Liverpool beat Man U 2-0
Liverpool lifted the gloom hanging over their season with a 2-0 victory over Premier League champions and fierce rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
Fernando Torres held off Rio Ferdinand to lash Liverpool in front after 65 minutes and David Ngog added a second goal in stoppage time to spark celebrations at Anfield after four consecutive defeats.
The deserved victory revived the home team's hopes of a title challenge, taking them to 18 points from 10 games, four behind United and six behind leaders Chelsea who went top on Saturday courtesy of a 5-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers.
The mood at Anfield was lightened further with the news that city rivals Everton had lost 3-2 at Bolton Wanderers in one of the day's other fixtures that included Manchester City against Fulham and Arsenal at West Ham United.
A typically rumbustious match ended with only 20 players on the pitch after United's Serbian central defender Nemanja Vidic and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano were shown red cards in the frenetic closing stages.
Vidic, who was dismissed for hauling down Dirk Kuyt on the halfway line, was also sent off in both United's league defeats by Liverpool last season.
"It was a massive win for us," Torres told Sky Sports. "We needed to win to stay in the title race," added the Spain striker who played with a painkilling injection in a groin injury and was substituted after his goal.
TACTICAL BATTLE
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez came under mounting criticism after league defeats by Chelsea and Sunderland were sandwiched in between Champions League defeats by Fiorentina and Olympique Lyon but he won the tactical battle against old adversary Alex Ferguson.
United fans predictably released several beach balls before kickoff, a reminder of the freak goal that beat Liverpool at Sunderland last week, but they had little else to laugh about as their side were outplayed.
Liverpool dominated the first half with Fabio Aurelio's free kick being clawed away by Edwin van der Sar who also saved well from Kuyt.
Dutch workhorse Kuyt should have put Liverpool in front but wasted another good chance.
Wayne Rooney's header which brought a save from Pepe Reina was all United had to show for their first half efforts.
Liverpool continued to play the better football after the break and made the breakthrough midway through the half.
Yossi Benayoun played a perfect pass to Torres who outmuscled Ferdinand before sending a shot past Van der Sar in to the roof of the net.
Michael Owen was booed on his return to Anfield when he came on as a United substitute for the disappointing Dimitar Berbatov.
Owen was then hauled down by Jamie Carragher, with the Liverpool defender lucky to stay on, before Vidic got his marching orders.
Mascherano was shown a second yellow card for a wild lunge on Van der Sar before Ngog ended United's hopes of salvaging a point when he kept his nerve to slot the ball past Van der Sar.
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Charles Micallef
Oct 26th 2009, 14:03
@ Kevin Sammut,
I am so proud of you, that you have now changed your ways and please to note that you have grown a sense of humour !
I have not laughed so much for a long number of years or at least not since the last time that the two owners of Anfield fell out........... for the umpteen times.......... let alone the number of times that Benitez's Head was on the chopping block........can just imagine the scenario..
Tales of Two Cities re-enacted at Anfield!
Kevin Sammut
Oct 26th 2009, 12:45
@ joe borg
it's a fact now
you are a sore loser just like "sir" fergie is. Atleast the Micallef sisters, louis and charles although found it hard to admit that their beloved team were second best, found some humour in their pathetic performance.All the top teams play to win trophies.
Charles Micallef
Oct 26th 2009, 12:23
Manchester United must be the envy of all football teams worldwide which is why every other club wants to beat it.............
Football is all about winning trophys and not just beating MU.................!
SHALL WE WAIT TO THE END OS THE SEASON AND LET
MU do the talking as they do year after year !
Norbert Bugeja
Oct 26th 2009, 12:15
@Louis Schembri
Can he really complain that he didn't have a spending budget???????
incredible but true he spent £229 Million.....and NEVER WON THE PREMIERSHIP
Spending money yes but not so wisely :)
joe borg
Oct 26th 2009, 11:02
its a fact now.....
liverpool priorities are to win against man.united ! ( same as the likes of fulham , hull etc)
man united priorities are to win trophies !
Louis Schembri
Oct 26th 2009, 09:58
@Emanuel Apap
Consistency wins you leagues and not victories over Man United, as amply proven in last season's campaign Despite yesterday's quasi-deserved victory, Lliverpool under Benitez remain an enigma and a disjointed club with meagre finances and a very fragile administration. Already halfway out of Europe and with a dubious chance of making the top four this season, they surely need some solid cash investment as otherwise they will end up depending solely on wins over Man United to lift their morale.
Emanuel Apap
Oct 26th 2009, 08:05
@ the Micallef twins
Sorry guys but your Man.Utd were out played and out classed and even Alex Furguson had the guts to admit it..........so why dont you. The win was gonna come one day and it just that more sweet to have come against Man Utd.
