Preamble: Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves has been on television saying that today's match is not about hype. "This ... is ... a ... big ... game," he told SSN's small but beautifully formed presenter Alex Quinn, leaving a pause between each word, lest viewers should be in any doubt about just how big ... this ... game ... is.

It's certainly a big game for Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgarian striker who'll be eager to impress on his debut for Manchester United. Liverpool's players will also be eager to please their manager, who has notched up a decidedly unimpressive seven defeats and one draw in eight encounters against Manchester United, during which he's seen his team score just once, a comical own goal by Manchester United defender John O'Shea.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio,
Benayoun, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Kuyt, Keane.
Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Gerrard, Torres, Babel, Ngog.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes, Carrick, Anderson, Tevez, Berbatov.
Subs: Kuszczak, Nani, Evans, Hargreaves, O'Shea, Fletcher, Giggs.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Team news we've whippped from the wires, which you'll probably have guessed from the line-ups anyway

Liverpool give new signing Albert Riera his debut in today's north-west derby against Manchester United - but Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are not risked any closer to the initial action than the bench.

For the champions, Michael Carrick returns after an ankle problem which kept him out of the last Premier League outing at Portsmouth, and the Super Cup against Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco.

All eyes are on new signing Dimitar Berbatov, also making his debut for his new club, while United's Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea are dropped to the bench.

Eyes front for the first email of the day

"Here we go again," writes Simon Hoyle. "They say that repeating the same action over and over but expecting a different outcome is one symptom of insanity; I sit here ready to watch Liverpool take on Man U and expecting - or
rather hoping, really - that Liverpool will a) manage to score a bloody goal, and b) win. Am I actually mad?"

Probably not, Simon. (Well, you might be. For all I know you could have woken up this morning in Broadmoor, painted yourself green, put a pair of antlers on your head and danced naked around your cell.) But there's nothing mad about hoping that Liverpool score a goal or even win. The law of averages would suggest they have to beat United some time soon, doesn't it? Doesn't it?

Not long now: With Tevez, Berbatov and Rooney providing the pointy ends of a three-pronged 4-3-3 Manchester United formation, it has to be said that this looks a very attack-minded Manchester United line-up. I'm predicting more than three goals, with Liverpool to win or at least get a draw. Those of you who are familiar with my work will already be on your way to the bookies to back a Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United correct score.

1 min: Liverpool line-up in their usual home strip of fire-engine red. Manchester United's players are wearing virginal white shirts, shorts and socks. It's like good versus evil ... the Red Devils kick off and immediately concede a throw-in.

2 min: Having lined up wide on the right, Rooney brings the ball down the right flank and dinks it to Tevez, who drives a low cross in to the penalty area. Berbatov gets on the end of it and only a timely intervention from Alvaro Arbeloa prevents him from scoring with his first shot in anger for Manchester United.

GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (Tevez 3) Tevez fires Manchester United into an early lead, having started and finished the move that led to the goal. From midfield, he picked out Dimitar Berbatov down in the Liverpool left-back area. The Bulgarian turned Javier Mascherano inside-out and returned the favour with a cross from the bye-line, allowing Tevez to rifle the ball past Reina in the Liverpool goal. I'm not sure who was supposed to be tracking his run, but whoever it is will be on the wrong end of a serious Rafa Benitez wigging at half time.

8 min: It's all Manchester United at the moment and Liverpool's defence is looking very shaky. Having been stunned into silence by United's early goal, the denizens of the Kop appear to have found their voice again.

10 min: Scholes and Evra combine well down the left, before teeing up Anderson, who sends in a cross. It's blocked at the near post and Liverpool clear their lines.

11 min: Liverpool win a corner, even though the ball came off Alvaro Arbeloa before crossing the white line. It's swung in from the right and drops under the cross-bar. Van der Sar drops it and Kuyt attempts to smash the loose ball into the back of the net from five yards out, only to see his effort blocked by a part of Wes Brown's anatomy that may well have been his arm. Manchester United hack clear. This is great stuff.

12 min: Liverpool have a raucous penalty appeal emphatically turned down by Howard Webb.

14 min: Liverpool sweep forward, with Yossi Benayoun on the ball about 15 yards outside the Manchester United penalty area. He feeds Liverpool debutant Alberto Riera, who is promptly dispossessed by Wes Brown.

15 min: Replays show that Dirk Kuyt's miss from five yards was not a Wes Brown handball - it was in fact an excellent save from Van der Sar, who despite being on the ground, managed to spread himself and keep the ball out. Of course if Kuyt hadn't made it quite so easy for him by smashing the ball downwards the goalkeeper would have had no chance.

19 min: As Liverpool substitute Steven Gerrard warms up on the touchline, Manchester United go forward again. Berbatov is outnumbered on the right touchline and dispossessed by Alberto Riera.

20 min: Howard Webb reaches into his pocket, pulls out his trusty yellow card and waves it in the direction of Carlos Tevez. The Argentinian's indiscretion? An ill-advised and poorly-timed lunge at Alvaro Arbeloa. He takes his punishment without complaint.

