Manchester United 2 – Liverpool FC 1
Benitez’s Liverpool stunned the crowd yesterday by taking an early lead with a Fernando Torres header but just minutes later United were handed a controversial lifeline. Winger Valencia went down under Mascherano’s challenge and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot, despite the initial contact having been outside the area. A blazing Benitez suggested afterwards that Valencia had taken a dive while Ferguson, predictably, claimed Mascherano should have been sent off. Whilst Torres kicked the penalty spot in frustration and the managers bickered on the touchline Wayne Rooney proceeded to convert the rebound after Reina had brilliantly saved his spot-kick.
From that point on caution reigned.
United built up a head of steam whilst Liverpool passed the ball neatly and controlled the tempo. Sixty minutes in and disaster struck when Rooney found Darren Fletcher, who was given too much space by Insua, and his perfect cross was powered in by Ji-Sung Park.
Torres had a chance to equalize in the last minute but ballooned his strike and Benayoun headed tamely into the keeper’s arms.
Maybe if Reina had enjoyed some luck by seeing the ball from the penalty bounce a different way instead of straight to Rooney the outcome could have been so different
Liverpool were given an opportunity to redress the balance a little yesterday, just as they did so emphatically at Old Trafford 12 months ago, but failed to impose themselves until it was too late.
Benitez’s Liverpool stunned the crowd yesterday by taking an early lead with a Fernando Torres header but just minutes later United were handed a controversial lifeline. Winger Valencia went down under Mascherano’s challenge and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot, despite the initial contact having been outside the area. A blazing Benitez suggested afterwards that Valencia had taken a dive while Ferguson, predictably, claimed Mascherano should have been sent off. Whilst Torres kicked the penalty spot in frustration and the managers bickered on the touchline Wayne Rooney proceeded to convert the rebound after Reina had brilliantly saved his spot-kick.From that point on caution reigned.
United built up a head of steam whilst Liverpool passed the ball neatly and controlled the tempo. Sixty minutes in and disaster struck when Rooney found Darren Fletcher, who was given too much space by Insua, and his perfect cross was powered in by Ji-Sung Park.
Torres had a chance to equalize in the last minute but ballooned his strike and Benayoun headed tamely into the keeper’s arms.
Maybe if Reina had enjoyed some luck by seeing the ball from the penalty bounce a different way instead of straight to Rooney the outcome could have been so different
Liverpool were given an opportunity to redress the balance a little yesterday, just as they did so emphatically at Old Trafford 12 months ago, but failed to impose themselves until it was too late.
