Liverpool back on track against United

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:0 Man Utd

The pressure could not have been higher at Anfield. Every news channel, programme and article previewing and reporting on the match repeated Liverpool's bad run of four consecutive defeats, their worst since 1987.

If they would have lost again today it would have been their worst record since 1953.

They would have most certainly been out of the title race. But another much discussed question has been what would come next. Would Rafael Benitez keep his job, who could and would replace him and which players would follow them in and out?

Questions, questions, questions - all ringing the Liverpool crises bell, not even mentioning the unrest behind the scenes. The American owners have been fueling speculation with their search for new outside investment and moving seats away from each other during the half time break did not exactly calm the tension.

In contrast to their rivals, Manchester United have been enjoying a run of eleven games unbeaten in all competitions, sitting top of the table in the Premier League and their Champions League group. Wayne Rooney returned up front for them joining Dimitar Berbatov, whilst Steven Gerrard had to sit out the match for Liverpool due to injury, Fernando Torres returning and starting alone up front.

Liverpool started tight defensively and pushed forward with clear intentions, they were not going to sit back and be pounced on. They produced most chances in the first half with Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio all trying their best to press through and provide Torres.

Pepe Reina had hardly anything to do on the other side of the pitch, whilst Edwin Van der Sar was kept busy and made some brilliant saves. Aurelio came closest with a free kick from outside the box, Kuyt seeing his shot off the rebound blocked by his fellow-Dutchman.

Kuyt looked clumsy at times, wasting chances and possession on more than one occasion. The backline showed no such leaks with a much more solid display, putting their bodies on the line to make sure United could not and would not break through. Jamie Carragher was lucky not to have conceded a penalty after he brought down Michael Carrick with just the faintest hint of contact on the ball.

The second half started similar, Liverpool pushing on, Nemanja Vidic looking very insecure and clumsy against Torres. Just past the hour mark, Liverpool took the lead, deservedly so, with a tremendous break and cross by Benayoun, finding Torres who beat Rio Ferdinand and Van der Sar, from the right with his right, to smack it into the top of the top.

More lethal and physical tackles and bookings followed, Alex Ferguson bringing on Michael Owen to change United's fortune, for him to receive a hostile welcome from the Kop. Torres was replaced by David Ngog and applauded and cheered off the pitch, with ten nervous and tense minutes to go.

Antonio Valencia hit the crossbar for United moments after Carragher had blocked his former team mate Owen, the closest United got to score in the whole match. Liverpool's stand-in skipper was cautioned moments later after it looked like he was the last man when he brought down Owen and lucky not to be sent off for it.

More controversy followed when Vidic saw his second yellow card of the afternoon for bringing down Kuyt. He had a poor match, looking insecure and unable to cope with Torres, in contrast to Carragher on the other end, who kept possession and control. Both shared their moments of crime and controversy, the one getting caught out one time too many.

Mascherano was caught out daftly when he busted into Van der Sar and followed Vidic into the stands on his second yellow with just minutes remaining.

But Liverpool added salt onto United's wounds in the last seconds of the match, when a free Ngog calmly converted a Kuyt cross from another counter-attack break to make it 2-0, three points and three Premier League wins in a row for Liverpool against their arch-rivals.

United were poor, even with Rooney and Berbatov up front. Liverpool were brilliantly tight, physical and challenging from the back to the front. The Scousers created more and made Ferdinand and Vidic look like mediocre defenders who had too much on their plates to deal with.

It was a change of fortune to see Liverpool back on their feet and fighting, showing up their critics, skeptics and opponents and proving that no team is unbeatable.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua; Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun (Skrtel 92), Kuyt, Aurelio; Torres (Ngog 81). Bookings Mascherano 73, Carragher 87. Red Mascherano 95. Subs not used Cavalieri, Voronin, Babel, Spearing, Degen.

Man Utd Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Nani 74), Giggs; Berbatov (Owen 74) Rooney. Bookings Evra 15, Berbatov 37, Vidic 75. Red Vidic 90. Subs not used Foster, Neville, Anderson, Da Silva, Evans.

1st half stats

Liverpool-Man Utd

Attempts: 7-1

On target: 3-1

Offsides: 0-3

Corners: 3-0

Free kicks: 6-6

2nd half stats

Liverpool-Man Utd

Attempts: 5-5

On target: 2-2

Offsides: 1-0

Corners: 1-1

Free kicks: 4-12

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Premier League Tops and Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

This weekend once again saw twists and turns, delights and outrages, quality and embarrassments:

Top Game: Sunderland's win over Blackburn was the most contrasting result in relation to the actual match. How the ball did not end up in the net more than once for Blackburn and how they ended up on the losing side is inexplicable looking at the chances and dominance they had. They were on top and Sunderland struggling until the visitors fell asleep and gave away the match. Similar to Liverpool's defeat - just examples of when the scores do not reflect the match in the slightest. Seemed to be the theme of the week...

