Liverpool’s 3rd game in 6 games ended in a disappointing defeat to Man Utd in a game bereft of many chances for either side.
Fernando Torres’ 5th minute goal was cancelled out shortly after when Howard Webb awarded United a dubious spot kick. Reina’s save was pounced upon by Rooney who fired in the rebound. In the second half Park’s header settled the game, although Liverpool had two excellent chances to equalise late on.
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Since the last time United played the reds had dispatched Portsmouth in the Premier League before overturning a Europa League tie and moving in to the Quarter Finals. Maxi Rodriguez was the only change from the mid-week 3-0 win over Lille, returning to the side to replace Ryan Babel.
Within 5 minutes the reds were rewarded for their attacking intent when Kuyt raced to the touchline to send a perfectly weighted cross in for Fernando Torres to head home.
In the 12th minute, the controversial figure of Howard Webb left his first mark on the game. Mascherano appeared to tangle with Valencia outside the area, but decided to tumble once inside the area. The referee pointed to the post and handed a yellow card to the reds Argentine. From the spot kick Pepe Reina went the right way, but his save only pushed the ball back in to Rooney’s path who scored the equaliser.
Valencia was getting some joy out of the right wing, constantly testing Insua.
Liverpool’s attacks were brief, but when in play the reds were sending more men forward than has been seen on many occasions at Old Trafford.
The second half was devoid of much attacking intent as both midfielders cancelled each other out.
It was United who got the goal to break the deadlock when Valencia sent a cross for Park to head in.
The reds had chances late on but a couple of scuffed Torres chances and a weak Benayoun shot were easily dealt with.
Liverpool’s 3 match winning run over United ends and Liverpool and United settle for a win apiece in this season’s head to heads.
Our Man of the Match: Daniel Agger
Post Match Comments
Rafa Benitez
“It was a tight game and very close and we had a really good chance at the end for Fernando and Yossi,” Benitez told his post-match press conference.
“We are disappointed. We didn’t create too many chances but I felt we were always dangerous and in these games small details can make a big difference.
“We made a great start and Fernando scored a very good goal but I felt we conceded too early. The penalty was the turning point for them and it made a big difference.
“We were playing well and we had confidence and one situation changed everything. We are disappointed but you cannot change these things. Sometimes they go your way but this season more than we expected things have gone against us.
“From the bench I asked the TV people who told me the challenge was inside the box so it was a penalty. Watching the replay myself there is a lot of doubt in my mind. It’s not clear as there was some contact outside the box but it was disappointing.”
Man Utd dominated posession and had many chances where as other then the goal we only had one.Ever dependent on Torres and Gerrard to do everything from create too score we need to make major changes.
NO NO NO M8 WERE YOU WATCHING I hate it when people say that they dominated play when they didn’t ! at times and especially in the second half they had allot of possession but we had good spells and created just as much as they did in the entire game ! The difference 1 REFING MISTAKE OF A PENALTY and they took there other chance when it came along ( we didn’t !)
The penalty changed the game and if it had not have happened we would have gone on to win ! simple ! Yes we are ever dependent on Torres and Gerrard but tell me who has been scoring most of man u’s goals this season ? wayne rooney ! Every team has their dependencies were no different .
out; reira, babel, plessies, degen, el zhar and cavalerli gk, and darby, aurelio, benayoun
in come; david villa, dario srna, cambiasso, cissoko, turan, mata
reina
srna carragher agger cissoko
cambiasso mascherano turan
gerard
villa torres
subs/ others; mata,kuyt, skrtel, insua, johnson, aquilani, lucus, d.martin gk, maxi, kelly, greek, joanivic, ngog
Don’t agree with Benayoun or Darby but the others can go !!!
1, Can you tell me why the f.a and the premier league would make a team play 3 games in under 7 days?
2, Can you tell me why we had the ref giving a penalty that clearly was outside the box, again v ,man utd?
3, Can you tell me that always going into our best games we can not pick our best team, yet again v utd we have aquilani out because he was ill only 2 days ago, last year we beat them with out stevie and mostly torres, this year at home without gerrard we beat them.?
4, How on earth did the ref see fit to book 4 lfc players, for godsake, when nevilles challenge on maxi was a joke…
oh and buy the way we had 3 clear cut chances as the away team and so on another day it could have different, dont tell me that uts where.
…you could have written it and i think that the players knew that also as a few drifted out of the game after that.
I still think we did really well and created more than enough for a point in this game.
Our defending was lax for the ‘kim jong ill’ goal and should have dealt with the cross and marking and i felt insua gave allot away on the left ( his timing was off something that Hansen and some others have muted ) Gerrard didn’t do enough for me in a big game we needed his craft and he was found wanting (apart from the two torres chances) which has been the story of his season.
But when it’s all done and dusted we should have had a point from this but as this season has gone weve rarely got what we deserved . YNWA
…feel that this premier league is and always has been a joke to the extent u always know the money men will be up there when the chips fall and everyone else can fight it out ! ( you wouldn’t see united loosing to a deflected beach ball would you?! )
The penalty WAS A FREE KICK and both Valencia and Webb waited till he had gone down in the box which we all knew was coming, the linesman had clear site and Both he and Webb bottled the big decision and gave old trafford what they wanted which was a way back into a game that they didn’t look like creating.
The timing of that decision and the subsequent tap in after a brilliant Reina save demoralised us, slowed the game down and allowed united the time to find there rhythm and after that..
3 games in 6 days was a little too much for us. However I don’t think United deserved all 3 points.
The early penalty decision was key – reminded our lads that they were up against 12 men.
We’ve had a good run over the Mancs so this result should be taken in to context. Over our two games I’d say we got the better of them. Compare that to title chasing Arsenal who were taken apart by United.
I really feel that the ref changed the game in their favour yesterday , i know they took their chances and we didn’t ( Torres scoring one but missing another golden chance late on) but i think it’s all about timing with the goals in the first half.
Our goal was beautifully crafted and well worked and at that moment it was all us ( a high tempo start) and i really believed we would go on and score another goal and control the game after that.
But Howard Webb again proved he should not be allowed to ref big occasions because he is no way near the standard when a big decision comes calling. Every time i have seen this man bottle it or act suspiciously in the sense he is not being fair and hes not the only one in the league which makes me..
United was the better team but we had our chances to win the damn game. We are completely missing that “it” feeling this season.
Rafa been given such a pass by our own fans is a joke
We have been completely unprepared for games that we had a great chance to get points