Liverpool 4ever
Norbert Bugeja
Oct 26th 2009, 08:02
when you see the match official's decisions the clear cut penalty on carrick not given the evra booking for Torres clipping his own heels the red card which was not given for a professional foul on Owen......these things hindered but....... we did not create enough to win this game.....we are still 4 points above Liverpool unfortunatly 2 under Chelsea ..... we are still in October ....and the season ends in May
and MAN UNITED WILL NEVER DIE
LZammit
Oct 26th 2009, 07:55
Am not at all surprised by Liverpool's victory over ManUtd. That has become a standing order in the British Premier League!
Tim Ripard
Oct 25th 2009, 22:57
No one can deny Liverpool deserved to win but they were lucky that the referee and his assistant failed to see the clear penalty on Carrick and failed to give Carragher the required red card. Otherwise, despite their superiority on the pitch I doubt if they would have won. They were better and they were lucky when they needed it. I don't think they will mount a serious title challenge, however. They limit their good performances to beating Manchester United but are otherwise inconsistent. They'll soon equal United's 26 year wait for a title and with their internal political problems and lack of cash it's highly unlikely they'll win 11 out of 17 when do do finally manage to win one. By the way - Liverpool were runners up 12 times to United's 13, making United the most successful club in the English league's top division - bar none.
J Bajada
Oct 25th 2009, 22:15
Man Utd didn't deserve to win today. that's a fact. however, i don't think the referee was able to control the match in the best way. it was his first game he controlled between 2 of the top teams, and i don't think he passed the test. needless yellow cards shown, wrong decisions in many situations...no wonder he ended up being surrounded by both sets of players at half time.
this season is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable of the last few years. teams are struggling to get a good run of results. i believe this one will really go down to the wire, and it might be that more than 2 teams are competing for the top spot come April.
Brian Green
Oct 25th 2009, 20:36
@ Philip Marlowe - I am very proud to be a Man Utd fan. That does not mean that I do not have to admit that we deserved to lose. Even, Sir Alex admitted. Be a sport !
Philip Marlowe
Oct 25th 2009, 20:10
@ Brian Green and Andrew J. Smith i can tell that both of you are Maltese Liverpool supporters. Could have been 3 or 4 you say? Ha ha. Did you watch the game?!
Mario Aquilina
Oct 25th 2009, 19:57
"Liverpool were the better team and deserved to win the game today." Sir Alex Ferguson. If even such a notoriously bad loser like him can say that, I wonder what kind of fans Louis Micallef and Charles Micallef are. Liverpool showed determination, character, team spirit and class today. They got what they deserved, that is, their third win over Manchester United in a row.
Brian Green
Oct 25th 2009, 19:28
I'm from Manchester, and also a big fan. But today I have to admit : HATS OFF, LIVERPOOL. WELL DONE. YOU REALLY DESERVED IT.
Andrew J. Smith
Oct 25th 2009, 18:56
I am a big Man Utd fan. Come on guys, let's face it. LIVERPOOL deserved the win, and it could have been 3 or 4 nil. WELL DONE REDS, that is being fair.
Peter Gatt
Oct 25th 2009, 18:52
@ Leslie Bates, Louis Micallef and their likes : of course when Manchester lose, it is because they let the other team win. Very nice people, with Ferguson on top !
David Cockcroft
Oct 25th 2009, 18:50
Great result - Title race is blown wide open yet again! http://sportales.com/soccer/we-hate-manchester-united-should-we/
Leslie Bates
Oct 25th 2009, 18:14
Rejoice all ye Liverpool fans because the club and especially Rafa have given a reprieve and can start hoping again. But as somebody else said, it was very sporting of Man United to let them win this game.
Kevin Sammut
Oct 25th 2009, 18:03
Yes a big thank you to man utd for playing like crap. Hopefully they keep on playing like they did today. I also admire Charles and Louis for showing good humour in their comments. The game was a midfield battle with a few chances.Liverpool 's defence was for once pretty solid and gave no space . I think the referee was right not to send off Carra , lets face it he did Owen a favour when he stopped him , he would have probably pulled a muscle by the time he reached the ball.
Joe Boswell
Oct 25th 2009, 17:42
Victory is sweet - what class and fighting spirit to beat the mancs after receiving all the uncalled for, senseless criticism. May I remind readers that Liverpool stormed to victory without influential Stevie G. And how typical of Vidic - Fergie should think twice before opting for Vidic against the pool!
Charles Micallef
Oct 25th 2009, 17:24
Good points Louis Micallef
MU felt sorry for Liverpool and decided to sacrifice this match !
Louis Micallef
Oct 25th 2009, 17:15
It was sublime of Man United to let Liverpool win this game. The win saved Liverpool's season and certainly Rafa Benitez's career at the club. At the same time United stay 4 points ahead of Liverpool and just under Chelsea in second place.