Top Team: Manchester United got back on track this week thumping Wigan. Arsenal served a quality match with plenty quality goals. And Burnley continued their high ride start to their Premier League campaign with a win against a struggling Everton side. But Blackburn and Wigan impressed me most. Both were on the losing side this week but created chance after chance and great entertainment and competitive football.

Top Player: Wayne Rooney scored his 100th and 101st goal for United, stealing the goals, match and show and making him the 21st centurian goal scorer for United. Michael Owen scored his first Premier League goal for the side, hoping to reach similar peaks as his Scouser colleague - which made me grin thinking back to the period he scored over a century of goals for their main rivals. How times have changed.

Top Goal: Carlton Cole's top-draw left-footed turn-strike for West Ham against Tottenham was a beauty. He created a lot of chances for his side, shame he also served Spurs one on a plate, giving the ball away to Jermain Defoe, who did not waste the present to equalise.

Top Save: Brad Friedel did a brilliant job for Aston Villa, making numerous stops and saves for his side. And if it were not for the saves Ben Foster made for Man Utd, the game could have developed very differently, the score not reflecting the threat Wigan were at times.

Flop Team: Liverpool created enough pressure from loads of possession but looked chaotic and clumsy at times, slipping up and losing the ball at crucial times. Man Utd did not look much better in the first half against Wigan, but certainly turned that around in the second half, making the defeat against Burnley fall into oblivion.

Flop Player: If Andriy Voronin or Ryan Babel were supposed to be match-saving subs and are the best Liverpool have on the bench, it indicates very much what they are lacking: resources, backup, alternatives. As I wrote in my season preview, they will need THAT player that can turn up when the team is disappointing and turn the game around. So far, not good and no one spotted.

Flop Goals: Lucas Leiva's own goal crowned and Steven Gerrard conceding a penalty just minutes after his side finally scored peaked the frustration and misery for Liverpool.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Arsenal 3:0 Portsmouth - 4:1

Birmingham 2:0 Stoke - 0:0

Hull City 0:0 Bolton - 1:0

Man City 2:0 Wolves - 1:0

Sunderland 0:1 Blackburn - 2:1

Wigan 1:3 Man Utd - 0:5

Burnley 2:0 Everton - 1:0

Fulham 1:1 Chelsea - 0:2

West Ham 1:3 Tottenham - 1:2

Liverpool 2:0 Aston Villa - 1:3

Michael Owen does it again

Sports - Football - Premier League - Michael Owen

I cannot stop thinking, he should not have left in the first place...

In 2004 Michael Owen left the club that established him as a world player to try his chances at Real Madrid. And failed - as I predicted the day he left. Not because I was holding sour grapes against him or anything like that, but because I stayed realistic and was not blinded by the flow of Galacticos cash.

He would have become a god at Liverpool - he was on his way, put it that way - just as worshiped and loved as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are now! Stevie G. had his flirts and episodes of distress - should I stay or should I go now - too. But he came to his sences in time and stayed where he belonged and look at him now, a god! What would Liverpool be without him - and vice versa? Just like the Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, et al.

Real Madrid have always been overcrowded with star players and I just knew Owen would not have much of a chance to become the same god there. No chance indeed, he had in the end.

Owen then tried his luck at Newcastle and was hit by one injury-curse after another. I saw it as his punishment for leaving Liverpool in the first place, not that I am biased or anything...

He then abandoned the sinking Tyne ship - after the club kept the faith in him and his paycheck flowing for four years, all for nothing in the end.

That is why I have always worshiped Alan Shearer. The top player, striker and scorer he always was, he never left for the cash. He stayed with his home team and is still fighting with and for them now. He deserves ten-times the respect and honor compared to the modern-day players and greats that just go there where the highest bid comes from.

So, to which club does the born Everton fan decide to go next? None other than Manchester United. Who can blaim him? Having won three titles in a row, nearly defended the European crown, too, I could go on and on listing the reasons, glories and past players' success-stories as good and more-than-plausible reasons why a player should join Man Utd to rekindle his written-off career.

I agree with Phil McNulty, it could not have been a better move for both Michael Owen and the proven genius Sir Alex Ferguson himself. Manchester United needed to strengthen their attack after losing their main player Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. Owen needs to put his career back on track, to get back into the England team, and only Hull and Stoke had made bids for him so far. Not good enough for the Scouser. The prior get what they need for hardly a penny - compared to the deals they are normally part of - and the latter gets what he needs, regardless of his past.

Paul Merson stayed more cautious with his assessment of the situation looking back at the player's injury-prone past. I think this move could be a master stroke for both sides. But on the other hand, I cannot stop shaking my head thinking of what could have been. If only he would have stayed in the first place, none of this long farce would have happened. But instead, he keeps on kicking everyone who had faith in him in the face, defiantly. He dare not do that to Fergie!

1996-2004 Liverpool: 297 games 158 goals (53.2% scoring rate)

2004-2005 Real Madrid: 40 games, 14 goals (35%)

2005-2009 Newcastle: 79 games, 30 goals (37.97%)

1996-2009 Overall: 416 games, 202 goals (48.56%)

Source: Own records and BBC article