Manchester United v Liverpool - in pictures

All the talk before kick-off is centring on the actions Luis Suarez. He's been named in Liverpool's starting line-up, meaning he'll face Patrice Evra, the man whom he abused at Anfield the last time these sides met. The first question question is, of course, will the two shake hands before kick-off? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The United fans make their support for Evra known. Meanwhile Suarez is copping a fair bit of abuse from the terraces Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

An ingenious piece of graphic design enables these United fans to include two anti-LFC jibes in one banner - they give their opinion on the whole Suarez affair and also gloat about the Old Trafford club's superior number of titles Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Still, he seems in jovial mood. Maybe bygones are bygones between the players ... ? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

That smile has changed to a pensive look as the teams come out, just like the one on Evra's face before the FA Cup 4th round clash at Anfield back in January Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

As the hand shakes begin, Evra offers his hand to every Liverpool player, including Suarez. But the Uruguayan dodges the offer and goes for David De Gea's hand instead Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Evra is clearly unhappy and grabs Suarez's wrist in a bid to force him to shake hands. De Gea, too, tries to make the Liverpool striker conform Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

A rather tetchy start, then. Who'd have imagined that? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

All eyes are on Evra and Suarez whenever play spreads to them. At one point the two appear to be on a collision course, but Evra instead clatters into Rio Ferdinand Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Not only did Suarez evade the hand of Evra he manages to evade his tackle as the pair tussle in the middle of the park Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Danny Welbeck is proving a threat for United. Here, he acrobatically controls the ball as United charge forwards. It remains goalless at half-time, though, and as the teams enter their dressing rooms there's an almighty spat. Police and stewards are forced to intervene. Presumably the hand-shake incident was the trigger Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Three minutes after the re-start, Wayne Rooney smashes United in front. His close range volley from a right wing cross was expertly executed, though Glen Johnson's failure to mark the striker gave him time and space Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Three minutes later Jay Spearing loses possession to Antonio Valencia outside his own box ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

... and Rooney, the recipient, is soon celebrating again after slipping the ball between Pepe Reina's legs Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Jonny Evans flies in to tackle Jay Spearing Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Suárez's evasive skills desert him when he's clattered and upended by Michael Carrick Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Wayne Rooney just misses a chance for his hat-trick as Glen Johnson attempts to block Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Liverpool respond in the 80th minute and guess who the scorer is? Yep, it's Suarez. He's able to poke the ball past De Gea after Charlie Adam's whipped delivery hits Ferdinand and drops conveniently in front of the Liverpool striker Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Luis Suarez hurriedly puts the ball back on the centre circle after scoring. If only he'd been as eager to shake Evra's hand then the subsequent brouhaha could have been avoided Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

With Liverpool's front line unable to combine effectively and get the equaliser that Liverpool need, Kenny Dalglish cuts a disappointed figure on the touchline. His disappointment was no doubt increased when he later learned that despite Suárez's pre-match assurances his forward snubbed Evra's hand before kick-off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The managers shake hands on the final whistle but during their post match interviews on Sky, their opinions on events differed wildly. Ferguson stated that "Suárez could have caused a riot" and accused Liverpool of damaging the fight against racism. Dalglish vigorously defended Suárez during the interview and even blamed "24 hour news channels" for stoking up the tension. However Dalglish has subsequently changed his position Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

So the game ends in a 2-1 win for United. Cue some zealous celebrations from Evra, who runs around the pitch whipping the crowd into a frenzy Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

His joyful celebrations at one stage occurring directly in the face of Suarez Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Little wonder the Liverpool players are angry. That was surely done to wind them up Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Tom Jenkins

The referee Phil Dowd has to guide Evra to one side and allow the pitch to clear before letting Evra head down the tunnel. A wise move. Things were in danger of getting out of hand, and deflecting attention from the fact that victory moves United back to the top of the table Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian