Ryan Giggs' second-minute penalty condemned Kenny Dalglish to a losing start as Liverpool manager as Manchester United recorded an FA Cup triumph over the 10-man Merseysiders, who also had Steven Gerrard sent off.
Almost two decades after ending his first stint as Anfield chief, Dalglish has been charged with reviving their fortunes.
But there will be no Wembley appearance for the Reds this season thanks to Giggs' cool finish after Daniel Agger had tripped Dimitar Berbatov.
PACY YOUNGSTER
Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the fourth round thanks to an impressive second-half performance against Charlton Athletic, capped by a brilliant brace from former Addicks man Jermain Defoe.
Spurs put a sluggish first half behind them to take the lead through pacy youngster Andros Townsend, who fired past Rob Elliot to mark his debut with a goal at White Hart Lane.
Defoe, who started his career with the Addicks, made it 2-0 with a low drive before rounding off the victory by stabbing home from 18 yards for his fifth of the season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea went some way to lifting the gloom at Stamford Bridge as they began their defence of the FA Cup with a crushing win over Ipswich Town.
The managerless visitors proved ideal cannon fodder for Carlo Ancelotti's faltering double winners, who went into the match on their worst Premier League run for almost 15 years.
Ancelotti's decision to continue last season's policy of fielding some youngsters in the early rounds of the cup did not backfire, with Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard scoring twice, Salomon Kalou also finding the net and Nicolas Anelka ending the goal drought which has coincided with Chelsea's two months of misery. Carlos Edwards' own goal made up the tally.
In the day's late kick-off, an error from goalkeeper Joe Hart enabled skipper Andy King to earn Leicester City a deserved FA Cup third round replay with Manchester City.
Hart could not hold onto a cross from Paul Gallagher - and King converted the rebound midway through the second half.
Sol Bamba gave the Foxes a first minute lead but James Milner and Carlos Tevez put the visitors in the ascendancy before half-time at the Walkers Stadium.

SUNDAY'S FA CUP RESULTS
Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Chelsea 7-0 Ipswich Town
Leicester City 2-2 Manchester City