Steven Gerrard believes that referee Mark Halsey got the major decisions wrong as Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United

Steven Gerrard believes that referee Mark Halsey got the major decisions wrong as Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Steven Gerrard feels hard done by

Jonjo Shelvey was sent off in the first half for a challenge on Jonny Evans, and Luis Suarez had a second-half penalty appeal rejected, before United won the game with a dubious Robin van Persie spot kick.

Defeat has left Liverpool in the bottom three with just two points from five games, but fans chanted their support for manager Brendan Rodgers towards the end.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers complained referee Mark Halsey cost his side the game

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers complained referee Mark Halsey cost his side the game after their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Jonjo Shelvey gets his marching orders for a two-footed tackle

• Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

The Liverpool manager was unhappy with Halsey's decision to dismiss Jonjo Shelvey as well as the award of the penalty that Robin van Persie converted in the 81st minute, saying Luis Suarez should also have been given a spot kick.

And Rodgers felt both sides could have been down to ten men before half-time when Jonny Evans escaped unpunished from the challenge that resulted in Shelvey's departure.

Liverpool Match of the day: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United at Anfield BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE 23/9/2012 19:30

Liverpool Match of the day: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
At: Anfield
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE: 23/9/2012 19:30

Robin van Persie's late penalty secured Manchester United's first Anfield win since December 2007 against 10-man Liverpool on an emotional afternoon on Merseyside.

The hosts played 51 minutes with 10 men after Jonjo Shelvey's sending-off but still managed to take the lead through Steven Gerrard's volley seconds after the interval.

However, Rafael equalised soon after and Van Persie, one of three United players to miss from the spot this term, scored his fourth goal in as many games against the Reds - although three of those had come for former side Arsenal - nine minutes from time.

Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

In the end it was something of a relief the talking points were all generated on the pitch as Liverpool marked their first home match since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report which exonerated fans in relation to the 1989 disaster.

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shook hands in a show of unity before the game - the Liverpool forward had refused to shake the United defender's hand in the league meeting between the sides at Old Trafford in February, having previously been found guilty of racially abusing Evra in the corresponding fixture at Anfield last season.