Liverpool FC 2 – Manchester United 0
Liverpool fought for their manager Rafa Benitez at Anfield yesterday and secured the result they so richly deserved.
Not until the team were on the bus en route to the stadium did Benitez decide to risk Torres for this match, and how relieved he must be that he made that call. No other striker in Liverpool's squad would have scored the 64th-minute goal that ignited this contest.
No other striker would have possessed the speed, strength, composure and skill first to hold off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand and then to unleash the shot that flew beyond the reach of Edwin van der Sar and into the roof of the United net.
It was a wonderful example of why Torres is among the finest forwards in the world, and all the more remarkable for the fact that the Spaniard was not even fit. Not only had he hardly trained but he needed a painkilling injection just to get on the field.
His goal amounted to an adrenaline shot for Liverpool; a goal that revitalised a team who appeared to be on their knees after four straight defeats, and a goal that shifted the focus away from Anfield and back to Old Trafford.
To the game and the first fifteen minutes were solid if unspectacular. However, our grip on the game slowly tightened. Aurelio’s free kick, after Torres had been felled by Evra, should have resulted in the first goal however a combination of excellent saves by Van der Sar, from the kick and then Kuyt, prevented this. Later Lucas picked Scholes’ pocket and released Kuyt who somehow managed to ensure that his pass became lodged under his feet. The resulting effort to remove the ball and shape the shot gave Vidic enough time to put him off and he fired wide. No disrespect to Kuyt but one couldn’t help wondering what the result would have been had Torres been presented with both chances.
As the first half progressed the defence, who appear to be constantly under the microscope these days, became more and more solid. True Rooney had a header from a move which showed what they were capable of and this was also a prelude to a good spell by the visitors however, this time Carragher, leading by example, marshalled his men brilliantly.
In the second half one feared a repeat of Tuesday where the opposition came out regalvanised. However, we continued to build. Although we had missed two good chances one felt there would always be more. Aurelio’s header missed from Benayoun’s cross. It was the Brazilians second point blank header of the week however he made a better job of it this time and only Van der Sar’s excellent anticipation prevented us taking the lead. Benayoun then fed Kuyt who squared into a sea of Manchester defenders when he should have had a shot. Despite all this ominously Torres had been quiet with Kuyt having all the opportunities so far.
In the 64th minute Benayoun’s through ball was collected by the Spaniard who timed his run perfectly to beat the off side trap. Ferdinand foolishly tried to match Torres for pace and shepherd him wide. Torres was simply too quick for him and smashed the ball over a kneeling and flailing Van De Sar into the roof of the net.
After that the rest of the game was enacted out as one might expect. Owen came on to boos. Valencia hit the bar after Owen had tussled with his best mate.
The last five minutes of injury time were agony as both sides let skill and organisation slide and traded increasingly desperate punts, tackles and clearances. Things deservedly fell our way on the break as Lucas freed Ngog who slid the ball home.
Sir Alex Ferguson was surprisingly magnanimous in defeat. He took a swipe at the referee, suggesting Andre Marriner cracked under the pressure of an Anfield crowd who, predictably, gave Michael Owen and Gary Neville a rather hostile reception.
But United's manager recognised how inferior his side were to Liverpool on this occasion and he accepted how important it is that the champions now respond accordingly. Their actions in a frantic final few minutes highlighted how much a third consecutive defeat to Liverpool hurt United.
Liverpool fought for their manager Rafa Benitez at Anfield yesterday and secured the result they so richly deserved.Not until the team were on the bus en route to the stadium did Benitez decide to risk Torres for this match, and how relieved he must be that he made that call. No other striker in Liverpool's squad would have scored the 64th-minute goal that ignited this contest.
No other striker would have possessed the speed, strength, composure and skill first to hold off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand and then to unleash the shot that flew beyond the reach of Edwin van der Sar and into the roof of the United net.
It was a wonderful example of why Torres is among the finest forwards in the world, and all the more remarkable for the fact that the Spaniard was not even fit. Not only had he hardly trained but he needed a painkilling injection just to get on the field.
His goal amounted to an adrenaline shot for Liverpool; a goal that revitalised a team who appeared to be on their knees after four straight defeats, and a goal that shifted the focus away from Anfield and back to Old Trafford.
To the game and the first fifteen minutes were solid if unspectacular. However, our grip on the game slowly tightened. Aurelio’s free kick, after Torres had been felled by Evra, should have resulted in the first goal however a combination of excellent saves by Van der Sar, from the kick and then Kuyt, prevented this. Later Lucas picked Scholes’ pocket and released Kuyt who somehow managed to ensure that his pass became lodged under his feet. The resulting effort to remove the ball and shape the shot gave Vidic enough time to put him off and he fired wide. No disrespect to Kuyt but one couldn’t help wondering what the result would have been had Torres been presented with both chances.
As the first half progressed the defence, who appear to be constantly under the microscope these days, became more and more solid. True Rooney had a header from a move which showed what they were capable of and this was also a prelude to a good spell by the visitors however, this time Carragher, leading by example, marshalled his men brilliantly.
In the second half one feared a repeat of Tuesday where the opposition came out regalvanised. However, we continued to build. Although we had missed two good chances one felt there would always be more. Aurelio’s header missed from Benayoun’s cross. It was the Brazilians second point blank header of the week however he made a better job of it this time and only Van der Sar’s excellent anticipation prevented us taking the lead. Benayoun then fed Kuyt who squared into a sea of Manchester defenders when he should have had a shot. Despite all this ominously Torres had been quiet with Kuyt having all the opportunities so far.
In the 64th minute Benayoun’s through ball was collected by the Spaniard who timed his run perfectly to beat the off side trap. Ferdinand foolishly tried to match Torres for pace and shepherd him wide. Torres was simply too quick for him and smashed the ball over a kneeling and flailing Van De Sar into the roof of the net.
After that the rest of the game was enacted out as one might expect. Owen came on to boos. Valencia hit the bar after Owen had tussled with his best mate.
The last five minutes of injury time were agony as both sides let skill and organisation slide and traded increasingly desperate punts, tackles and clearances. Things deservedly fell our way on the break as Lucas freed Ngog who slid the ball home.
Sir Alex Ferguson was surprisingly magnanimous in defeat. He took a swipe at the referee, suggesting Andre Marriner cracked under the pressure of an Anfield crowd who, predictably, gave Michael Owen and Gary Neville a rather hostile reception.
But United's manager recognised how inferior his side were to Liverpool on this occasion and he accepted how important it is that the champions now respond accordingly. Their actions in a frantic final few minutes highlighted how much a third consecutive defeat to Liverpool hurt United.
