Ibrahimovic saves point for United

Sports - Football - Premier League - MUFC 1:1 LFC

Zlatan Ibrahimovic extended United's unbeaten run to twelve league games (5D, 7W) as he levelled the score late on against bitter rivals Liverpool making it 1:1 and a point each at Old Trafford.

Jürgen Klopp and his men will see it more as two points dropped than one point won after showing great control and sternness.

They had taken the lead in the 27th minute thanks to James Milner's spot kick, given against an embarrassingly obvious handball by Paul Pogba, and the visitors controlled the game from then.

The £89m-striker was lucky to stay on the pitch after wrestling Jordan Henderson to the ground, his arm around the Red skipper's throat.

Keeper Simon Mignolet impressed with a strong display, denying Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the first half.

Red Devils' boss José Mourinho had seen enough and left the dugout for the break before time was added on.

Wayne Rooney came on after the interval, replacing Michael Carrick, looking to break Liverpool and the club record.

The Scouser did bring more confidence and threat to the Red Devils, but Klopp knew how to deal with that, bringing on Philippe Coutinho and more stability with it.

The German's face and voice said it all just seconds before the leveller, loud, angry, devilish...

Ibrahimovic equalised in the 84th minute off the rebound after Antonio Valencia powered it in off the post. Replays showed a United player was offside in the build-up.

It's the Swede's 14th goal in his first 20 Premier League matches, equalling Alan Shearer's and Sergio Agüero's records.

And it didn't finish there. Ander Herrera was cautioned in the dying minutes for pulling Roberto Firmino's shirt. Both managers clashed on the touchline as both felt the opponent should have a man sent off.

The Portuguese manager calmed his players down in the final minutes, Sir Alex Ferguson smiling in the stands.

Liverpool felt robbed. Klopp had to breath in and out before answering any post-match questions, clear signs of frustration.

The draw does mean Milner is still unbeaten in the 46 games where he has scored and Liverpool have recorded least defeats of all Premier League teams (two, same as Tottenham).

But every goal and point dropped will hurt as Chelsea are now seven points clear at the top with 17 games to go.

Liverpool Goal: Milner pen 26:37min.

Manchester United Goal: Ibrahimovic 83:09min.

Manchester United Team: 1 De Gea; 36 Darmian (27 Fellaini 76'), 5 Marcos Rojo, 4 Jones, 25 Valencia; 11 Martial (8 Mata 65'), 21 Ander Herrera (booked 90'), 16 Carrick (10 Rooney 46'); 9 Ibrahimovic, 22 Mkhitaryan, 6 Pogba. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 20 S Romero, 17 Blind, 12 Smalling & Rashford.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 7 Milner, 17 Klavan, 6 Lovren (booked 31'), 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (booked 61'), 14 Henderson, 23 Can; 27 Origi (10 Coutinho 61'), 11 Firmino (booked 90'), 20 Lallana. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 11 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 34 Stewart, 53 Ejaria & 15 Sturridge.

HT & FT stats: MUFC-LFC
Possession: 52%-48% & 55%-45%
Attempts: 4-5 & 9-13
On target: 2-1 & 3-4
Corners: 3-5 & 5-7
Fouls: 9-8 & 17-13
Bookings: 0-1 & 1-3

Referee: Michael Oliver
Ground: Old Trafford
Attendance: 75,276

Pictures and stats taken from the BBC match report. 

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

Premier League Tops and Flops: Picks of the Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League

What a day! Manchester United confirmed again and underlined the strength and depth of their team that has taken the league crown for the 18th time - everything else but at their best, but still the most deservedly.

Newcastle on the other hand proved the exact opposite. The unrest behind the scenes, the lack of determination and passion on the pitch plus tough luck at some of the most crucial times, all together led to the much-dreaded but inevitable downfall and relegation.

Hull City have given and got JUST enough to stay up, mainly thanks to the distinctively impressive first half of the season.

Middlesbrough, like Newcastle, just lacked a little bit of everything - unlike Liverpool's starmen, who have achieved a record point-tally for their club. Never has a team gone unrewarded, without the title, with so many points.

Top Game: Manchester United's win over Hull did not only prove the quality of their youngsters but also confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson knows what he is doing. I don't know why many kept ranting on and criticising Fergie for lining up a young team. We have seen for nearly a quarter of a century now, he knows what he is doing and he does it best. They have huge resources, so, why shouldn't they use them?!

Top Goal: Nicolas Anelka's goal was a beauty with the outside of his right foot, same goes for Robin van Persie's second. But Darron Gibson's far range stunner that won the match for United wins the laud from me, just one touch from Federico Macheda's cross, very convincingly impressive.

Top Team: United is the obvious pick again, but Liverpool deserve the same respect and recognition for reaching their club-record number of points. It is the first time a team with that many points has not been crowned champions, as mentioned above. They still did not lose any face, passion or quality, even after they were given no chance to catch up with United for the last month or so. They will most probably be darning the (lost) situation, but it is the best they have been in for many years which can only be the more inspiring and motivating for next season.

