showed why United has been in the transfer market for attacking midfielders this summer. Robin van Persie wasted a good late opportunity but he was largely starved of service by a sturdy Liverpool backline. Theres always motivation for Liverpool to beat United, its biggest rival, but there was even more on Sunday. The match was played on the eve of what would have been the 100th birthday of the late Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, who died in 1981 after helping turn the club into the leading force in English football in a 15-year spell from 1959-74. Shanklys daughter and six grandchildren stood on the touchline as Liverpool fans -- and most of Uniteds travelling fans -- took part in a minutes applause in the Scots honour before kickoff. There was a mosaic of Shankly in The Kop stand, along with a banner saying "He Made People Happy," while a stirring rendition of club anthem "Youll Never Walk Alone" was belted out. It certainly got Liverpools players fired up and they were first to every ball in a breathless opening spell in which Sturridge grabbed an 11th goal in his last nine Liverpool games. Daniel Agger beat Rio Ferdinand to Steven Gerrards outswinging corner and Sturridge was there inside the six-yard box to stoop and flick home a deft header. The sound was deafening as Sturridge and the whole Liverpool team ran to Rodgers, who has instilled belief into the striker since his move from Chelsea in January. That was enough to ensure a third straight win to start a season for only the second time in the Premier League era. Rodgers laughed out loud when a reporter asked if Liverpool could be classed as title contenders but Suarez is returning soon from a ban for biting and Chelsea winger Victor Moses is one of three players expected to sign Monday on transfer deadline day. "We wont be getting carried away," Rodgers said. "The initial challenge is to get in the top four and I dont think we can look at anything beyond that." But with Ferguson gone, Liverpool can maybe start dreaming of closing the gap to United. This was a tight, frenetic and typically feisty encounter between Englands most successful clubs, who have won the top-flight title 38 times between them. Van Persie spent most of his time tangling with Agger and Martin Skrtel while two defenders, Phil Jones (United) and Glen Johnson (Liverpool), went off with ankle injuries. United improved after the break, pressing higher and starving Liverpools lightweight forward line of possession but worryingly there was no end product without Rooney. "Wayne Rooney is world class ... hes a top, top operator and when we heard he wasnt playing, it gives you a tonic," Rodgers said. "We were defensively strong and I thought the players concentration was very good." Swell Marble Bottle Ireland . The 26-year-old Redditch, England, native played three of his past four seasons under Rennie with the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League. Swell Water Bottle Discount . Ramirez is still hitting behind Puig, only now they are in the third and fourth spots, and the change is starting to generate positive results for manager Don Mattingly. http://www.swellwaterbottleireland.com/ . Bjoerndalen broke the record he shared with cross-country skiing great Bjoern Daehlie, also matching his fellow Norwegians record of eight gold medals. Bjoerndalen earlier won gold in Sochi in the mens sprint biathlon.WINDSOR, Ont. -- Josh Ho-Sang scored twice and set up four more goals as the Windsor Spitfires edged the visiting North Bay Battalion 6-5 on Sunday in Ontario Hockey League action. Eric Diodati and Brady Vail each had a goal and an assist for the Spitfires (33-18-2), who trailed 4-3 after 40 minutes, while Steven Janes and Ben Johnson added single goals. Dylan Blujus, Zach Bratina, Brenden Miller, Barclay Goodrow and Ben thomson scored for the Battalion (28-20-6). Windsors Dalen Kuchmey made 43 saves for the win as Brendan ONeill allowed six goals on 27 shots for North Bay. The Spitfires went 3 for 7 on the power play while the Battalion scored twice on nine chances with the man advantage. --- FRONTENACS 4 STING 2 KINGSTON, Ont. -- Lucas Peressini made 30 saves as the Frontenacs doubled up Sarnia for their fourth win in a row. Robert Polesello and Michael Moffatt had a goal and an assist for Kingston (30-19-4) while Samuel Schutt and Henri Ikonen rounded out the scoring. Jeff King and Hayden Hodgson responded for the Sting (15-33-6), who are on a seven-game slide. Sarnias Taylor Dupuis turned away 42-of-46 shots in a losing cause. --- 67s 4 STEELHEADS 2 MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Philippe Trudeau made 39 saves and Travis Konecny broke a 2-2 tie at 11:55 of the third period to lift Ottawa over the Steelheads. Dante Salituro, Brendan Bell and Alex Lintuniemi also scored for the 67s (19-30-4). Andrew Goldberg and Josh Burnside each had a goal and an assist for Mississauga (21-30-4) and Spencer Martin stopped 20-of-23 shots in defeat. Steelheads forward Brandon Belding was ejected in the third period after receeiving a major for checking-to-the-head. Swell Bottle Black Friday Sale. --- KNIGHTS 5 WHALERS 4 LONDON, Ont. -- Chris Tierney scored once and assisted on another as the Knights edged Plymouth. Owen MacDonald, Chandler Yakimowicz, Brady Austin and Josh Anderson also scored for London (36-12-5) and Max Domi had two assists. Francesco Vilardi and Connor Chatham each had a goal and an assist for the Whalers (20-28-5), who had their three-game win streak halted, and Ryan Hartman and Victor Crus Rydberg had the others. Jake Patterson started in net for the Knights but was pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots. Justin Tugwell took over for London and stopped 8-of-9 shots in 29 minutes of play for the win. Alex Nedeljkovic made 37 saves for Plymouth. --- RANGERS 3 WOLVES 2 (SO) KITCHENER, Ont. -- Darby Llewellyn scored the only goal of the shootout as the Rangers slipped past Sudbury. Justin Bailey and Matia Marcantuoni scored in regulation for Kitchener (19-32-2). Connor Crisp opened the scoring for the Wolves (28-16-9) and Jeff Corbetts goal 24 seconds into the third period forced extra time. Matthew Greenfield made 24 saves for the Rangers as Sudburys Franky Palazzese turned aside 45-of-47 shots in defeat. --- GENERALS 4 PETES 0 OSHAWA, Ont. -- Ken Appleby stopped all 21 shots his way as the Generals blanked Peterborough. Michael Dal Colle had a goal and an assist for Oshawa (34-15-5) and Dylan Smoskowitz, Scott Laughton and Chris Carlisle added a goal apiece. Jason Da Silva turned aside 35-of-39 shots for the Petes (24-24-5). The Generals went 1 for 3 on the power play. Peterborough went 0 for 2. ' ' '