evans.
Adam was relishing the situation. Another run from deep, similar to that in the first half, caused trouble for the visitors' defence and it was up to Rio Ferdinand to halt it.
A clip to the left heel of Adam was enough to bring down the Scottish international and set up a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Ferdinand was furious with the seemingly clear decision until replays illustrated that little, if any contact was made.
Gerrard's curling low shot in the 68th minute towards the wall saw Ryan Giggs jump out of the way and the resulting gap allowed the ball to beat De Gea.
Staring down a defeat, manager Alex Ferguson brought on all three substitutions, Wayne Rooney, Nani and Hernandez to grab an equaliser.
Mexican international Hernandez made a quick impact bringing United back into the game with a powerful header in the 81st minute.
A cross from the left found Danny Welbeck who flicked the ball on to the far post where Hernandez was there to nod the away side back to parity and set up a scintillating finish.