Liverpool 2 Manchester Utd 1
A Gary McAllister penalty after just over a minute and a typical poacher's finish by Michael Owen in the 16th gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in a hard-fought Charity Shield today.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, United's new stg£19 million Dutch striker, got United's goal early in the second half and his side dominated from then on but Liverpool, who won the League and FA Cups on the same turf last season, held out.
The traditional meeting between the league champions and FA Cup winners was played at the Millennium Stadium while Wembley is redeveloped and had an added twist as the roof was closed to keep out heavy rain, making it the first official British club match to be played indoors.
Liverpool took only 42 seconds to make an impact as Roy Keane tripped Danny Murphy in the box. Gary McAllister duely obliged by stroking home the spot kick.
A slip by Dutch defender Jaap Stam coupled with some nippy play from Owen and a clinical finish doubled the lead for the Merseysiders.
Sander Westerveld twice denied Roy Keane with good saves and the United skipper also hit the bar in the first half before Van Nistelrooy, who looked impressive in the second half, rounded the keeper to score six minutes after the break.
United have lost the last three Charity Shields prior to today and gone on to win the league on each occasion and they will hope the same happens this season as they seek to become the first team ever to win four successive league titles.