Wale Ibraheem: Juan Mata has stamped his authority on this..that was a piece of audacious skill.

Chris Wright: Magnificent goal from Mata! GAME, SET AND MATA! Liverpool's misery complete!

Kunal Gupta: Two for the price of Juan!!

That could, should, have been good night and goodbye.

Angel di Maria is in acres of space down the left and has Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney to aim at in the middle with Liverpool's marking loose at best.

The Argentine manages to split the difference with his pass running between his two team-mates who are begging for a decent delivery.

Neil Lennon
Bolton manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Reuters

"A magnificent goal, an absolute thing of beauty.

"It all starts with Michael Carrick breaking up play, a delicious ball in from Di Maria and a great finish. Liverpool were having a decent period up until then, but it's really game on now for United."

Image source, AFP

Oh my.

That is a goal to drool over. Angel di Maria chips the ball into the Liverpool box and Juan Mata probably has time to take it down. He doesn't need it.

He backpedals a yard to make space and then launches into a sublime scissor-kick volley that finds the very corner of the Liverpool net from 12 yards.

Superb goal and, in all probablility, the matchwinner.

Phil Jones is a lucky boy. He comes steaming into Jordan Henderson and takes all of the man and none of the ball. The Manchester United man is at full pelt as he collides with Henderson and it is your classic "orange card".

Martin Atkinson opts for yellow.

Ashley Young trots off and Angel Di Maria is on in his place for Manchester United.

How Liverpool need a Philippe Coutinho special now.

They almost get one as well as the Brazilian sends a rasping shot whistling over from 35 yards. David De Gea had it covered I think.

Liverpool are still carrying the fight to Manchester United -as they have to. Raheem Sterling floats a cross into the box, but it is just too high for Daniel Sturridge.

Luke in Sheffield: I thought Gerrard was supposed to bring calm and maturity to the pitch? What a stupid thing to do - he's probably cost the game, and potentially top 4 for Liverpool. Some goodbye.

Mich in Leeds: Nothing wrong with the tackles. What's he thinking with the stamp?

Steve in Warlingham: Must be the fastest red card ever...?

Steven Gerrard's cameo in this match lasted just 48 seconds before coming to an end with a red card for his stamp on Ander Herrera.

Amy Lawrence
Football writer on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, AFP

"An incredibly dramatic moment, but it looked like a clear stamp. Steven Gerrard had just gone in to a full-blooded challenge and the temperature was raised, but you can't do something like that on a football field and expect to stay on."

Raymond M Anthony: Gerrard may just have won this for United.

Daniel Taktak: Looks like Gerrard wanted to leave his mark on this fixture...

Sam Pritchard: Steven Gerrard obviously wasn't very keen to play in this match.

How will Liverpool rejig now then?

This is going to take all Brendan Rodgers' managerial smarts to get something from this.

Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson will have to take the central midfield strain.

Neil Lennon
Bolton manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, PA

"Gerrard lit the blue touch paper, flew in to a tackle fully committed. He got the crowd going. Ander Hererra has come in late to a challenge and then it looks like he's stamped on him in the follow-through."

Image source, Getty Images

Less than a minute into the second half and Steven Gerrard is gone!

Just far too pumped up, the Liverpool legend clatters into Juan Mata inside 15 seconds. Hard, but fair.

But when Ander Herrera snaps back with a tackle of his own, Gerrard reacts by stamping on his shin.

It's a clear red. Whoever you are.

Back under way.

Manchester United edged things territorially in the first half.

Will that change now Steven Gerrard is on?

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool emerge back out on the pitch and who is this leading them out?

Steven Gerrard is on. A final 45 minutes against Manchester United before he heads West.

Adam Lallana is off after apparently copping an injury.

Joe Creaser: Bit worried about United, yes they've dominated but need another goal to settle the nerves. Need to come out the blocks firing.

Clinton Eyong: United's definitely had the better half. Very compact, quick thinking and lots of good movements on and off the ball.

Lawrence Gartshore: Never thought I'd say this but Di Maria's just a great benchwarmer for Michael Carrick.

Lewis Keefe: Mata is better than Di Maria in every way i cannot rationalise his purchase united needed a player like Benteke not Di Maria.