23 min: Liverpool enjoy another decent share of the possession, but without troubling the Manchester United back four unduly. Apart from that corner where Van der Sar dropped the ball, they haven't given Messrs Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra too much to worry about at all so far.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United (Brown og) Good God, that was astonishingly inept. With Liverpool attempting to breach the United defence again, Xabi Alonso sent a speculative up-and-under into the Manchester United box. In no real danger, Edwin van der Sar flies off his line in a bid to slap the ball clear from the edge of the six-yard box, but his attempted clearance bounces off Wes Brown and rolls into the goal. That's a shocker.

29 min: While I was stitching my sides back together and strapping on my whalebone corset, Carlos Tevez missed an excellent opportunity to put Manchester United back in front. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is an absolute belter of a football match. Let's hope it continues in this vein.

31 min: Free-kick to Manchester United, about 30 yards out, not too far right of centre. Anderson and Berbatov stand over it, before the Brazilian curls his effort into the wall.

32 mins: Another Liverpool attack down the right flank. Yossi Benayoun tees up Robbie Keane, who pulls the trigger and kicks the kind of fresh-air shot from the edge of the penalty area that any golf club hacker would be embarrassed by.

37 min: Manchester United win a corner, which Liverpool clear before launching a counter-attack that's broken up by a limping Michael Carrick. He doesn't look like he'll last much longer in this game.

40 min: A marvellous tackle from Jamie Carragher puts a stop to the gallop of Dimitar Berbatov.

42 min: From the edge of the penalty area, Michael Carrick tries to tee up Wayne Rooney when it looked like the shot was the better option. I suspect he was in too much pain to try a screamer from that far. His injury can also be attributed to Edwin van der Sar, who's having the afternoon of nightmares. The Man Utd goalkeeper threw the ball out to Carrick but put too much elbow on it, gave his team-mate far too much to do to win possession, and after stretching in a bid to beat Yosi Benayoun to the loose ball he came out of the crunching challenge an emphatic second best.

45 min: Not long now until half-time. I'll be astonished if there aren't more goals in the second half, but I couldn't possibly hazard a guess as to which way they'll go.

Half-time: Actually that's a bit melodramatic. I could easily hazard a guess, but I don't want to. What's that you say? Oh, go on then. Liverpool to win 3-2, with Robbie Keane breaking his duck for the club at least once.

Half-time email: "Give yourself a pat on the back, a GU sports journo who isn't using this as an attempt to take the piss out of us [LFC] for 90mins. Well done. You're obviously off the medication today," writes Mawal T (or T Mawal), whose email goes a long way towards explaining exactly why it is that some people like taking the piss out of paranoid Liverpool supporters.

Speaking of football fans that people enjoy winding up, the word on the street is that Newcastle fans are set to demonstrate against the meltdown at their club by performing a giant conga around St James' Park this afternoon. A hokey cokey, if you will, a form of protest that sounds even more ridiculous if you attempt to say it in a Geordie accent. And to think they wonder why nobody takes them seriously.

46 min: Manchester United substitution: Ryan Giggs on, Michael Carrick on. Keane and Alonso kick off for Liverpool, attacking the Kop.

46 min: Carlos Tevez is frowning and shaking his head. Why? Because as he leaped in an attempt to get on the end of Ryan Giggs cross from the right, he gave Martin Skrtel a sly push in the small of the back and got caught by the referee, who gave Liverpool a free-kick. Tut-tut Carlito, naughty boy.

48 min: Without having carved out any decent scoring opportunities, Liverpool are definitely the sprightlier of the two sides in the early stages of the second half. Robbie Keane tries to pick out Dirk Kuyt in the Manchester United penalty area, but his pass from the right-hand side is too high for the Dutchman and drifts behind the incoming Yossi Benayoun.

51 mins: With Aurelio and Riera working well down the left-hand side for Liverpool, the latter attempts to send a cross into the Manchester United penalty area. He puts far too much weight on it and the ball threatens to knock a passing airplane out of the sky.

53 min: A Paul Scholes snap-shot from about 30 yards fizzes narrowly wide of Pepe Reina's left-hand post.

53 min: Another promising Liverpool attack comes to nowt when, with better options open either side of him, Dirk Kuyt shoots feebly from distance, making it easy for Edwin va der Sar.

55 min: Good work from Yossi Benayoun, who does well to stay onside, ghost in behind Patrice Evra and win a corner off Edwin van der Sar. From the ensuing inswinger, the ball drops kindly for Robbie Keane, who attempts to slot the ball home, only to see his effort scuffed comically wide.

57 min: "Us Espanyol fans are still chuckling over the fact that a big cry-baby like Riera conned Liverpool into paying actually cold hard money for him!" writes Tom in Barcelona. "We miss him and his wayward crossing, lazy play and shocking attitude so much. Cue: Riera dribbling past 10 Manchester United players and banging in an absolute screamer."

