New year, old Rooney

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney pounced to score a 78th-minute winner as his side stunned eternal rivals Liverpool with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at a freezing Anfield on Sunday.

Presiding over his first game against United, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp watched his team dominate, but Rooney punished their profligacy with his fifth goal in four games, a close range snapshot after Marouane Fellaini had hit the bar.

It was United's first shot on target, but it was enough to give visiting manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win over Liverpool in four games.

Victory took United to within two points of the Champions League places, leaving Liverpool six points back in ninth place.

They may be England's two most decorated clubs, but Liverpool and United are not this season's leading contenders and a scrappy, shapeless first half reflected both clubs' recent difficulties.

Both teams had drawn 3-3 on their previous outings but there was to be no frenzied attacking to warm the 43,865 shivering souls at Anfield.

What quality football there was came chiefly from Liverpool and, in particular, Roberto Firmino, preferred once again to Christian Benteke as the nominal frontman.

Liverpool could not make their pressure count, however, and with 12 minutes remaining Rooney made them pay by slamming the ball past Simon Mignolet after Fellaini's header came back off the bar.

Liverpool's best chance of an equaliser fell to Firmino, but he could not control Milner's mishit shot right in front of goal and as his disbelieving glance at the linesman testified, there was no offside flag to spare his blushes.

A goalless draw at Stoke left Arsenal top of the Premier League. A share of the spoils at the Britannia Stadium saw Arsenal return to the summit on goal difference ahead of surprise title contenders Leicester City, with both clubs now boasting 44 points from 22 league matches played so far this season.

But for the second time in a matter of days Arsenal were left to reflect on whether they had gained a point or in fact dropped two after a thrilling midweek 3-3 draw with Liverpool