Two strong teams lined up in a game neither could afford to
lose and it was Sir Alex who came out on top with his blend of youth,
intelligence, experience and hard work.
In a game that started under an Evra/Suarez black fog and a
lacking an ‘all clear’ handshake there was little animosity on the pitch and a
sense of purpose from both teams.
Liverpool started the brightest and immediately pushed
forward with Suarez and Kuyt running the channels well; unfortunately they were
met by a staunch United defence and excellent tracking back from United’s attacking
players who as soon as the game settled made both Liverpool strikers took fairly
anonymous.
Wayne Rooney’s two goals in 3 minutes exemplified United’s
killed instinct but the work of two of his teammates allowed move after move to
find its way into the Liverpool half and Sky’s Man of the Match
Rooney to play
the game at his tempo.
Paul Scholes played a neat passing game that allowed a
hardworking attacking outfit in front of him time and more importantly space to
get onto the ball; a lesson for any central midfielder Scholes used his
teammates to great effect and rarely misplaced a pass, or relied on the killer
balls to get a move going. His body shape and control on the ball was only
matched by Rooney who was devastating in all parts of the pitch and had
Liverpool players scrambling.
The quality on show from both players only materialised
because of their target man, channel running lone forward Welbeck who played magnificently
and worked tirelessly to get himself all over the park, especially in the first
half. In their own half Welbeck put Liverpool under huge amounts of pressure and
allowed Giggs and Valencia to take their defensive duties seriously and time to
get into attack.
This all amounted to a fairly average and stagnant
performance from Liverpool who defended in numbers and failed to push United
back until they changed to 442. Suarez looked full of purpose but he found it
difficult to get any extra time on the ball and wasn’t helped by a slow passing
midfield and dropping Gerrard.
Wayne Rooney who should have had a hat trick continually
tested Liverpool in midfield and attack and looked comfortable with Scholes
behind him and Valencia racing up in support. His first goal on 47mins typified
his ability and Liverpool’s frailty, as a corner missed by everyone dropped to
his right boot and allowed him to volley the ball past Reina with Johnson
left stranded by Rooney's movement..
In the 50th minute Rooney struck again as he was
found by a fantastic Valencia who deftly played a ball into Rooney’s path
allowing him to slide the ball in-between Reina’s legs. It typified United
today who won many 50/50 balls and pressurised Liverpool in every part of the
pitch.
On 80 minutes a Charlie Adam ball into the
box and a mistake from Ferdinand, who was caught out by the flight of the ball,
dropped to Suarez who duly tucked the ball past de Gea. Adam who came on with
15minutes to go allowed Liverpool a little more room and a better shape to
force United back but ultimately the goal came out of nowhere and Liverpool did
little to trouble United after that.
A well deserved victory for United that puts them top
overnight and leaves Liverpool tittering on the edge of mediocrity.
Though United deserved the victory the game will be
overshadowed by two tunnel incidences, a lack of handshake from Suarez (though
Evra enjoyed the pantomime of it all), Ferdinand sticking up for this left back
with the same gesture to Suarez, a foolish celebration and two passionate
interviews from the opposing managers.
On the pitch the match was without incident and at the end
of the day that was what mattered.
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