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.

Robin van Persie recovered from an embarrassing penalty miss

Robin van Persie recovered from an embarrassing penalty miss to hit a hat-trick as Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,000th league game in charge of Manchester United ended in a dramatic 3-2 victory at Southampton on Sunday.

Robin van Persie celebrates scoring Manchester United's equaliser

Earlier in the day, Arsenal picked up their first win of the season at the expense of Liverpool, while Newcastle drew at home to Aston Villa, who earned their first point of the campaign.

Ferguson's incredible milestone as Manchester United boss was described merely as "another game I want to win" by the Scot on the morning of their trip to Southampton, but with neighbours City four points ahead in the table it was a fixture United needed to win in order to maintain the early pace.