Image source, Getty Images

Simon Mignolet watched the teams' December meeting from the bench.

The Liverpool goalkeeper had been dumped in favour of Brad Jones.

Confidence apparently shot, and set for, in Brendan Rodgers' words, an "indefinite" spell out of the side, it looked like his time at Anfield might be up.

Wrong. He has kept five clean sheets in his last seven games as part of a vastly improved Liverpool defence. I don't think anyone could have seen that one coming.

The two sides' first meeting this season might have been the start of an upturn in Liverpool's form, but it couldn't have been from a much lower point.

After winning 3-0 at Old Trafford last season, the Reds went down by the same scoreline amid some kamikaze defending.

But Liverpool might argue that the game was closer than the scoreline suggested.

These are the stats from that one.

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport on MOTD2 Extra

"I think Wilfried Bony will be a big addition for Man City when you look at Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic with only five or six goals each. To be playing in a team that creates that many chances and scores so few goals is not good enough.

"I was surprised Bony wasn't in the team earlier as he showed yesterday what he can give them going forward."

Image source, Getty Images

While Pele is flogging corporate sandwiches in the stadium, outside they are keeping it real.

There are so many European Cups kicking around Anfield, they are being used to store the sauce sachets in local takeaways.

Excellent work on the ribbons.

Image source, Getty Images

Was it really only a little over a year since Juan Mata was airdropped into Carrington to save Manchester United's season?

David Moyes eagerly glad-handed the Spaniard as his £37.1m move from Chelsea went through, but Mata could not keep Moyes in his job or push his new side into the Champions League spots.

He has only been sporadically involved this season - 26 appearances and six goals so far - but thrived in Angel Di Maria's absence in the win over Tottenham.

Is he key to getting United purring again?

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport on MOTD2 Extra

"I think Brendan Rodgers deserves tremendous credit for the way he's fashioned the system Liverpool are currently playing.

"Earlier in the season, they were in such a bad way. So, they've done an excellent job at turning things around since then.

"As a manager, when things aren't going the way you want them to, you have to change it around.

"For Liverpool or Manchester United not to finish in the top four, it would be unthinkable."

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "When I have played against Feyenoord, I got more abuse. It was very nice coming here.

"The level of abuse is different in England. I like the atmosphere.

"We shall see which team can beat the pressure. Who can keep the ball? That is the key point and to control our emotion."

Very nice? I think once there are some fans in, Van Gaal gets tuned into Scouse and the game begins, he might alter that opinion.

Ryan Fisher: Babworth Rovers vs Ordsall Rangers. 0.5 mile between the grounds. It was treated like a Glasgow derby. Once finished an epic 6-6.

Mo Hassan: Forget Leo Messi. Andrew McColl, year 11, always megged me. I looked like a new born baby deer whenever I was marking him.

Sam Hodge: Bingham vs Cure (school houses) on the top field, every lunchtime for five years. Adjacent classrooms made it a tasty local derby.

Jumpers for goalposts, I presume....

Keep those stories coming in to us via #GetInspired, external, the BBC Sport Facebook, external page or text 81111 (UK only).

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"Teams out warming up at Anfield - and plenty of discussion about those who are not playing for Liverpool and Manchester United.

"Liverpool's midfield has shown signs of growing into life without Steven Gerrard, who leaves for LA Galaxy at the end of the season, so he remains on the bench while there is no immediate way back in to United's team for £59.7m British record signing Angel Di Maria after the impressive 3-0 win against Tottenham at Old Trafford last Sunday."

Phil Johnson: Finally LvG has figured it out, no changes from a side that played United football.

Andrew Tufnell: No matter the result today (hopefully #MUFC win), very important to see 5 UK players in each side!

Zander Watson: Who would have ever thought that Young would be starting ahead of Di Maria vs Liverpool when they first signed him?

MOTD2 Extra MOTD2 Extra
MOTD2 Extra

Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey: "The passion of this game is beyond anything else I've experienced. The magnitude of it, the crowd and then the first 15 minutes... It can be really feisty."

Image source, Getty Images

Have you seen a better advert for the benefits of retirement?

Sir Alex Ferguson walks into the heart of enemy territory apparently without a care in the world.

Makes a welcome change from exchanging barbs with an angry Jonjo Shelvey as he did on on his last visit as United manager.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Shearer
BBC Sport on MOTD2 Extra

On Harry Kane's hat-trick and England team selection: "He should be playing, Roy Hodgson should be taking a look at him. He's not going to face too many threats against Lithuania and Kane will look comfortable being included.

"Nobody else in the Premier League is in the form he currently is. He's only been starting games since November and he's in tremendous nick.

"There's an arrogance about the way he plays and I like it. There's a confidence there to go in and feel at home and believe that he belongs at international level."

MOTD2 Extra

Meanwhile over on Match of the Day 2 Extra, Alan Shearer is answering whether Tottenham's Harry Kane is the new him or the new Michael Ricketts...

By the way the two benches are as follows:

Liverpool: Jones, Johnson, Toure, Gerrard, Lambert, Lucas, Balotelli

Man United: Valdes, Rafael, Rojo, Di Maria, Januzaj, A Pereira, Falcao

Which explains why Liverpool's Dejan Lovren and Lazar Markovic are free to pose for photos with Brazilian legend Pele in the Anfield corridors.

Pele is wearing a green and gold tie, but I think it has more to do with his sandwich sponsor than his national team glories.

What a world.

Image source, Getty Images

Sanj: Total respect for Rodgers not picking Gerrard. Most would not have the courage to do that but in my opinion - easy & correct decision.

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: "Steven Gerrard's history in this fixture, he is a top-class player but he understands the team is doing well. He has been supportive of the players and has been brilliant.

"We need to be aggressive in our pressing and attack the game. We are conscious they are a good side. We have the momentum at the moment and love playing at Anfield.

"We have also shown that when we haven't played well, we can change the pace and gain the flow and momentums. The team is developing really well."

Image source, Reuters

As landmarks go on Steven Gerrard's farewell tour, Manchester United is a big one.

The sight of the Red Devils always seems to bring out a little extra out of the Huyton lad.

Gerrard has scored seven goals in his last 11 league games against Manchester United.

But Brendan Rodgers isn't one for sentiment. Only a place on the bench for Stevie G.

What to make of that then?

Louis van Gaal has already made clear this season that a bumper transfer fee is not a free pass into his starting XI.

Surely keeping the same starting XI that played as well as his side have all season was the only sensible decision, even if it upsets the United accountants?

Man Utd

Manchester United name the same starting line-up as the one that won 3-0 against Tottenham last weekend, which means the returning Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao are on the bench.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Young, Rooney.