Manchester United 1 - 4 Liverpool
Updated: March 14, 2009, 3:01 PM UK
Benitez's men back in the raceRafael Benitez might end up having the last laugh after all as his
Liverpool side hauled themselves back into the title fight with a
decisive 4-1 hammering of 10-man Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Merseyside giants battled back from a goal down to defeat the
Premier League leaders in clinical fashion, Fernando Torres and
Steven Gerrard turning the match on its head before the break, with
Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena easing Liverpool well clear before
the end.In contrast, it was an day to forget for Nemanja Vidic, who
gifted Torres the equaliser before being sent off against Liverpool for
second time this season as Benitez's side reduced United's lead at the
top to four points, albeit having played a game more.It represented
Liverpool's biggest win at United since 1936 and could yet trigger an
amazing championship revival.Liverpool were the ones who needed
the win and there appeared an extra sharpness about them from the
start, especially Torres who gave the Red Devils defence a torrid
time.Once Jamie Carragher had recovered his composure after being
unsettled by a late switch to right-back because of Alvaro Arbeloa's
late withdrawal, they had the edge in vital areas, the hosts no better
than their nervy first-half display against Inter Milan in midweek.
Indeed, it was a surprise when United went ahead.Pepe Reina read
Carlos Tevez's through ball for Park Ji-sung well enough but came out
too quickly for his own good. When the South Korean nicked the
ball away, the Liverpool keeper could not stop.And though Reina
pleaded for leniency, referee Alan Wiley correctly pointed to the
spot.Ronaldo is not the type of player to waste such opportunities
and duly dispatched his 17th goal of the season. Had Sir Alex
Ferguson's men been able to hold their advantage for a decent
length of time, the visitors might have panicked. But five minutes
later Liverpool were level thanks to a rare mistake from Nemanja
Vidic. The Serbian has been virtually foot perfect this season, so
much so that he is favourite to win the PFA player of the year
award.But first Vidic let Martin Skrtel's long punt forward bounce
when he could have headed it back into the Liverpool half quite
easily. Then, he failed to deal with the loose ball, allowing Torres to
nip in and streak clear, beating Edwin van der Sar with clinical
efficiency.
Conceding one goal was amazing enough for the Red Devils,
yet before half-time Liverpool had scored again.Hull were the last
team to score more than once against United in Premier League
combat - and that was four-and-a-half months ago.But when
Torres tried to send Gerrard racing into the box and Patrice Evra
mis-timed his tackle, the Liverpool skipper found he converted his
penalty with the same confidence Ronaldo had shown earlier.Gerrard's
glee was obvious. And Liverpool's lead was fully deserved,
condemning Ferguson to his first interval rallying call in league combat
at Old Trafford all season.The Scot injected a greater sense of
urgency into his team, even if there was no improvement in their
retention of the ball.Carrick in particular was having a pretty bad day,
twice putting his side in danger with wayward passes. United
at least managed to generate some momentum, with Tevez almost
getting on the end of a Wayne Rooney knock-back and then rolling a
shot on the turn just wide.Having expressed his `hatred' of Liverpool
earlier in the week, the last thing Rooney wanted was to suffer an
immediate defeat and a chance for Gerrard - a long-time friend - to
gloat.
Yet as time ticked by, that was the fate Rooney was
condemned to, especially as Ferguson waited until less than 20
minutes remained before he made the introductions of Dimitar
Berbatov, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.It is the kind of strength
Benitez does not have and one of the major reasons why Liverpool
have found themselves on the wrong end of a 14-point swing in
fortunes since United returned from their Club World Cup campaign in
Japan just before Christmas.What Liverpool have managed to do this
season is beat Chelsea and United, against both of whom they have
now registered 'doubles'.Any hope United had, evaporated within a
minute of Ferguson's spectacular triple substitution as another woeful
first touch, again from Vidic, left the Serbian little alternative other
than to haul down Gerrard.For the second successive game against
Liverpool, it brought Vidic a red card and he was still making his way
down the tunnel when Aurelio curled home a superb free-kick.And
Liverpool were not finished as Andrea Dossena lobbed Van der Sar to
complete a memorable win, whose significance remains unknown.
Subject: Manchester United 1 - 4 Liverpool 
15/3/2009, 1:11 am
Hidupkan Martabat Sioloon Fc 
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