Nemanja Vidic was credited with Manchester United's winning goal against Liverpool after he inadvertently deflected a header by teammate Patrice Evra, left, past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
(CNN) -- When the two most successful teams in English football meet, the stakes are high.
Not only is there the bragging rights fought for between the bitterly opposed tribes of Manchester United and Liverpool, but the result can bear more resonance than just the effect it has on the Premier League title race.
"Winning against Liverpool is important. It doesn't matter where you are in the league," United manager Alex Ferguson said after his team's 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"Manchester United-Liverpool games are fantastic challenges. They are the two most successful teams in the country. Today, hopefully, those three points will be very important."
Today Manchester United has an aura of glamor and invincibility. But in 1931 and 10 years later the club's future was in peril.
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Patrice Evra gave Manchester United a 16th minute lead at Swansea after heading home Robin van Persie's corner.
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Mario Balotelli was mobbed by fans outside a restaurant as he returned home to Italy to complete his $30 million move from AC Milan to Manchester City.
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Sunday's win gave United a 74-62 advantage in the 187 clashes between the two teams, and a season double after winning by the same score at Anfield in September.
Read: The man who saved Man United from extinction
Just as importantly, it meant that United ended the weekend seven points clear of second-placed defending champions Manchester City, who beat 10-man Arsenal 2-0 in Sunday's other match.
It leaves the club in pole position for a record-extending 20th English title -- two more than Liverpool, whose last came in 1990, before the start of the Premier League era.
"I would have taken that score before the game," Ferguson told reporters. "The first-half performance, and until we scored the second goal, was absolutely brilliant.
"It was as good a performance as we have had for a long time and we should have been three or four up, but when they got their goal they got inspired by it. Their supporters got going and it was hard work after that. I am just glad we won."
Read: Striker's own-goal nightmare lifts Chelsea
United took the lead in the 19th minute through Robin van Persie, who netted his 21st goal this season and a leading 17th in the EPL from Patrice Evra's low cross.
The second goal came after Evra evaded his marker Glen Johnson and headed Van Persie's 54th-minute free-kick into the net via a deflection off fellow defender Nemanja Vidic, who was credited with the score.
Evra was a focal figure last time the teams met at Old Trafford in February 2012, when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez refused to shake his hand before the match in their first encounter following the Uruguayan's eight-match ban for racially abusing the France left-back.
The anticipated duel this time was not between these two, but Suarez and Van Persie -- the EPL's leading marksmen.
Substitute Robin van Persie (L) celebrates after sealing Manchester United's 2-0 win over with West Brom, scoring his 14th league goal this season.
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This image of a bloodied and defiant Rio Ferdinand has been at the forefront of a perceived return of hooliganism in English football, following crowd trouble at the Manchester derby.
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Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart of confronts a pitch invader at the end of his side's 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United, whose defender Rio Ferdinand (at back) was left with a bloody face after being hit by a coin thrown from the crowd.
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Suarez has almost singlehandedly carried Liverpool's attack this season, scoring 15 league goals, but it was his new forward partner Daniel Sturridge who reduced the deficit on his Premier League debut for the club.
The former Chelsea striker scored in the FA Cup win against Mansfield, and again impressed after coming on at halftime to replace Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The 23-year-old England international was fastest to react after captain Steven Gerrard forced a parried save from United keeper David de Gea just three minutes after Vidic's goal.
However, despite all the late pressure Liverpool could not force an equalizer and ended the match 24 points behind United in eighth place.
"We're 24 points behind United -- but we're not 24 points behind in quality," said defiant Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers. "The points difference is due to the squad -- the depth in the squads is the difference for us.
"Once we close the gap in the squad over these coming windows, I've got great faith we'll be able to challenge. I've seen enough hope in these opening months to suggest we will do that -- and today was another example of it."
Last season Manchester City overhauled an eight-point deficit to win the club's first league title in 44 years on a dramatic final day of the season, and a similar effort will again be required this time.
Roberto Mancini's team ensured Arsenal's focus will be a top-four finish, ending any remaining hopes of title contention with a victory that left the sixth-placed London side 21 points adrift of United.
