premier-league

Liverpool beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Anfield in a match where the quality was low and Manchester United’s creativity lesser still. Goals from Fernando Torres and substitute David Ngog were enough to send the travelling support home unhappy on a day when United’s attacking players failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s recent poor form.

Ferguson’s men started the match in ebullient spirits – a midweek Champions League win and the return of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra to the starting line-up adding to a sense of expectation around the United camp. Liverpool, meanwhile, confirmed Captain Steven Gerrard’s absence ahead of kick off.

Deploying both Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov through the middle and an attacking midfield quartet, if Ferguson’s intent was to take the game to the home side then United started brightly enough for the Scot. But despite dominating early possession, Ferguson’s side failed to truly test Pepe Reina in the home goal.

Liverpool began with Torres the lone front man and two holding midfielders protecting a back-four that has looked shorn of confidence in recent weeks.

But resorting to tactics that served the Merseyside side so well in the last clash between the sides at Old Trafford in March, Liverpool unnerved both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand by quickly switching play from back to front.

If at times Liverpool appears a vehicle for Fernando Torres’ talents and ten makeweights then Sunday’s match did little to dispel the myth.

Edwin van der Sar then brilliantly kept out Fabio Aurelio’s early free-kick and Dirk Kuyt’s shot from the rebound.

Rooney had the ball in the Liverpool net, finishing superbly after Michael Carrick’s through ball, only for the officials to – correctly – rule it offside.

On the United right Antonio Valencia had the measure of Liverpool’s two left-backs Emiliano Insua and Aurellio ahead of him. The latter deployed to protect the young Argentinian, who has looked a liability in recent matches. The Ecuadorian’s pace carved out a chance for Rooney, only for the former Everton striker to glance a header into Reina’s arms. It was United’s best chance of the opening period.

But Liverpool began the second half with purpose and Torres continued to place United’s back-four under pressure. While the home side pressed high up the pitch, United gave away possession with unusually high frequency.

Then came the goal just after the hour, Yossi Benayoun releasing Torres. And with Ferdinand half a yard the wrong side the wrong side of the Spaniard, Torres was able to hold off his marker and smash a finish into the roof of the net at van der Sar’s near post.

Neither defender nor ‘keeper will be completely happy with their contribution to the goal.

The strike galvanised the home side and United – unusually – seemed bereft of creativity, making little impression on Liverpool’s previously porous rearguard.

Paul Scholes – half a yard off the pace – and Dimitar Berbatov made way for Nani and Michael Owen with 15 to go as United sought an equaliser the team’s play barely deserved.

Valencia, remaining positive on the right, then smashed an effort against the bar from a tight angle, after Owen’s pass, and Nani later side-footed straight at Reina. Owen, predictably booed on his return to Anfield, added some focus to United’s attacks if no real threat.

Jamie Carragher then brought down Owen who had a clear run on goal. With no protection between the former Liverpool striker and Reina a red card was not only the law but the least the defender deserved for his cynical foul 25 yards out. Inexplicably official Andre Marriner produced yellow to earn Ferguson’s ire. Earlier the Birmingham-born official had failed to award United a penalty when Carragher clattered Michael Carrick inside the box.

Vidic, protesting, noted the Serbian’s red in last season’s fixture. It was not without irony then that Vidic earned a second yellow for a foul on the half-way line. The first an infringement of very little malice. Yet, Marriner allowed Lucas Leiva nine – count ’em – fouls without seeing yellow. It was a refereeing performance not of bias but of incredible incompetence.

And then with seconds to go – and Ferguson’s team piling forward – Liverpool’s David Ngog scored a second on the break to complete United’s third loss in a row to the great rivals.

Ferguson, predictably and rightly, drew attention to Marriner’s errors.

“All in all Liverpool were the better team but I think it affected our players and the referee,” he said.

“There were so many controversial things that happened we have to feel aggrieved at some of them.”

Ferguson was unhappy with Marrier’s failure to award Carrick a first half penalty, Vidic’s red-card and the failure to send off Carragher.

“He has gone right over the top of the ball,” said Ferguson of the penalty decision.

“If it is outside of the box it is a free kick and maybe a yellow card. But it was inside the box and the referee was only six yards from it. It was another bad decision.

“The most controversial decision was Carragher bringing down Michael Owen. He was clear through.

“The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature and if Carragher goes off, he is their best player and their captain. It would have been a different game. They would have been under pressure.

“The referee was only four or five yards from it so he cannot use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through. With Michael’s pace he is going to get away from him.

“The first Vidic booking was the worst decision. It is a foul, fine. But the player has played on, he won the second ball and knocked it for a throw in and got booked. It put Nemanja under pressure.

“The atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience, I don’t know.”

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To whet your appetite ahead of this afternoon’s match here’s some classic Manchester United v Liverpool encounters in league and FA Cup. Starting with the 1977 FA Cup final through to Gary Neville’s now infamous victory celebration in front of the Liverpool supporters at Old Trafford in 2006. Add your own favourites in the comments section.

