Liverpool pressing forward and Joe Allen wins a corner as he goes round Marouane Fellaini and forces the Belgian into a stretching recovery challenge.

Image source, Getty Images

The man is just a human headline generator.

Mario Balotelli bundles into the hoardings up around halfway as he tussles with Chris Smalling. The Liverpool striker is ready to retaliate, but the home fans in the front row do a great job for their team, holding Balotelli back.

He is already on a yellow and looked cruising for a red there for a moment.

Drama here and plenty more to follow this afternoon. We've got live texts up and running on Hull v Chelsea here and QPR v Everton here.

Take your pick.

Gabriele Marcotti
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"A great goal from Juan Mata for the second. It shows really what a player of his skill can do if you get the ball to him in space and to feet."

Doug McMahon: Abhorrent refereeing again today at Angield. One key decision right, several others so obviously wrong. Refs need help.

James Hardy: Unlucky for De Gea there. Should still win 1-4 though. Di Maria to knock in the 4th.

Ben Rabinovich: A draw would be the ideal result for everyone else in the top 7.

Amy Lawrence
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 live

"This is riveting. You can't really take your eyes off it when the likes of Mario Ballotelli are in the game. It's got the air of anything could happen."

Mario gets his wish. But the Liverpool striker's rocket thunders straight into the Manchester United wall. However true he hit it, that is a waste.

Liverpool now with a decent spot for a free-kick. Thirty-five yards out on the angle and Mario Balotelli wants a shot...

Liverpool fans want Martin Atkinson to get his red card out again. They are appealing in hope rather than expectation though.

Wayne Rooney caught Simon Mignolet at a corner but only after he was shoved by Martin Skrtel. Nothing deliberate in that.

Daniel Woodley: The argument of who is better between De Gea and Lloris has been answered right there. Lloris wouldn't concede at his near post

Suraj Nair: Two players who don't know what "out of form" means are Aguero and Daniel Sturridge!

Just before the goal Mario Balotelli picked up a brainless yellow card for a foul on Phil Jones, chasing the United defender into the corner, tripping him up and then flicking his ear into the mix.

Neil Lennon
Bolton manager on BBC Radio 5 live

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"Game on now, but David De Gea should save that. Very uncharacteristic of him to miss it at the near post. Louis van Gaal will be seething about that as up until that point United were very much in control and now the psychology of the game completely changes."

Image source, Getty Images

A lifeline?

It would be the best comeback since Elvis in 67', but maybe Liverpool have a glimmer.

Philippe Coutinho slides in Daniel Sturridge after good work from Mario Balotelli and the Liverpool striker's first-time shot beats David de Gea at the near post.

The Manchester United keeper did not impress there.

Not there!

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet inexplicably decides to take on Wayne Rooney with the ball at his feet. He is saved by Martin Atkinson's whistle. A touch fortunate there.

Image source, PA

Alan in Manchester: Perhaps Stevie G can spend his last 44 minutes of a competitive meeting with United looking at Ryan Giggs's Premier League medal collection?

Shohan Sen in Kent: Gerrard was supposed to leave his mark on the match, not on Herrera. Got to feel for Gerrard in his last match against arguably his biggest rival team, but doesn't matter who you are, that's red card behaviour from the captain.

Duncan in Isleworth: Might sound a tad harsh but Gerrard's slip against Chelsea last season possibly cost Liverpool the league...now his stamp today has possibly cost them a top four finish! Not such a Liverpool legend?!

Image source, Reuters

Brendan Rodgers decides to throw another firework into this explosive mix. Mario Balotelli is shoved on to try and salvage something for Liverpool.

Alberto Moreno makes way. He has not had a good day.

Reiss May: Mata and Fellaini seem two totally different players this season, Van Gaal can only be given the plaudits for that.

John Pierce: Anyone going to credit Referee Atkinson with a superb performance today? Handled it all with a serene calm.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"Liverpool had actually reacted well to Steven Gerrard's sending off but that brilliant second from Juan Mata puts Manchester United in total control.

"So much rested on those early moments of the second half when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard walked on as substitute but was so pumped up he got himself sent off inside a minute - and there can be no defence of what was a clear stamp on Ander Herrera. Irresponsible for a player of such experience."

Colin Cox: Is Steven Gerrard looking to get to America a bit early?

Tom Castle: When Rodgers gave Gerrard a final 45 against Man Utd, pretty sure he didn't mean 45 seconds.

Mungo Russell: Such a sad way to end an unbelievable set of battles between Gerrard and United, but just shows that it's time to move on.