Dimitar Berbatov's first Manchester United hat-trick settled a pulsating clash with Liverpool 3-2.
Berbatov had struck either side of the interval, the second a brilliant overhead kick, to seemingly ensure a home win over their greatest rivals.
But, just as they did at Goodison Park last week, United's defence capitulated, Steven Gerrard scoring with a penalty and a free-kick before Berbatov came to the hosts' rescue six minutes from time.
Rio Ferdinand was the shock absentee from the Manchester United line-up this afternoon.
It was suggested Ferdinand was not well, which meant Jonny Evans partnered new skipper Nemenja Vidic in a United line-up that also included Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov up front.
As expected, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard were recalled for Liverpool and Joe Cole also kept his place on a ground where his goal did so much to turn the Premier League title race Chelsea's way last season.
An ambitious Nani shot earned the hosts a corner when it flew off Konchesky but Vidic nodded Ryan Giggs' set piece over from seven yards.
Konchesky went straight through the back of Nani and was fortunate to escape a yellow card, which started a bombardment of the Liverpool area with a succession of high balls.
One brought a Vidic penalty claim that World Cup final referee Howard Webb waved away, presumably because of the theatrical dive given Jamie Carragher did have hold of the Serbian's shirt.
Wayne Rooney flicked a header wide before Liverpool enjoyed their first period of sustained possession.
The opening threat came at the other end though as Rooney combined with Berbatov to release Nani.
After checking inside, the Portugal wing man eventually had to roll the ball back to Rooney.
But when the striker's shot deflected off Gerrard, it fell kindly for Nani on the half-volley, offering an opportunity that should have brought a far greater reward than the poor effort that rolled well wide of the far post.
Raul Meireles felt the weight of Paul Scholes in his face as Liverpool tried to counter from inside their own half.
United were the ones on top though and Scholes whistled a shot over from distance.
After his performance at Birmingham last week was branded "diabolical" by Jamie Redknapp, Liverpool's star striker was eager to make a positive impression against a side against whom he has enjoyed plenty of success in the past.
It was Torres' industry that won the corner which resulted in Glen Johnson whistling an angled drive wide.
Torres then turned Vidic just outside the area but failed to get either power or direction into a shot that trundled tamely through to Edwin van der Sar.
Vidic tidied up the danger when Torres briefly threatened to latch on to a loose ball that had ricocheted off Webb.
Sir Alex Ferguson raced out of his dug-out to protest when Nani went down holding his face after a tangle with Konchesky.
While not accidental, the contact did not merit the reaction and Webb probably got the decision correct.
The game was still waiting for its explosive moment when Johnson conceded a corner four minutes before the break.
Giggs curled it on to the head of Berbatov, who arrowed it into the far corner to send Old Trafford into raptures.
That Torres was marking Berbatov and merely allowed the Bulgarian to get to Giggs' cross first, just raised more question marks over his contribution.
Carragher got away with an accidental handball on the edge of the area shortly afterwards, then Rooney flashed a shot wide.
Berbatov seemed to get caught in two minds when Christian Poulsen tried to charge down Darren Fletcher's powerful shot and sent it looping skywards in the direction of his own goal.
The Bulgarian eventually got there but Pepe Reina was on top of him and collected the ball with ease.
Torres hooked Johnson's cross high over the bar as Liverpool started to impose themselves on the contest more often than they had managed to do in the opening period.
Nani rattled the near post with a thunderous shot Reina got nowhere near after O'Shea had set him up on the right edge of the area.
Shortly afterwards, Rooney became the first man to receive a booking when he clipped Torres as the striker threatened to launch a counter.
Cole then fired wide before Berbatov struck again.
In his programme notes, Ferguson hailed the striker as "a genius".
That may be a debatable point. But it was a good word to describe the manner in which Berbatov controlled Nani's cross on his knee, before launching on overhead kick that left Reina rooted to the spot as it struck the underside of his bar and bounced in.
It took Liverpool less than five minutes to respond as Evans sent Torres tumbling as the Spaniard turned inside the box.
The Northern Irishman complained but the decision seemed obvious and Gerrard duly sent Van der Sar the wrong way.
The goal gave Liverpool hope when it seemed there was none.
And, just as they did last week at Everton, United quickly caved in again.
As it turned out, they were probably relieved not to find themselves with 10 men as well given O'Shea could have been sent off once Webb decided he had brought Torres down on the edge of the box as he was about to dart clean through.
Instead, Gerrard strode up and found the gap Fletcher had created with a precise finish to a free-kick that ended up in the bottom corner.
But Berbatov was not to be denied. And six minutes from time he rose to steer O'Shea's cross into the corner.
Nani soon signalled he needed to go off, which following the horror injury to Antonio Valencia, must be a major concern, although at least they can deal with it on the back of a victory as the hosts held on.
September 20, 2010
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