Manchester United news and links

Park delighted to do what millions of Reds dream of: scoring the winner against Liverpool.

Park delighted to do what millions of Reds dream of: scoring the winner against Liverpool.

Ji-Sung Park tells BBC Radio Manchester experience will be vital on the run-in - and how it felt to score the winning goal against Liverpool.

Browse classic images of decisive goals against the men from Merseyside.

Ferdinand buzzes off United fans’ joy after victory over Liverpool.

Ferdinand buzzes off United fans’ joy after victory over Liverpool.

Sir Alex praises his team’s vital quality to recover from going a goal down.

Sir Alex praises his team’s vital quality to recover from going a goal down.

Manchester United sit on top of the Premier League today after beating Liverpool, while Chelsea dropped more points against Blackburn Rovers. On your brand new Football Weekly, James Richardson, Sean Ingle, Paolo Bandini and Fernando Duarte analyse the various machinations of the title race. Can the Blues regain their confidence? Are the Red Devils utterly unstoppable? And will Arsenal still have a say, or will the Champions League prove too much of a distraction?

Plus, at the bottom of the table, we ask: who’s more ill-equipped to get their team out of trouble - Brian Laws at Burnley, or Hull City’s, ahem, ‘football management consultant’ Iain Dowie?

Elsewhere, we pay tribute to Roy Hodgson’s formerly plucky and now formidable Fulham. After brushing aside Juventus, can the Cottagers go all the way in the Europa League?

Finally, never mind the caveats, Sid Lowe throws caution to the wind and indulges in the Lionel Messi love-in. Is the 22-year-old the best player ever to have kicked a pig’s bladder, or is he flattered by the current weakness of La Liga?

Have a listen and post your comments on the blog below. We’re also on iTunes, Facebook and Twitter, and if you enjoy this type of thing, get your daily dose of fooball with our tea-time email, The Fiver.

Fletcher and Park rarely take the plaudits, but they were vital against Liverpool.

Fletcher and Park rarely take the plaudits, but they were vital against Liverpool.

We sum up the reaction to Friday’s draw from inside the Munich camp.

We sum up the reaction to Friday’s draw from inside the Munich camp.

Get the latest odds ahead of next week’s quarter finals.

Rio Ferdinand is relishing the intensity of a three-pronged Premier League title battle.


A combination of their own victory over Liverpool and Chelsea’s failure to beat Blackburn at Ewood Park put United in pole position for the first time this season.

Paul McGuinness’ side held to a third straight draw in Sheffield.

Park and Rooney provide a crucial win as United’s title charge gathers pace.

Park and Rooney provide a crucial win as United’s title charge gathers pace.

The nightmare is finally over for United and that record of 19 titles is within the grasp of a side who again have that hungry look about them.



It has been 18 months of hurt and torment for the Reds who have suffered three Premier League defeats at the hands of their bitterest rivals.

Today’s waffle will be buying one of those 99p flags and sticking it on their car this summer

Not since the Mirror trumpeted news that Prince Charles had put his full royal weight behind the British jam industry has the Mill seen such a half-hearted attempt to reinvigorate a Buy British campaign.

But if the back pages of today’s papers are to be believed then Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City could soon be jostling in line to get their grubby mits on the Croydon-raised slab of meat that is the Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson.

Apparently, Hodgson along with Everton’s David Moyes, Birmingham’s Alex McLeish and Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill is flying the flag for Britain and showing those rubbish foreigners such as Rafael Benítez and Carlo Ancelotti, who’ve never won a … oh hang on – only won three European Cups between them, how to manage a football club.

After Liverpool’s defeat at Old Trafford yesterday, it’s expected that Hodgson may be plotting Europa League success at Anfield soon, but don’t believe anything you read in the Mill, so there.

The other bit of British expected to turn up at market this summer is Joe Cole, who at the unsightly age of 28 – and with a bald head à la Julian Dicks – is shot, caput, over the hill and only good for a west London knacker’s yard. Unless Manchester United do the charitable thing and rescue him from Chelsea.