The match turned early when Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was sent off for manhandling City striker Edin Dzeko in the penalty area.
The Bosnian's 11th-minute spotkick was saved by a combination of the legs of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and the woodwork, but it was only another 10 minutes before James Milner put City ahead after being set up by Carlos Tevez.
The Argentina striker has never scored against Arsenal, but he was also involved in the second goal as Dzeko doubled the lead just after half an hour for his 10th in the league this season.
The only blot on City's day came when captain Vincent Kompany was sent off for a sliding two-footed tackle on Jack Wilshere, though the Belgium defender appeared to win the ball.
Mancini said he planned to appeal the decision, even though an unsuccessful petition to the Football Association could mean Kompany is banned for four games instead of three.
"This is not a red card, absolutely not," the Italian said after City's first win at Arsenal in nearly 38 years.
"He has one foot in and takes the ball. I think the referee made a mistake."
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Van Persie opened the scoring in the 19th minute with his 17th league goal this season and 21st overall, sliding home a low shot from Evra's cross.
Liverpool ensured a nervy finish to the match after new striker Daniel Sturridge (No. 15) scored his second goal in two games since leaving Chelsea, having come on at halftime.
Dzeko's penalty was saved by Wojciech Szczesny, who gratefully grabbed the ball after it hit his legs and rebounded off the post.
However, James Milner scored soon after and Dzeko doubled the lead before halftime -- with Carlos Tevez, left, involved in both goals.
City also went down to 10 men in the second half when captain Vincent Kompany (R) was shown a red card by referee Mike Dean for his sliding tackle on Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.
Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, was blitzed during a raid by the Luftwaffe on March 11 1941. The stadium was obliterated and left the club homeless. All of Gibson's hard work had been undone in a single night. United agreed a deal to play its home matches at Maine Road, home of rival Manchester City, until Old Trafford was rebuilt in 1949.
Gibson and his wife Lillian, had a train named after the football club. Gibson ensured supporters had a far smoother journey to Old Trafford after having steps built up from the local train station to the stadium, while he also had trains make unscheduled stops to help fans make it in time for kick off.
A statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, which stands outside Old Trafford, depicts three of the club's greatest players. If it wasn't for Gibson, it is arguable the trio would never have pulled on the red of Manchester United.
Matt Busby, who was appointed by Gibson as manager, went on to win the 1968 European Cup, four league titles and two FA Cups. He survived the Munich Air Crash of 1958, where many of his players perished. After his recovery, he helped rebuild the team and lay foundations for the future.
Busby's success has been built on by current United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. It was under Ferguson that United won their19th English League overtaking Liverpool's record of 18.
Evra races away to celebrate with teammate Michael Carrick in hot pursuit as the league leaders make the perfect start in Wales.
Michu's 13th league goal of the season ensured Swansea grabbed a point from a pulsating contest. The Spaniard, who cost $3.2 million from Rayo Vallecano, has impressed since his arrival in the Premier League in July.
Ashley Williams and United's van Persie clash after the Swansea defender had kicked the ball against the Dutchman while he was on the floor. United manager Alex Ferguson was left fuming at Williams and said: "The Van Persie situation you can clearly see that he could have been killed."
Ferguson was left raging after seeing van Persie struck by the ball and vented his fury after the contest. He said: "It was absolutely deliberate. The whistle has gone, the game has stopped and he has done that right in front of the referee, he could have killed the lad. It was a disgraceful act by the player, he should banned for a long time."
Fernando Torres headed Chelsea in front against Aston Villa with his 14th goal of the season. The Spaniard's goalscoring form has been transformed since the arrival of new interim manager Rafa Benitez. Chelsea crushed Villa 8-0 to inflict the worst ever top-flight defeat on the visiting club.
David Luiz doubled Chelsea's lead on 29 minutes with a spectacular free-kick as Chelsea cruised past a young Villa side at Stamford Bridge.
Branislav Ivanovic grabbed his fourth league goal of the season to give Chelsea a three-goal lead at the break. The Serbia defender, who also scored at Leeds in midweek, headed home from close-range to wrap up the game after just 34 minutes.