59 min: Free-kick for Manchester United wide on the left, about halfway inside the Liverpool half. Ryan Giggs swings it towards the far corner of the six yard box, Pepe Reina comes for it, fails to catch cleanly and ends up chasing the ball towards the sideline, from where he hoofs it up the field.

61 min: Martin Skrtel unleashes a surface-to-air screamer from 25 yards, but shoots straight at Van der Sar, who escapes with only his palms stung.

62 min: If I was a betting man, which I am, and had money on Liverpool to get a result in this game, which I do, I'd be very satisfied at the moment. They're comfortably controlling midfield and vastly superior to Manchester United so far in this second half.

64 min: Manchester United substitution: Scholes off, Owen Hargreaves on. John McCaughey thinks he might know why Newcastle's fans are going to hokey cokey their way around St James' Park this afternoon. "Perhaps it's called having a sense of humour," he suggests. "Try it sometime." It's an interesting theory, but if Newcastle supporters have a sense of humour, why would they want to protest about anything that's going on at their club?

67 min: Liverpool substitution: Yossi Benayoun, who's played very well today, off. Steven Gerrard on.

68 min: From the left, Ryan Giggs drills a low cross into the Liverpool penalty area. It's a yard behind Rooney and Tevez. Moments later, Steven Gerrard gives the ball away to Ryan Giggs, who tries an audacious chip from distance. Pepe Reina performs heroics to prevent a magnificent effort from dropping under the crossbar.

70 min: "If I were a betting man, I'd bet on Liverpool controlling the entire second half, only to concede a faintly tragi-comical goal at the end. So, I'm feeling sickeningly comfortable right now," writes Gareth Barry. Actually scrap that, it's Gareth Parry.

71 mins: Liverpool substitution: Alberto Riero off, Ryan Babel on. From the right flank, Dirk Kuyt sends a cross into the Manchester United penalty area, but his delivery is too high.

73 min: Another cross into the Manchester United penalty area, this time from Javier Mascherano on the left-hand side of the sward. Patrice Evra clears with a meaty header.

75 min: Alonso sends the ball wide to Dirk Kuyt doeep in the Manchester United left-back territory. He heads downwards, prompting Nemanja Vidic to hack clear.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United (Babel 76) Super-sub Ryan Babel smashes the ball into the roof of the Manchester United net from 15 yards after being teed up perfectly by Dirk Kuyt. Abject defending from Ryan Giggs on the byline, who could easily have prodded the ball out for a corner, allowed Javier Mascherano to scurry behind him and pull the ball back to Kuyt.

78 min: Nemanja Vidic gets a yellow card (and looks relieved to escape a red one) when he fouls Keane a few yards outside the Manchester United penalty area when it looked as if the Irish striker had only the goalkeeper to beat.

81 min: Manchester United are in total disarray and Liverpool are going all out for a third goal. They win a corner, from which nothing comes.

83 min: Manchester United substitution that took place about five or 10 minutes ago: Nani on, Anderson off. For the record, Ryan Babel has just become the first Liverpool player to score against Manchester United since Harry Kewell did so in 1748.

86 min: Liverpool substitution: Sami Hyypia on, Javier Mascherano off.

88 min: Three minutes to go and Liverpool are about to knock Manchester United off their perch ... for the time being at least. United win a throw-in deep in Liverpool territory, but Alonso wins possession back and alleviates the pressure on the home side.

90 min: With his arms up, Nemanja Vidic clatters Xabi Alonso in an aerial collision. Howard Webb blows his whistle, brandishes his yellow card and, after a short pause and possibly a reminder from one or two Liverpool players, remembers to brandish the red.

Vidic is off for his second bookable offence. On the Manchester United bench, Sir Alex Ferguson has a face like thunder. It's on days like this that footballers earn their big money. If I was Giggs, Vidic, Scholes or Van der Sar, you couldn't pay me enough money to go into the Manchester United dressing room to face the hairdryer after this game. Quite how Wayne Rooney feels about all this is anyone's guess. He's been marooned out on the right touchline for the entire game and looks destined to stay there for the foreseeable future barring an injury to Berbatov.

90 +3 min: With Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Keane both having missed good chances to increase Liverpool's lead, Manchester United win a corner, which is wasted. Shortly afterwards, Rooney drags a long-range effort wide of the post.

90+4 min Peep! Peep! Peep! Howard Webb brings proceedings to a close with three shrill blasts of his whistle, prompting raucous celebrations from Liverpool's players and supporters. Make no mistake, this wasn't hype. This ... was ... a ... big ... game. They thoroughly deserved their win having been the vastly superior team throughout the second half. Click here to see where this fine result puts them in the Premier League table. Thanks for your time and your emails, don't forget to tune in here for all today's Live Scores from around the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Scott Murray will be here at 5.15pm to bring you a live minute-by-minute report on Manchester City v Chelsea. Last word, however, must go to Simon Hoyle, who questioned his own sanity prior to this afternoon's kick-off. "Hahahahahahahahahahaha!" he cackles. "Who's crazy now? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"