As Wes Brown upstaged the regular scorers by getting the third goal of his career and his second against Liverpool, Jose Reina and Javier Mascherano discovered why United can invoke so many painful memories for their most bitter rivals.

Though Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani added gloss to the scoreline, Brown notched the first and most significant goal which means most to a United player - and especially a Mancunian like him.

But, in many respects, it was apt.

This is a fixture that defenders and defences enjoy, where flair rarely flourishes and where the most unlikely scorers can end up the match-winners.

And it is a fixture that tends to have an unhappy ending for Liverpool's stars.

This time, it was Mascherano, given a controversial second yellow card on the stroke of half-time.

Already booked for scything down Paul Scholes, the Argentinian was unwise to approach Steve Bennett.

The referee, one of the strictest disciplinarians in the Premier League, seemed only too happy to brandish a second yellow card.

In the wake of the non-dismissal of Ashley Cole on Wednesday and the focus on the Football Association's 'respect' agenda, Mascherano would have been well advised not to say a word all game to Bennett, very much a 'letter of the law' official.

But, given that an enticing encounter and an intriguing tactical battle was rendered a walkover by his decision, Bennett could have contemplated a final warning for the Argentinian.

The repercussions may be lengthy.

Mascherano misses the Merseyside derby next weekend - and may yet attract an FA charge for his reluctance to leave the pitch.

An unhappy manager Rafael Benitez, gesturing towards United's assistant coach Carlos Queiroz, could find himself in trouble as well.

Once Mascherano was gone, Liverpool's lamentable record against United was certain to be extended.

They have scored a solitary goal and earned a single point against United under Benitez. With 11 men, they might have added to either meagre tally.

With 10, Fernando Torres was stranded alone in attack and Benitez's 4-2-3-1, so effective as a counter-attacking system, had to be reconfigured into 4-4-1.

United dominated possession, enjoyed the majority of chances and got two more goals.

And, as United would be eager to point out, they scored against 11 men when Wayne Rooney delivered a ball from the left, Reina opted to come and the ball bounced in off Brown's back.

Ultimately it mattered little that, before and afterwards, Reina made a series of saves.

Second-half stops from Ronaldo, Rooney and Carlos Tevez only affected the two teams' goal difference and prevented a rout.

An earlier misjudgment was altogether more meaningful. Had Reina let Martin Skrtel head Rooney's cross away, Liverpool would not have conceded.

Indeed, it was a sign of Benitez's confidence in his January signing that Skrtel was preferred to Sami Hyypia.

The ageing Finn's omission enabled Liverpool to play, for them, an unusually high defensive line. It meant Reina had to sweep up when long balls were aimed over the back four.

And, as Jamie Carragher made a shaky start, it was something that Rooney attempted to exploit.

Twice in the opening 10 minutes, perceptive passes found one Scouser reacting quicker than another. On both occasions, Reina came to Carragher's aid and denied Rooney.

Rooney was deployed alone in attack as United manager Alex Ferguson made the defensive move of relegating Tevez to the bench, perhaps indicating that he did not trust any duo of his central midfielders to control the game.

With a man advantage in the second half, however, the trio were predictably superior.

Ferguson's 4-5-1 was a sign, too, of his concern about Steven Gerrard.

While the Liverpool captain did not have a marker, it was often Michael Carrick's responsibility to track him, which he did effectively.

Without Mascherano, Gerrard was forced into a deeper role and, like his team as a whole, posed less of a threat.

Ronaldo, having already hit the post and the bar, broke his duck against Liverpool by heading in Nani's corner, before the younger Portuguese whipped in a wonderful shot.

But that is not why the match will be remembered.

stsports@sph.com.sg