United 2 – 1 Liverpool, FA Cup Final, Wembley, 1977
United beat the all-powerful Liverpool to the 1977 FA Cup, with goals from Stuart Pearson in the first half and then Lou Macari’s winner, cannoning in off Jimmy Greenhoff’s chest and into the net past Ray Clemence.

Liverpool 1 – 2 United, First Division, Anfield, 1981
United win at Anfield in this classic 80s mud-fest. Goals from defenders Kevin Moran, who also conceded a penalty, and Scottish full-back Arthur Albiston won the day for United.

Liverpool 3 – 3 United, Anfield, 1994
One of the best encounters of the ’90s saw United take a three goal lead through Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Dennis Irwin, before being pegged back by the jubilant scousers.

United 1 – 0 Liverpool, FA Cup Final, Wembley, 1996
Eric Cantona scores with four minutes to go at Wembley to hand United the trophy and a ‘double double’. Within a year Cantona had retired and the Kop demanded that the Frenchman return when United had won 18 English titles. Welcome back Eric!

Man Utd 2 – 1 Liverpool, FA Cup, Old Trafford, 1999
Part of United’s historic ’99 treble season, the reds’ two late-late goals sealed an FA Cup Fourth round win at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s injury time winner almost lifted the roof off a euphoric Stretford End.

Government announces dole to be cut, Anfield, 1999
Despite scoring twice the Dippers still manage to get beaten by a dominant United side.

Diego Forlan scores twice, Anfield, 2002
Poor old Jerzy Dudek allows one effort to go through his legs and gifts Diego Forlan another as the Uruguayan scores twice at Anfield to sealed legendary status amongst the United faithful!

Wayne Rooney strikes at the Kop End, Anfield, 2005
Former Everton forward Wayne Rooney scores United’s winner at the Kop end. The striker took some abuse on the day and was more than happy to repay the compliment!

Gary Neville shows what it’s all about, Old Trafford, 2006
Gary Neville is a red, is a red, is a red, he hates Scousers!

When Andrea Dossena lobbed Edwin van der Sar to score Liverpool’s fourth goal at Old Trafford in March the Merseyside team completed a Premier League double over Manchester United for the first time since 2001-2. Despite the fact that Rafa Benitez’ side ended the season with no trophies – Sir Alex Ferguson’s men picked up the Premier League and Carling Cup – the result remains a source of pride for Liverpudlians and pain for United supporters. Ferguson’s team travel to Anfield tomorrow in search of a result that will right the wrong.

The teams meet an Anfield in markedly different form. United, having emerged victorious from a potential banana skin in Moscow, travel to Anfield in good spirits, expecting victory. Indeed, with just one loss all season – in August at Burnley – United already has significantly more points than at this time last season.

Key players will also return to the United squad, with Wayne Rooney now fit to take part having recovered from a calf injured picked up on international duty with England. Darren Fletcher’s participation remains doubtful with a groin injury, while Park J-Sung is definitely out with a knee problem. However, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra, who both missed the Moscow tie, are fit to take part.

Ferguson must choose between deploying both Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in the 4-4-2 formation that has become typical this season or go with the ‘European’ lone-striker used in Moscow this week. However, in a typical Ferguson ruse, the Scot suggested, Friday, that Rooney may sit out the match due to his fragile temperament in matches against Liverpool.

Despite typically using a single striker in matches against the ‘big four’, Berbatov’s form – outstanding against Bolton last weekend – is likely to come into Ferguson’s thinking when picking the team for tomorrow’s 2pm kick off.

“The United-Liverpool fixture, as I’ve said many times, is without question a massive game,” Ferguson said Friday.

“That’s not changed in the 23 years I’ve been here, this is the game.

“We go into the game in decent form, and there is a confidence to our play. But it’s a derby game and anything can happen. Going to Anfield at any time is hard, for both teams. It won’t be any different on Sunday.”

Liverpool meanwhile come into the game under intense pressure, having lost four games in a row. The club’s worst run of form since 1987 has placed Benitez under increasing strain, to the point that co-owner George Gillet offered a ‘vote-of-confidence’ in the manager this week.

With the pressure on, Benitez this week suggested that the two side’s differing results are a factor of money available to each manager. A ‘fact’ repeatedly proven a lie.

On the pitch Benitez is without captain Steven Gerrard through injury, although talismanic striker Fernando Torres will return after yet another hamstring strain and £18 million Glenn Johnson is also fit to start at right back.

Despite the Anfield side’s recent poor results United defender Rio Ferdinand says that it matters little when the teams take the pitch tomorrow afternoon.

“I think form goes out of the window in these games,” Ferdinand told United’s official website.

“We all know that when there’s a big rivalry between two teams, whether it’s a derby or a big cup clash, form doesn’t come into it. It all comes down to who performs best on the day and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Supporters traverse the M62 ready to answer Liverpool’s fans who, in 1993, suggested legend Eric Cantona return to Anfield once United had won 18 English league championships. Ferguson’s men take to the field Sunday in just that place, having collected an 18th title in May.

Liverpool, meanwhile, hasn’t taken the title back to Anfield since 1990. A victory for United Sunday will surely end the Scousers hopes for another season.

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