Liverpool vs Manchester United: Rating the United Players

When the boys from Manchester United head out for drinks tonight, Ryan Giggs and his precious man-jewels will owe Chicharito a drink.

Well, Ryan Giggs is hardly a boy anymore, and David De Gea might deserve a round or two as well, but if you watched Manchester United's 1-1 draw Saturday against Liverpool, you know what I'm talking about.

Let's be frank—United deserved to lose.

Sure, Liverpool's goal was soft, but Giggs' manic moment (more on that later) was only the most visible flash-point of a match Liverpool largely dominated and, if we're being honest, deserved to win. If not for Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's latest brilliant finish and a pair of De Gea's finest saves in United colors, Sir Alex Ferguson's team would be contemplating its first defeat of the season.

They're not, though. Instead, United is still riding its unbeaten start to the season after trotting out a decidedly under-strength lineup Saturday against its fiercest rival. The mystique of their early-season dominance is gone, but the Red Devils showed, once again, that they can grind out results without playing their best football.

For United fans, that's an endearing quality. For the rest of the world, it's ceaselessly annoying.

Not that United, or Ferguson, will care. The result is always the most important thing, and against a fierce rival on a ground where it had lost its previous three Premiership matches, United got the result it needed.

Manchester United player ratings

Goalkeeper

David De Gea: 7.5

De Gea had something of a rough start to his career at Old Trafford, but against Liverpool on Saturday he was United's man of the match. He made a decent save on Luis Suarez in the 35th minute but saved his best for last, making outstanding saves against Dirk Kuyt and Jordan Henderson after United equalized. Chicharito will get the plaudits for securing a point with an excellent equalizer, but De Gea made sure his team held onto it.

Defenders

Patrice Evra: 5.5

Evra played pretty well but lost his cool in the second half after some extended gamesmanship by Suarez. Evra was unhappy about a Suarez challenge and the two argued about it in front of the ref before a Liverpool corner. After the corner, Evra kept talking and earned a yellow card for his trouble. That's not the kind of leadership you expect from your captain in a big rivalry game.

Update, Sunday: Stories have come out with Evra claiming he was racially abused. That changes everything if true.

Rio Ferdinand: 5.5

Ferdinand earns the same rating as Evra for much the same reason. He got booked in the second half and can probably consider himself fortunate not to have earned a second yellow card for the challenge that led to Liverpool's free-kick goal. Besides that, he defended well.

Johnny Evans: 6.5

Evans showed his strong aerial ability and harried Suarez all day. Like the rest of United's lineup, Evans made sure Suarez had little time with the ball at his feet and always had a physical challenge to deal with.

Chris Smalling: 5.0

Smalling got burned badly by a Jose Enrique run and dribble early in the first half and passed poorly.

Midfielders

Phil Jones: 6.5

Jones was a big part of United's resistance. Liverpool rarely had enough time and space to get creative, and Jones' presence as a holding midfielder was a big reason for that. He played that role well at Blackburn and could see more time there after a strong performance for United.

Ryan Giggs: 4.0

Giggs allowed the goal by jumping out of the way and bending his body to protect his private areas on Gerrard's free kick. Besides that, he was largely anonymous in his first Premiership start of the season. It might be a while before he gets another league start.

Darren Fletcher: 5.5

Fletcher was largely invisible but helped United pack the midfield and slow Liverpool's attack.

Park Ji-Sung: 6.0

Park turned in his usual high-energy, hard-working performance. He seemed overwhelmed at times, though.

Ashley Young: 5.5

Young was invisible for much of the game besides earning a booking the first half.

Forward

Danny Welbeck: 6.0

Welbeck didn't do much until flicking on the corner that led to Chicharito's goal. In the first half, he struggled as United's target man. In the second, he dropped back more into what was already a crowded midfield. But he was ready with a great assist when needed.

Substitutes

Nani: 5.5

Nani entered the game for Ashley Young in the 61st minute and didn't have a large influence on the game.

Wayne Rooney: 6.0

Rooney replaced Park in the 69th minute and contributed to the attack and defense. He made a fine defensive header to deny Suarez as Liverpool searched for a late winner.

Javier Hernandez: 7.0

Chicharito took his goal well, turning a more-difficult-than-it-looked chance into an easy strike. He was dangerous the entire time he was on the pitch and showed again that he has an instinct for goal.