Liverpool crush United at Old Trafford

Sports - Football - Premier League - Man United 0-3 Liverpool 

Liverpool closed the gap on league leaders Chelsea to four points with a game in hand after comprehensively beating Manchester United 0-3 at Old Trafford. 

Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice from the spot before seeing rival skipper Nemanja Vidic sent off and missing the resulting penalty and chance for a hat-trick. 

None other than Luis Suarez made it three, scoring his 25th Premier League goal of the season and condemning the Red Devils to their 9th defeat of the season. 

Brendan Rodgers' men took charge from the start, if not in possession, but creating and putting on more pressure, pressing and pushing, not letting United settle. 

The home side got more and more frustrated and saw defender Rafael's name first in the book for felling down Gerrard. 

The Brazilian conceded the first penalty moments later with a clumsy handball, which Gerrard made no mistake of, sending David De Gea the wrong way, to net it on the right and make it 0-1 after 34 minutes. 

It was the first time United have conceded a penalty at Old Trafford since December 2011. 

The goal woke up the home side and the game jumped up a gear, Gerrard seeing yellow for leading with his elbow on Marouane Fellaini, who had to be treated as United finally came out more on attack. 

Wayne Rooney saw his double-strike stopped just before the break, thanks to one great save by Simon Mignolet and one strong, quick block by Jon Flanagan, but the Reds kept and took the lead into the break. 

Whatever David Moyes said to his side during the interval, it didn't work, or backfired even, as 24 seconds into the second half, Phil Jones pushed and brought down Joe Allen in the box to concede the second penalty. 

The Scouse skipper netted to the right again, with fine accuracy and pace, to make it 0-2. Liverpool's tails were up after that and the visitors pushed and pressed for more. 

That didn't put off United though, Rooney and Vidic were both on referee Mark Clattenburg's case after they felt they were both fouled whilst creating chances, pushed by Martin Skrtel in the prior, and punched and clattered by Mignolet and Daniel Agger respectively in the latter case, but play continued despite all. 

One way or the other, it wasn't happening for United and Moyes made a double-change with 15 minutes remaining. Seconds later, it went from bad to worse for the hosts, Vidic saw red, receiving a second yellow for what was harshly deemed a foul on Daniel Sturridge in the box, a soft penalty to concede. 

But it was not going to be a penalty-hat-trick for man-of-the-match Gerrard, as he sent De Gea the wrong way, again, but was denied by the left post. 

The home fans felt justice was done with the miss, but on the other hand, Rafael was lucky not to be given a second yellow, as he got away with some rash challenges on more than one occasion, after already being booked and warned.

A certain Uruguayan then got into the mix, and after pulling a great save out off De Gea, Suarez broke clear in the box off a deflected Sturridge shot/cross/pass and netted his 25th Premier League goal of the season, to make it 0-3 and seal Liverpool's first win at Old Trafford since the unforgettable 1-4 thrash in 2009. 

It could have been worse for United- although they won't see it that way, recording their 5th home defeat and 21 points dropped at home this season. The Red Devils have not lost more than nine games in Premier League history. This ninth defeat leaves Moyes' men on 48 points in seventh, 12 points behind rivals City in the 4th and last Champions League spot and 18 points off the top. 

Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool 

Liverpool Goals: 1. & 2.: 34th & 47th min Steven Gerrard (8) penalties, 3.: 83:28 min Luis Suarez (7).

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 38 Flanagan (booked- 31st min), 5 Agger, 37 Skrtel (booked- 54th min), 2 Johnson; 24 Allen, 8 Gerrard (booked- 37th min) (21 Lucas- 87th min), 14 Henderson; 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (booked- 84th min) (9 Aspas- 91st min), 31 Sterling (10 Coutinho- 72nd min). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 12 Moses, 17 Sakho, 20 Cissokho.

Man United Team: 1 De Gea; 3 Evra, 15 Vidic (booked- 71st min, sent off- 77th min), 4 Jones, 2 Rafael (booked- 32nd min); 16 Carrick, 31 Fellaini (23 Cleverly- 75th min); 44 Januzaj (19 Welbeck- 75th min), 10 Rooney, 8 Mata (5 Ferdinand- 87th min); 20 van Persie. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Lindegaard, 18 Young, 25 Valencia, 26 Kagawa.