But one man not towing the line and doing his bit for Blighty is the traitorous Big Sam Allardyce. The Blackburn manager has been spotted winking provocatively at a 24-year-old Egyptian playmaker by the name of Shikabala. He’s 6ft 1in tall, plays for Zamalek SC and is a bit handy by all accounts. Well, Wikipedia says so anyway.

And Roma may throw an inflatable in the direction of Nadir Belhadj and rescue him from the sinking ship that is Portsmouth FC for £2m. Or they’ll let him tread water for a bit and then watch him drown. They are nasty foreigners after all.

Apologies, comments are now turned off for this article

Stewart Gardner reviews how a satisfying win over Liverpool helps our title hopes.

Papers reflect on a great day for United who return to league summit.

Match winner Ji-sung Park’s bravery and versatility was hailed by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.


The Korean is Fergie’s tactical ace up his sleeve and now he has added a goal threat to his weaponry.

Get your name on the list for one of football’s most sought after tickets…

It is exacting to pursue a national prize in the midst of a domestic feud. Liverpool could scarcely have known whether they were attempting to land a blow in the fight for the last Champions League place or daze opponents aiming to retain the Premier League title. All Manchester United would have known is that they were taken to the limits while seeing out a win that puts them back at the top of the table.

The stress and uncertainty was embodied in the 90th-minute incident when, after Fernando Torres had sliced his effort, the ball went to the Liverpool substitute Yossi Benayoun, who headed weakly into the hands of Edwin van  der  Sar. He should instead have deprived United of two of these three points. Sir Alex Ferguson’s players felt the tension as they strove to call a halt to the sequences of three losses against Rafael Benítez’s side.

Judgments get delicate at this stage of the campaign. In the previous weekend, the United manager had extolled the impact of Dimitar Berbatov in the 3-0 win against Fulham. The compliments sounded even then as they would have to double as consolations for the Bulgarian, who was indeed left on the sidelines against Liverpool. Ferguson would not countenance an extra centre-forward beside Wayne Rooney when so much depends on midfield in these confrontations.

That outlook, in turn, opened the way for Park Ji-sung to start. He has energy and adaptability to flesh out any plan. In the rout of Milan he had been in an advanced midfield post where he could try to hamper the work of the visitors’ playmaker Andrea Pirlo. Here his presence in that part of the field led to defeat for Liverpool. Park got in front of the right-back Glen Johnson to head in an ideal Darren Fletcher delivery after 60 minutes.

United’s relief at the outcome will be complemented by satisfaction at the sight of Ryan Giggs making his return, after an arm fracture, as a substitute. The resource of the Welshman’s experience is one United must plan to draw on heavily in the weeks ahead. Ferguson’s team, deny it as they will, must have been trying to quell some unease about meeting these adversaries.

There had been scepticism over the claim by the Old Trafford manager in his programme notes that he has “a twinge” of sympathy for Benítez. Considering recent results the feeling might just as easily have been a pang of indigestion he experienced at the recollection of three consecutive defeats by Liverpool. The United manager’s stomach would have churned once again when the visitors took the lead in the fifth minute through a goal from a forward who keeps distressing his side.

After Torres had dispossessed Michael Carrick, the visitors’ striker backheeled the ball to Steven Gerrard. The captain, from his very advanced midfield position, then fed the ball to the right and Dirk Kuyt delivered a deep cross. The unmarked Torres, who had made up a great deal of ground to be in position, headed handsomely beyond Van der Sar. The occasion had galvanised visitors who had probably forgotten their Europa League fixture last Thursday evening and showed no signs of fatigue.

All the same, United did equalise swiftly. Javier Mascherano persisted in fouling Antonio Valencia until both men were on the verge of the 18-yard line. The referee, Howard Webb, having initially played the advantage, awarded a penalty in the conviction that the visitors’ midfielder had not released his opponent before reaching the box.

