Match Review: Manchester United v Liverpool
21. Mar, 2010
3 Comments
What a really superb day! It’s difficult to describe the feelings I felt at hearing the final whistle. Chelsea drawing with Blackburn was really the cherry on top of the cake.
Today’s game wasn’t the greatest; the quality of football was okish – nothing outstanding. It’s no surprise really, Manchester United v Liverpool games are all out about intensity, no quarter given, no quarter asked.
Before discussing the match action I’d like to point out the performance of one man – Nemanja Vidic. Probably not his best performance in a United shirt but a great performance considering his well documented history against Torres. Hopefully this will ease the psychological edge Torres has/had over Vidic.
To the match itself, Liverpool started brightly with Torres scoring within the first five minutes. To be fair (can’t believe I’ve just said to “to be fair” when Liverpool are involved), their goal was a good well taken goal. A decent move which started at the halfway line after Michael Carrick lost possession of the ball. Gerrard then burst past Rio Ferdinand as if Rio wasn’t there (which set alarm bells ringing but I shouldn’t have been concerned as Gerrard was virtually invisible for the remainder of the match) laid the ball on for Kuyt to cross for Torres to head in.
The debateable decision – Was it a penalty? I think it was a penalty, just. Did Mascherano deserve a red card? Not for me, I disagree with Sir Alex Ferguson in this instance.
I couldn’t watch the penalty, I had to wait and hopefully hear the cheer from our fans. With my head down I waited expectantly… there was a momentary sigh and I thought “oh no” then next I heard a massive eruption. Yep, we all know Rooney initially had his penalty saved but thankfully for all the worldwide Manchester United fans he scored from the rebound.
Torres’ behaviour before the penalty was disgraceful. I hope the referee didn’t see the incident so the FA can use retrospective evidence to ban Torres. I won’t hold my breath though… (My tongue is firmly in my cheek if there are any Liverpool fans reading this).
The match was fairly even during the first half. Our passing from central midfield was poor at times so we lacked any attacking thrust. The second half we were much better, we controlled the game and were on the front foot for much of the second half until the final 5-10 minutes when Liverpool obviously had to come out and attack… I could feel my heart rapidly beating during those for final ten minutes – not good! 
Rooney had a quiet first half but was much better in the second half; he held the ball up superbly at times giving United a target to hit the ball long allowing the defence a breather. However, I felt Rooney’s decision making in terms of shooting or passing in front of goal was unusually poor for him today. Martin Tyler made comment suggesting Rooney trying to do everything himself, which may have been true… I’m probably being over-critical? As per usual though Rooney never stopped running and gave everything for the cause.
The winning goal was brave and showed the committed side of Ji-Sung Park. Park had an okish game, but felt he was brushed off the ball too easily at times and apparently was about to be substituted before he scored. The goal was a good team move involving Gary Neville, Darren Fletcher and obviously Park. On the right flank, Neville over-lapped Fletcher drawing the attentions of Insua, which allowed time and space for Fletcher to deliver a high quality cross for Park to bravely score a diving heading with boots flying around his head.
I can’t believe there are still people that rubbish Darren Fletcher. He was outstanding in the second half.
Torres had a great opportunity in the final minutes of the match but ballooned his chance. The ball seemed to take a bobble from the previously self scuffed penalty spot which resulted in the ball taking an unusual bounce. Justice! Yep, justice Fernando!
I’ve found the words to describe my feelings on hearing the final whistle –ecstatic and relieved is a fairly good description. Great stuff!
Next stop – Bolton away.
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it’s now ours too lose,which with the utd mentality is better,torres got hot under the collar on a few occasions,(especially off the ball) but that was one big hurdle over.fletch was superb as was neville,(organisation was great)but not a great match overhaul i think it was a game too far for the scousers,but a fair result that even the scousers couldn’t argue with…as for park, well when will his batteries ever run down.
felt for rooney to-day,i felt it was a game crying out for berbatov and still felt it after the game…we needed his vision and passing , i personally think he’s the main part of the triangle with valencia and rooney,and those three are very effective for utd.
great result