Match Stats: 1st & 2nd half: Man United-Liverpool
Attempts: 6-6 & 7-11
On target: 1-3 & 0-4
Offsides: 1-1 & 2-1
Corners: 1-2 & 2-2
Free kicks: 6-6 & 6-7
Possession: HT: 51%-49%, FT 48%-52%

For full Opta Match Stats just click here!

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 75,225
Man of the match: Steven Gerrard

United beat Liverpool resistance at Old Trafford

Sports - Football - Premier League - Man United 2:1 Liverpool

Manchester United held on to their 2-1 lead against bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, the win keeping Sir Alex Ferguson's men ten points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table.

 

Liverpool showed much more spirit in the second half after a disappointing start to the game. Robin van Persie put the home side ahead comfortably after 19 minutes and could have added another goal to his United account before half time but slashed the chance high.

The visitors created no real threat, lacking in the final third and looking too careful at times, leaving United in total control.

The game looked all over when Patrice Evra's header off RVP's free kick deflected in off Nemanja Vidic thanks to some sloppy defending to make it 2-0 early on in the second half.

But Brendan Rodgers' changes soon payed off when a couple of minutes later Steven Gerrard saw his shot saved by David De Gea for Daniel Sturridge to net the rebound, scoring his first Premier League goal on his league debut for the Merseysiders to start the fight back for Liverpool at 2-1.

Sturridge and Luis Suarez created much more of a threat together with some fine one-twos and close shaves, the prior hitting one chance into the side-netting, the latter heading another into De Gea's gloves.

This was the seventh defeat of the season for Liverpool and saw them stay in eighth place, two points behind West Brom in seventh and nine points behind Tottenham in fourth, the last Champions League qualification spot.

United will be chuffed to bits after doing the double over their rivals and staying way ahead of their local rivals in the process too. But just like after the reverse fixture defeat, the Reds can take a lot from the game, no points, but a lot of heart and spirit (in the second half) and with it hope. Hope that the January transfer window can back them up and finally solidify their fine interplays and displays with more players, especially in the final third, and get them more goals, results and points.


Man United Goals: 1.: 18:16 min RVP (20), 2.: 53:36 min Nemanja Vidic (15).

Liverpool Goal: 1.: 56:50 min Daniel Sturridge (15).

Man United: 1 De Gea; 3 Evra (booked 73), 15 Vidic (12 Smalling 79), 5 Ferdinand, 2 Da Silva; 26 Kagawa (4 Jones 77), 23 Cleverley, 16 Carrick, 18 Young (7 Valencia HT); 20 RVP, 19 Welbeck. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 40 Amos, 8 Anderson, 11 Giggs, 14 Hernandez.

LFC: 25 Reina; 2 Johnson (booked 76), 5 Agger (booked 94), 37 Skrtel (booked 53), 47 Wisdom; 21 Lucas (booked 45+4, 15 Sturridge HT), 24 Allen (14 Henderson 80), 8 Gerrard; 31 Sterling (29 Borini 62); 7 Suarez, 19 Downing. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 23 Carragher, 33 Shelvey, 49 Robinson.

1st & 2nd half Stats: UTD-LFC
Attempts: 5-1 & 7-8
On target: 2-0 & 4-3
Offsides: 0-0 & 1-1
Corners: 1-1 & 2-0
Free kicks: 6-7 & 11-7
Possession:
57%-43% (15.min)
52.4%-47.6% (HT)
48%- 52% (2nd half - 69.min)
30%-70% (82.-87.min)
46%-54% (FT)
Action Areas:
UTD 10%-65%-25% LFC (27.min)
Passes: 404-487
Pass Success:
86%-81.74% (HT)
82%-85.01% (FT)
Shot Accuracy: 50%-30%
Crosses: 15-11
Cross Accuracy: 26.7%-0%
Tackles: 25-31
Tackles won: 60%-83.9%

Referee: Howard Webb
MOTM: Danny Welbeck

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