Top Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson and his record with United is untouchable. But nevertheless, Roy Hodgson and Steve Bruce have also done a brill job, securing and improving their teams status and stability/chances of progress in the Premier League.

Top Player: There are some obvious picks on the scoring list again this week, i.e. Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka, but my vote goes to Dirk Kuyt. In this match, like in all of them this season, he ran his socks of left, right and centre, enjoying chances himself - including the one that ended up as an own goal, but also being a quality provider again, too. Too often his contributions get overlooked and all the laud goes to the usual main playmakers and top scorers, as named above.

Flop Game and Team: I was disappointed with Newcastle. Them having the easiest fixture amongst the relegation-battlers, they seemed to be giving the least, fighting the least. The own goal conceded by Damien Duff hurt but it just did not seem like the Magpies cared jointly and severally. Shame to see them go down, but in the end, I cannot say the others deserved it less to stay up. As they say, the table never lies. As Alan Curbishley put it, it was a car crash waiting to happen.

Flop Goal: The Damien Duff own goal mentioned above just hurt the most. James Beattie's own goal he conceded against Arsenal looked the more comical - quality elegant shot, just in the wrong net...

Flop Manager: Alan Shearer, I just feel sorry for him. He was assigned with an impossible job, I think; not exactly the start you want to make in your managerial career. I don't know what Newcastle were hoping he could do, he is not a magician. They will all have to work hard and make major changes, on the pitch and behind the scenes, if they want to make a comeback into the top-flight.

Flop Player: David Edgar's sending off just reflects his team's season, what was he thinking?! Or expecting?!

My Predictions - Actual Scores

Arsenal 2:1 Stoke City - 4:1

Aston Villa 1:1 Newcastle - 1:0

Blackburn 2:0 West Brom - 0:0

Fulham 2:2 Everton - 0:2

Hull City 1:2 Man Utd - 0:1

Liverpool 3:1 Tottenham - 3:1

Man City 1:0 Bolton - 1:0

Sunderland 1:4 Chelsea - 2:3

West Ham 2:1 Middlesbrough - 2:1

Wigan 1:1 Portysmouth - 1:0

Premier League Tops and Flops: Picks of the Weekend

Sports - Football - Premier League

With 40 goals, this weekend's action proved the Premier League's worth in the football world. Manchester United and Chelsea looked shivery at times but got the results and three points they need, that is the only thing that matters end of the season. Liverpool netted four goals as if it was the usual procedure, showing no lack of confidence nor form.

The relegation battle got a couple of more twists and turns. Already-considered-down-and-out Wets Brom showed guts against Portsmouth and were rewared with a point. Newcastle also got their first point under Alan Shearer against Stoke City and Middlesbrough recorded a solid and promising 3:1 win oagainst Hull City which improved their chance of survival. Aston Villa and Everton fought out a belter of a match but both had to separate with only a point each in the end, which more or less saved Arsenal the 4th and final Champions League qualification place, who thrashed Wigan comfortably 4:1.

Game: How Chelsea nearly gave away a 4-goal lead is shocking. After a superb and overall-dominant 1st half, with Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard back to their usual outstanding selves, Chelsea relaxed and took off their two talismen after netting the fourth and no one would blame them. But then eight crazy minutes passed, where Chelsea's vulnerability and leaks showed. And it could have been worse when deep into stoppage time Gary Cahill's shot deflected here, there and everywhere between a huddle of bodies to go just wide. It will also serve Liverpool's confidence to know it is not impossible to pass three over Chelsea's goal line and get their best result at Stamford Bridge in 19 years to be able to progress when they meet on Tuesday in the Champions League Quarter Final second leg.

Goal: Fernando Torres' first goal was a beauty, controlling a Carragher-cross with his first touch and turning a right-footed shot up and over Paul Robinson. Not many would have been able to score from that position, but Torres has proven his quality and class once again.

Team: Liverpool have come back strong after their Champions League defeat against Chelsea, what one should expect against struggling Blackburn and are keeping the title race hot and juicy. Even without captain Steven Gerrard the likes of Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger and - 0f course - Fernando Torres proved that they can reach peak without their skipper.

Player: Federico Macheda again for Manchester United has saved the points and title spot for the Red Devils again - although I am not too sure he knew much about his goal. How crucial will his gials prove to be end of the season?

Manager: Finally Gareth Southgate got something to smile about again. After the match, he put what the win ment to him short and sweet, honest, blunt and obvious: With a sigh of relief. Cut him some slack, this result could prove vital. You never know, maybe this is a start of a great survival comeback. Then Boro will maybe be lauded to have stuck with him. Too many clubs sack manager too soon too often...

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 2:2 Everton - 3:3
Chelsea 1:1 Bolton - 4:3
Liverpool 3:1 Blackburn - 4:0
Man City 2:0 Fulham - 1:3
Middlesbrough 0:0 Hull City - 3:1
Portsmouth 2:0 West Brom - 2:2
Stoke 1:0 Newcastle - 1:1
Sunderland 0:4 Man Utd - 1:2
Tottenham 2:1 West Ham - 1:0
Wigan 1:3 Arsenal - 1:4