Cantona struck home a 70th-minute penalty, sending Liverpool goalkeeper David James the wrong way, to give United a share of the points Sunday in an evenly fought match against their bitter rivals.
The result left United in third place in the table with 17 points and Liverpool fourth with 16. Newcastle, which won 3-1 at Everton earlier Sunday, leads the standings with 21 points ahead of second-placed Aston Villa with 17.
Cantona's return to the United team for the first time in 248 days was responsible for an incredible atmosphere outside the stadium before the match and inside during it.
Cantona took only 67 seconds to make his mark, providing the cross for Nicky Butt to score United's opening goal and send United fans into ecstacy.
Lost in the fervor of Cantona's return was the fact that both teams dropped two points in their title challenges and Newcastle pulled further ahead of them at the top of the table by winning at Everton.
Les Ferdinand put Newcastle ahead with his 100th career goal after 11 minutes and the league leaders wrapped up three vital points at Goodison Park with further goals from Robert Lee, who scored a 59th-minute penalty, and substitute Paul Kitson six minutes later.
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A pair of unlikely heros played the starring roles Sunday as Borussia Dortmund handed Bayern Munich a 3-1 loss in a showdown of the Bundesliga's top clubs.
Uruguay international Ruben Sosa, whose disappointing play this season had reduced him to the bench, snapped a 1-1 tie in the 76th minute. He unloaded a free kick from 25 meters just three minutes after entering the game.
Michael Zorc, also a benchwarmer, was substituted in and sealed the defending champions' win when he scored in the 79th minute.
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Barcelona had full-back Sergi Barjuan sent off in the first half but managed to hold Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the Spanish first division.
Saturday's result from Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium left reigning champions Real in the bottom half of the table with just five points from five matches, six points behind third-placed Barcelona who are unbeaten this season.
(For other results, see Scorecard.)
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