Chelsea managed to stretch their unbeaten home record to 85 matches while Alex Ferguson's side, who came close to ending the run, will now receive an automatic £25,000 fine from the FA. The match also ended in peculiar circumstances when Rio Ferdinand fumed at the final whistle after being involved in an incident with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
It seemed as though Chelsea had time to take a free kick awarded by Mike Riley with time running out but the referee had in fact blown for full-time.
And Ferdinand could face further disciplinary action after complaining angrily within ear-shot of fourth official Rob Styles, before storming off the pitch as fans realised that the game had finished.
"I am not surprised," said Luiz Felipe Scolari, when questioned on Manchester United's discipline.
"That is what the referee is there for.
"If players do not respect him, it should be yellow and red cards. It doesn't matter who you are - Liverpool or Manchester United, whoever."
However, the Chelsea coach said he was puzzled at the bizarre ending, with Riley blowing for time as Drogba was about to receive treatment.
"It was strange that he finished the game at that time but we need to accept his decision."
Meanwhile, Scolari's counterpart was left biting his tongue at the performance of Riley after revealing that not one bad tackle had been made in the game.
"The game is being screened worldwide," Ferguson reflected.
"Everyone is watching it and something like that goes on.
"It was a competitive game but I did not think there was one bad tackle in it."
Apart from Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov, Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra were cautioned.
"People are saying, 'What is going on here?' but it is difficult to say anything about the referee," added Ferguson.
"I do not want to get involved."
Chelsea had to draw on all their strengths in finding the equaliser, an attribute Scolari believes that will bode well throughout the season as they look to reclaim the Premier League crown.
"I am happy with my players because they put their heart on the field," Scolari said. "They tried, sometimes not very well, but they tried.
"If we had had more quality in the final shot, we would have won this game. But they showed they have a fantastic spirit.
"We said before the game that (Michael) Ballack could only play maybe 45 minutes but he played for 70 minutes with a great spirit, trying to win the game.
"John Obi Mikel too, was fantastic. He was on the right, on the left, trying to win all the time. This is the spirit I want and it is the spirit Chelsea have so I am happy."
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