Manchester United moved back to the top of the Premier League after two second-half goals from Wayne Rooney propelled them to victory over rivals Liverpool.
Rooney fired in from close range from a Ryan Giggs corner just after half-time before coolly slotting home when one-on-one three minutes later.
Luis Suarez poked home a consolation for the visitors with 10 minutes left.
The Uruguayan was again the subject of controversy after refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand before the game.
Suarez was the focus of much of the build-up to the game, coming up against Evra for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing the United defender during October's game at Anfield.
His goal set up a nervy end to the game for the hosts, but they held on to move one point above Manchester City, who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Suarez started for the first time since Boxing Day in place of Andy Carroll, and was immediately the centre of controversy once more.
He refused to shake Evra's hand in the pre-match pleasantries, and Evra reacted by grabbing the Liverpool striker by the arm. Fellow United defender Rio Ferdinand then withdrew his own hand to Suarez.
Suarez was in the thick of the action from the off, supplying a neat ball to Glen Johnson just inside the 10-minute mark. The full-back cut in from the right before sending a curling left-foot shot just wide of David de Gea's right-hand post.
But clear-cut opportunities were rare in a cagey first half, United having the best chance when Paul Scholes headed straight at Pepe Reina from six yards out from Giggs's cross.
The home side had the game won within five minutes of the interval, Rooney blasting home after Giggs's corner flicked off Jordan Henderson, before the impressive Antonio Valencia dispossessed Jay Spearing and fed Rooney for his second.
Rooney could have had a hat-trick when Valencia and Scholes combined to put him through once more, but the striker – starting his 500th career game – prodded wide.