TWO second-half strikes from Wayne Rooney condemned Liverpool to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United Old Trafford, on a day when Luis Suarez found himself at the centre of yet more controversy, and on the scoresheet.

Suarez was handed his first start since serving an eight-match ban, after being found guilty of abusing Patrice Evra, and seemed to decline to shake the United skipper's hand before the game, prompting an angry response from the Frenchman, as well as colleague Rio Ferdinand.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish also handed starts to Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, with Jose Enrique back after missing the draw with Tottenham through injury. Andy Carroll, Martin Kelly, Charlie Adam and Craig Bellamy all dropped to the substitutes' bench for the visitors.

Evra, of course, started for United, as did veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Javier Hernandez, who has scored on his last two league meetings with the Reds, began on the bench.

Liverpool were quickly on the front foot, on a ground they last won at in 2009, with skipper Steven Gerrard wasting a great chance to release either Suarez or Dirk Kuyt inside the opening minute.

Glen Johnson saw a left-foot shot comfortably gathered by David De Gea, as the Reds began strongly.

Johnson went even closer nine minutes in, collecting Suarez's expansive pass, cutting inside Evra and bending a left-foot effort which flashed inches wide of De Gea's right-hand post.

Pepe Reina was called into action on 18 minutes as he saved low from Rafael Da Silva, with much of United's first-half threat coming down Liverpool's left-hand side through the dangerous Antonio Valencia.

Wayne Rooney fired off target from 25 yards soon after, while Reina kept out a Scholes header from point-blank range on the half-hour as the home side began to settle.

Daniel Agger was soon required to clear Danny Welbeck's dangerous cross, with Rooney poised behind him, while Evra headed a Valencia cross over the bar after climbing above Kuyt.

Gerrard saw a 30-yard strike deflected over the bar, while Martin Skrtel hooked off target as the Reds regained a foothold in the game towards half-time. Suarez almost found himself clean through on goal, but was denied by a vital – and legal – tackle from Ferdinand.

As Phil Dowd blew for half-time, Suarez was involved in a confrontation with United players, which continued as the sides made their way down the tunnel, with police and stewards forced to intervene.

And the fireworks continued after the interval, as United seized control within five minutes of the restart through two Wayne Rooney strikes.

First, the England striker was on hand to sweep home a volley after Jordan Henderson had inadvertently helped on a Ryan Giggs corner in the 47th minute.

Then, just three minutes later, he was put through to slot under Reina left-footed, after Valencia had robbed Jay Spearing..

Rooney might have completed his hat-trick on 59 minutes, but prodded well wide under pressure from Skrtel.

Dalglish replaced Spearing, as well as the woefully ineffective Downing, bringing on Carroll and Bellamy in a bid to change his side's fortunes.

It was to make little difference, with the Reds sloppy in possession and unable to find a way back into the game. United, with Paul Scholes impressive in midfield, were comfortable.

It took until the 75th minute for the Reds to muster an effort on goal in the second-half, with Agger's 35-yard strike well off target in any case.

But with ten minutes to go, Dalglish's side found themselves back in the contest. Substitute Charlie Adam whipped in a deep free-kick which Ferdinand didn't deal with, and Suarez was on hand to fire past De Gea from close range for his 9th goal of the season.

It was to prove in vain, however, though Johnson forced De Gea to tip over a fierce strike in stoppage time.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Welbeck, Rooney

Substitutes: Berbatov, Park, Hernandez, Fabio, Cleverley, Amos, Pogba

Booked: Carrick

Goals: Rooney (47, 50)

LIVERPOOL (4-1-4-1): Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Henderson, Spearing (Bellamy 61), Gerrard, Downing (Carroll 61), Kuyt (Adam 75), Suarez

Substitutes: Carragher, Adam, Doni, Kelly, Shelvey

Booked: Downing

Goal: Suarez (80)

Referee: Phil Dowd

Attendance: 74,844