Ferguson wanted a red card for the Liverpool midfielder. Mascherano may not have been the last man, but the United manager was indignant even in triumph and still argued that Jamie Carragher could not have made the ground to deny Valencia a shooting opportunity. It seemed a close call, however, and Webb was probably right not to dismiss a player when there was an element of doubt. The episode continued to be highly fraught in any case.

Torres dragged his boot across the penalty spot in an attempt at distraction that did seem to have an effect. Pepe Reina was able to dive to his left and block Rooney’s spot-kick but that parry directed the ball back into the middle of the goalmouth, where the United forward knocked in his 33rd goal of the campaign.

His contribution has been indispensable and it has helped hugely in giving United their highest tally at this juncture in a league campaign since the prolific season of 2001-02. The scoring continued here yet it has to be agreed that this had been an extremely attritional fixture.

Liverpool will be indignant over the officiating, but this occasion did at least show glimpses of their fortitude and talent. For their part, United’s Nemanja Vidic completed the game without a red card, having been dismissed in each of the three previous encounters with Benítez’s men.

He epitomised the game in that regard. The victors had not come through the match unscarred, but the harm was at least superficial. This had been useful practice. There are draconian tests ahead. Chelsea are the next visitors to Old Trafford.

It is exacting to pursue a national prize in the midst of a domestic feud. Liverpool could scarcely have known whether they were attempting to land a blow in the fight for the last Champions League place or daze opponents aiming to retain the Premier League title. All Manchester United would have known is that they were taken to the limits while seeing out a win that puts them back at the top of the table.

The stress and uncertainty was embodied in the 90th-minute incident when, after Fernando Torres had sliced his effort, the ball went to the Liverpool substitute Yossi Benayoun, who headed weakly into the hands of Edwin van  der  Sar. He should instead have deprived United of two of these three points. Sir Alex Ferguson’s players felt the tension as they strove to call a halt to the sequences of three losses against Rafael Benítez’s side.

Judgments get delicate at this stage of the campaign. In the previous weekend, the United manager had extolled the impact of Dimitar Berbatov in the 3-0 win against Fulham. The compliments sounded even then as they would have to double as consolations for the Bulgarian, who was indeed left on the sidelines against Liverpool. Ferguson would not countenance an extra centre-forward beside Wayne Rooney when so much depends on midfield in these confrontations.

That outlook, in turn, opened the way for Park Ji-sung to start. He has energy and adaptability to flesh out any plan. In the rout of Milan he had been in an advanced midfield post where he could try to hamper the work of the visitors’ playmaker Andrea Pirlo. Here his presence in that part of the field led to defeat for Liverpool. Park got in front of the right-back Glen Johnson to head in an ideal Darren Fletcher delivery after 60 minutes.

United’s relief at the outcome will be complemented by satisfaction at the sight of Ryan Giggs making his return, after an arm fracture, as a substitute. The resource of the Welshman’s experience is one United must plan to draw on heavily in the weeks ahead. Ferguson’s team, deny it as they will, must have been trying to quell some unease about meeting these adversaries.

There had been scepticism over the claim by the Old Trafford manager in his programme notes that he has “a twinge” of sympathy for Benítez. Considering recent results the feeling might just as easily have been a pang of indigestion he experienced at the recollection of three consecutive defeats by Liverpool. The United manager’s stomach would have churned once again when the visitors took the lead in the fifth minute through a goal from a forward who keeps distressing his side.

After Torres had dispossessed Michael Carrick, the visitors’ striker backheeled the ball to Steven Gerrard. The captain, from his very advanced midfield position, then fed the ball to the right and Dirk Kuyt delivered a deep cross. The unmarked Torres, who had made up a great deal of ground to be in position, headed handsomely beyond Van der Sar. The occasion had galvanised visitors who had probably forgotten their Europa League fixture last Thursday evening and showed no signs of fatigue.

All the same, United did equalise swiftly. Javier Mascherano persisted in fouling Antonio Valencia until both men were on the verge of the 18-yard line. The referee, Howard Webb, having initially played the advantage, awarded a penalty in the conviction that the visitors’ midfielder had not released his opponent before reaching the box.

