Undoubtedly one of the best defenders of his generation, few centre-forwards got the better of Rio Ferdinand in his prime.

However, while some centre-backs would guarantee a handful of goals each season, the same could not be said of the Englishman. In his 455 appearances for Manchester United, Ferdinand found the back of the net just eight times.

Having said that, he did have a tendency to pop up at vital moments. It was Ferdinand that scored the last Old Trafford goal of Sir Alex Ferguson's long tenure, while his stoppage-time winner against rivals Liverpool in January 2006 is still remembered vividly by United supporters to this day.

He also weighed in with another important strike - his fourth for the Red Devils - against the Merseysiders when they made the short trip to Old Trafford nine years ago today.

First, though, it was Paul Scholes that made the headlines on what was his 500th United appearance. The encounter was locked at 0-0 with 39 minutes played when Ryan Giggs drilled in a low cross from the left wing. Scholes's initial effort was half stopped by Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, but as Sami Hyypia retreated in a bid to clear the danger, the United midfielder reacted quickest to poke the ball over the line.

As the first half drew to a close Louis Saha tried his luck from distance, only for an alert Reina to tip the ball around the post. Yet, Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper was left flailing at thin air in the 66th minute as Ferdinand made sure of the points for the home team with a goal of real style.

Giggs's cross was hacked up high rather than out by Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. Instead of hitting the ball on the volley first time, Ferdinand, who was eight yards from goal, controlled it with his right foot and then unleashed a rising left-footed shot that flew into the top corner of the net.

The 2-0 victory moved the leaders 11 points clear of Liverpool - a result that deflated manager Rafael Benitez, who said: "It is clearly one of my most disappointing days as manager of the club. It is a game I know everybody at the club and the supporters want us to win, particularly at Old Trafford."

His opposite number Ferguson added: "It was an excellent performance. After losing against Arsenal earlier in the season, we needed to win a big one and the boys did not let us down."

Man United: Van der Sar; Neville (O'Shea), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Brown); Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Rooney, Saha

Liverpool: Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise; Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso (Crouch), Gonzalez (Pennant), Luis Garcia; Kuyt