Frank Lampard became Chelsea's all-time leading scorer in top-flight football after hitting his 130th goal on his 500th league start. Lampard's drive gave the home side a 4-0 lead as Villa began to wilt.
Ramires came off the bench to score twice as Chelsea eventually declared on eight. It could have been worse for Villa as Lucas Piazon missed a penalty. Eden Hazard and Oscar were also on target.
His future at the English Premier League champions had been in doubt since his training ground bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini in early January, when coaching staff had to intervene to separate the pair. Mancini later downplayed the tussle, sparked by Balotelli's hostile tackle on a fellow player, as "nothing unusual."
Balotelli made his Inter Milan debut in 2007 after being signed by the club at the age of 15. He scored the first goals of his senior career in a Coppa Italia match against Reggina in December of that year.
Balotelli joined Manchester City from Italian club Inter Milan. His relationship with Inter coach Jose Mourinho endured numerous ups and downs. Disciplinary issues littered his time at the San Siro and the situation came to a head in March 2010, when Balotelli was left out of Inter's squad for a Champions League tie after an altercation with Mourinho.
Alex Ferguson shouts at assistant referee Andy Garrett in scenes reminiscent of the midweek 4-3 win over Newcastle, after which the United manager was widely criticized for harrassing match officials.
The match was cleared to go ahead after a late pitch inspection following days of rain in the UK. Groundstaff remove waterproof covers which protected the playing surface.
It was pouring down in Norwich, where second-placed Manchester City won 4-3 despite having Samir Nasri (R) sent off following this clash with Sebastien Bassong, who was booked.
Edin Dzeko had put the visitors 2-0 ahead inside five minutes, and the recalled Bosnian striker was involved in the decisive fourth goal -- his shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who was credited with an own-goal.
Tottenham went third with a 2-1 win at Sunderland but the victory was marred by Gareth Bale's third booking this season for alleged diving -- the Wales winger will now be suspended for the next match against Reading.
Theo Walcott (C) scored a hat-trick to inspire fifth-placed Arsenal to a 7-3 home win against Newcastle, while substitute Olivier Giroud (R) also netted twice.
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart confronts a pitch invader trying to harass Manchester United's Ferdinand, who had been hit in the face by a coin thrown from the crowd.
United's players celebrate Robin Van Persie's decisive late goal in a 3-2 victory -- which was met by missiles and smoke bombs hurled by City supporters.
A total of 13 fans were arrested and nine charged -- one with making alleged racist chants. Here a City supporter shouts across the police security cordon.
Ferdinand, left, wore a t-shirt supporting the anti-racism group Kick It Out in October, having earlier refused to do so in protest at a perceived leniency in punishment for John Terry, who was accused of racially abusing the United player's younger brother Anton. Kick It Out chairman Herman Ouseley has also criticized the English FA and the Premier League for failing to take strong action in recent high-profile racism cases.
The day before the Manchester derby, a man was arrested and charged for racially abusing Norwich's Cameroon international Sebastien Bassong in a Premier League match at Swansea. Norwich later revealed that police are investigating four separate racist attacks on Bassong.
Clarke Carlisle is the chairman of the English players' union. He has called for the FA to take its chance to address problems that have been ignored for years. "Previously there were behaviors that we have just passed off as 'Ah, that's football,' " he told CNN.
Police intervened to eject the invader, and the Greater Manchester force also announced after the match that another man was arrested inside City's Etihad Stadium on suspicion of chanting racist abuse.
The match was settled in the second minute of time added on by Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin Van Persie.
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri (left) diverted Van Persie's free kick past Hart as he backed off from his position in the defensive wall.
Wayne Rooney had put United 2-0 ahead inside half an hour, with the 27-year-old becoming the youngest player to score 150 goals in the English Premier League.
United should have gone 3-0 ahead just before the hour mark but Ashley Young's effort was ruled out in a marginal offside decision. City hit back immediately through midfielder Yaya Toure.
Pablo Zabaleta, right, fired an equalizer in the 86th minute to give second-placed City hope of extending a 21-game unbeaten league run that went back to last season's title-winning climax.
However, Van Persie's 11th EPL goal since signing from Arsenal for $38 million in August left City six points behind leaders United after 16 matches.
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