Manchester United Vs Liverpool

Today on grand slam Sunday, United hosted Liverpool and over at The Bridge, Chelsea hosted the Gunners.
Ferdinand and Van der Sar returned to the United starting eleven, and Sir Alex decided to play with 3 players down the center of the midfield, with Carrick playing a defensive midfielder position. Anderson and Scholes had creative roles. While Ronaldo and Giggs played wide on the wings. Rooney was the lone striker.

Liverpool had a similar lineup but instead of 1 defensive midfielder they had 2, Mascherano, and Xavi Alanso. Kuijt and Babel played wide while Torres played just in front of Gerrard.

Nothing but kickball in the first 5 minutes, both teams were trying to catch the other by surprise, but the runs weren’t there.

The first chance came for Wayne Rooney in the 6th minute, but unfortunately it was a breakaway and of course he missed. The ball was played brilliantly by the 19 year old Brazilian, Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira
In the replay it was clear that Carragher fouled Rooney in the box. Just because Rooney stayed up and managed to take a shot doesn’t clear Carraghers recklessness. The referee should have awarded a PK after seeing that there was no clear advantage.
I have a problem with this play, because again a Manchester United player is fouled in the box 10 minutes in and again the referee waves play on. Players should be rewarded for not going down so quickly.

Again Rooney was given a fabulous ball that time it was Scholes, and again Rooney forgave Reina again.

Mascherano was the first player to get booked, I think it was his antics after the challenge that earned him the yellow. He would regret that later.

20 minutes in and Torres was yet to receive a decent pass from his teammates. Liverpool couldn’t create anything.

Giggs hit a great ball in from the right flank, and it landed at Ronaldos feet inside the 6, it was a shame the assistant referee made the mistake of calling Ronaldo offside because he clearly wasn’t.

25 minutes in, Gerrard attempted a shot but it was deflected for a corner.

A controversial save for Reina, it looked like the ball crossed the line but the officials say “NO”
Meanwhile Liverpool went on the offensive, and earned a corner.
United were able to come out with the ball from the corner. This led to 3 United players vs. 3 Liverpool players. But it was Liverpools poor defending that would cost them the 1st goal. A failure to clear the ball went to Carrick who played to Anderson which played to Scholes who was completely unmarked. Scholes opened up the field for Rooney. Rooney looked up and found Wes Brown with a center.
Brown went in completely fearless and won a header over Reina.

Reina threw Anderson a gift in the 40th minute. Reina made a terrible mistake as he tried to throw a ball out he threw it straight to Anderson but he could make the most of it and took a shot way over.

2 Liverpool players lost their heads with only a few minutes remaining in the half. 1st Torres felt he should tell the referee how to do his job and was booked, And then stupid Mascherano came sprinting to the referee to yell at him. The referee wasn’t going to hear it and Macscherano was booked for the second time.
Liverpool made things very difficult for themselves in a matter of minutes.
Macsherano deserved to be red carded. Disrespecting the officials needs to stop.

Halftime

No changes for either side.

United were on the offensive right away, Scholes gave an awesome flick to Ronaldo in front of goal, but Reina did good to deny Ronaldo.

United were playing keep away with Liverpool. Liverpool players looked like chickens with their heads cut off trying to chase the ball

3rd golden chance for Rooney in this game. An amazing 80 yard ball from Van der Sar to Rooneys right foot. Again Rooney made the perfect run and trapped the perfect ball but just could convert the 1v1

In the 73rd minute Tevez and Nani came on for Anderson and Giggs.

Great chance for Tevez who had just come on. Tevez who was one on one with Reina was denied.

United dissect Liverpool to create an opportunity for Ronaldo in the 78th. Tevez gave a phenomenal pass with his chest to Ronaldo, who was not offside. But missed another 1v1 against Reina!
Ronaldo, Tevez and especially Rooney absolutely need to convert those golden opportunities!
But the corner that followed was Ronaldos chance to redeem himself and he did.
He found Evras corner after beating Alonso and Reina was just a tad late with his challenge.
Ronaldo bags his 34th of the season and has a look on his face that says “Yea, I know!  I know I‘m the best player in the world”

Two minutes later United make it three. It only took 5 passes to create the second goal, and Rooney may have  redeemed himself with the brilliant ball he gave Nani for the goal. Not to take any credit away from Nani who did most of the hard work to break throught 2 defenders and blast the ball past Reina.

Liverpool were never a threat, Liverpool took one shot on target to Uniteds 10. Possession was 65 - 35. It was a wonderful win for United.
This just might give them the confidence to go all the way in the Premier League and in the Champions League.