United's hopes of becoming the first club to go through the group stage without conceding a goal were dashed in the 32nd minute when Valencia's Pablo Hernandez slotted home.
Manchester United sealed top spot in the Champions League Group C when Anderson's equaliser earned the English giants a 1-1 home draw with Valencia in a lively game on Tuesday.
United's hopes of becoming the first club to go through the group stage without conceding a goal were dashed in the 32nd minute when Valencia midfielder Pablo Hernandez slotted home following a swift break.
The hosts, who needed to avoid defeat to win the group, peppered the Valencia goal before equalising in the 62nd minute through Brazilian midfielder Anderson who mopped up after 'keeper Vicente Guaita parried Park Ji-sung's shot.
Both sides had qualified for the knockout stages and it was a battle to determine first place in the group and a potentially more favourable draw.
In a lively encounter with plenty of chances to keep fans warm and happy on a freezing evening at the Old Trafford, Valencia striker Pablo Dominguez looked dangerous with two excellent chances midway through the first half.
His curling right-foot shot from just outside the penalty area was heading for goal before 'keeper Ben Amos smothered it low to his right. Dominguez also cracked a shot against the post as United lived dangerously.
Amos, making only his third United appearance and first of the season, was a surprise name on the team sheet and was picked ahead of usual second-choice keeper Tomasz Kuszczak who played in last week's 4-0 defeat by West Ham United in the League Cup.
The 20-year-old was beaten for the opener by a cool touch from Pablo Hernandez, who was set up by Dominguez after United's Michael Carrick lost possession in midfield after a good chance for Park Ji-sung at the other end.
United, for whom Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov missed good early chances, hit the crossbar four minutes later when Wayne Rooney unleashed a powerful long-range shot from the left.
The rebound fell to Nani, but the Portuguese forward sent his effort wide.
Berbatov had the ball in the net with a neat volley 10 minutes after the break but was ruled offside and Rooney went narrowly wide as United continued to test Guaita.
The breakthrough came after 62 minutes when Anderson tapped in after Guaita could only bat away Park's sizzling drive.
The wasted chances carried on for United, Berbatov missing with his head and feet, but they tightened up at the back to hold on for the draw.
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