Liverpool finally got the victory deserved as they came from behind to take all three points from today’s first clash.
Liverpool have been woeful this season despite still picking up the points – with Gerrard and Torres only making the bench – Liverpool fans had reason to be fearful.
Four minutes in, these thoughts became reality, when Liverpool failed to defend properly and Tevez scored from a Berbatov cut-back.
But Liverpool, even without Torres and Gerrard, turned the match around (and their performances so far this season) and the pressure told when a cross came in that Van der Saar came to collect. Riera, who had a fantastic debut, put pressure on the keeper who could only parry to Wes Brown who scored an own goal.
Liverpool continued to push, and as the second half began Liverpool were the only team looking to win the game. Riera continued to trick his way past the United defence with Kuyt and Keane guilty of wasting chances.
Eventually Gerrard arrived, although his first contribution was to nearly hand a goal to United after a clumsy back-pass. Minutes later Ryan Babel, the reds new supersub arrived on to replace Riera, and as Liverpool pressure continued eventually United cracked. Kuyt snapped the ball away from Ryan Giggs and passed to Babel who applied the finish.
Liverpool should have had a third, with United receiving a couple of yellow cards when Liverpool players were nearly clear through on goal. It was only a matter of time before somebody got a second yellow, and Vidic was the recipient after clattering Alonso to the ground.
Rafa Benitez gets his first league win against United, despite many deserved attempts in the past.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Riera (Babel 72), Mascherano (Hyypia 87), Alonso, Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Kuyt, Keane
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, N’Gog, Torres
Goals: own goal (26), Babel (77)
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young (Milner 64), Laursen, Davies, Shorey (Gardner 79), Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Salifou, Routledge.
Goals: Tevez (4)
ManU only depending on C.Ronaldo to win. So sad…
never mind the mancs f**k them scouse all the way no19 on the way rafa u genuis hail hail rafas here and so r dic get ut yanks and that twat parry with you
masch ur a legend my friend a pure football terrier the mancs shit themselves u could see it on them white shorts
Oh the joy of seeing the angry on the red nosed one’s face. Happy days
we would have score mor goals 3or4 but now it is important that we won man u i enjoy so much when i saw fergusen s fece after our victory i heard that maybe Alonso leave us please Rafa dont do that stay with us Xabi!
And i wish the better days & more victories 4 u MY DEAR LIVERPOOL
well done lads!!!
lets build from this win,and not do what we did last season (beat Derby 6-0,then rest players and draw 0-0 with Blues),3pts v Stoke,and move on from there
Absolutely delighted with the way Liverpool fought back from the early goal against them. They showed real fighting qualities without their 2 star players, and really shoud have won by more but for the lack of finishing. Robbie keane worked his socks off all afternoon, chasing and harrying and the team never let Utd settle. Quite impressed with the debut of Riera, he gave us alot more options on that left. What we must realise now however, that this result will mean absolutely nothing unless we can play to the same standard again next weekend. We could go top on points with Chelsea taking on Utd. Keep it up lads, a massive improvement on the previous 3 premiership games.
Man Utd got owned today by a Liverpool side who played attacking football!.We snapped at their heels all afternoon and looked the side that wanted it more.What’s even more pleasing is that we won without Torres and even Gerrard for most of the match nevertheless Kuyt’s inability in front of goal is giving me increasing reason for concern.
True that the Mancs seemed somewhat out of form but that is because we didn’t allow them any time on the ball so credit goes to our boys.Riera seems to be a good buy who in my opinion should be a regular but i still want the Americans out ASAP!.Now let’s do the business in the Champions League…
Walk on…….
LFC deserves it as they never win againts the United…..ALL HAIL LFC!!!!!
Job well done.
kudos to rafa and the players.
hope we perform like this throughout the season.
yeh get ye dic in then we will win
What a storming comeback! Alonso, Masch, Skrtel and Riera were all superb today. If kuyt’s ball control and finishing were a little better we would have won by more.
Two mistakes caused MU defeat at Anfield.All because of the senior players are not capable to cope in todays game of very fast pace and quick thinking.Senior players should be dropped and players with slow pace John Oshea. Its time to give the youngsters their chance to be in the first team and build up from there on.They are Da Silva, Posebon and Manuchi who are capable to cope up with pace.Patrice Evera and Vidic are rusty and should be replaced by these youngsters when the chips are down and Brown too.Urgently in need of a world class right back this coming January.
All we need now is those 2 yanks out taking Parry with them and DIC in. The perfect end to a perfect season.
Liverpool beat manure and will be crowned 19 times champions.
You wait and see