Ferguson wanted a red card for the Liverpool midfielder. Mascherano may not have been the last man, but the United manager was indignant even in triumph and still argued that Jamie Carragher could not have made the ground to deny Valencia a shooting opportunity. It seemed a close call, however, and Webb was probably right not to dismiss a player when there was an element of doubt. The episode continued to be highly fraught in any case.

Torres dragged his boot across the penalty spot in an attempt at distraction that did seem to have an effect. Pepe Reina was able to dive to his left and block Rooney’s spot-kick but that parry directed the ball back into the middle of the goalmouth, where the United forward knocked in his 33rd goal of the campaign.

His contribution has been indispensable and it has helped hugely in giving United their highest tally at this juncture in a league campaign since the prolific season of 2001-02. The scoring continued here yet it has to be agreed that this had been an extremely attritional fixture.

Liverpool will be indignant over the officiating, but this occasion did at least show glimpses of their fortitude and talent. For their part, United’s Nemanja Vidic completed the game without a red card, having been dismissed in each of the three previous encounters with Benítez’s men.

He epitomised the game in that regard. The victors had not come through the match unscarred, but the harm was at least superficial. This had been useful practice. There are draconian tests ahead. Chelsea are the next visitors to Old Trafford.

Today’s questions are too close to call …

Today’s questions are too close to call …

• Referee was influenced, says Liverpool manager
• United deny Valencia cheated to win spot-kick

Rafael Benítez’s dislike of Sir Alex Ferguson manifested itself tonight in the Liverpool manager responding to another damaging setback to his side’s aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League by demonstrating more bitterness towards the man who has become his nemesis in English football.

Benítez was aggrieved by the penalty that set Manchester United on the way to a 2-1 win, accusing Antonio Valencia of diving, and he referred to his previous accusations that Ferguson placed referees under pressure. “We know about the influence of Sir Alex in everything,” he said. “I’ve seen three replays [from different angles] and the last one was suspicious. See the replay for yourself and how he fell to the ground.” Asked whether he was saying it was a dive, he replied: “Yes, I think so. There is contact but the way he fell down – it was strange.”

Television pictures showed the initial contact from Javier Mascherano had been outside the penalty area and Benítez was asked whether Ferguson had been trying to get into the mind of the referee, Howard Webb, when he talked on Friday of the Anfield club getting preferential treatment. “Just on Friday he said something?” he interrupted, his tone heavy with sarcasm. “Which Friday? This Friday or every Friday? Or every Friday of every year?”

Ferguson had written in his programme notes that he felt “a twinge of sympathy” for Benítez’s current predicament, but the bad feeling between the two managers led to a confrontation on the touchline shortly after Wayne Rooney had scored his 33rd goal of the season, turning in the rebound after Pepe Reina had saved his penalty.

Rooney, recently troubled by a knee injury, left Old Trafford with a pronounced limp. His goal cancelled out Fernando Torres’s fifth-minute header for Liverpool, with Park Ji-sung scoring the winner in the second half. “When you have different opinions you have to express those different opinions,” Benítez said of that argument. “As you know, he [Ferguson] has his own opinion about everything.”

Ferguson’s argument was that Mascherano should have been sent off. “I thought the penalty kick was a red card,” he said. “There was no way [Jamie] Carragher could have got across to stop Valencia from shooting, absolutely no way. He [Valencia] is too quick for Carragher to get across. It was a penalty but the law of the game is that if you stop a player from a goalscoring opportunity it’s a red card, but not today it wasn’t.”

The United manager was unaware at that point that Benítez had spoken of Valencia being creative in his fall. “He [Mascherano] tugged him, and obviously I think the referee is right,” Ferguson said. “He has got to play the advantage [after the first contact] because he was right through on goal and it wasn’t until he was inside the box that he brought him down. So I think that was correct.”

Benítez, however, was angered by what he perceived as several crucial decisions going in United’s favour and said he was sufficiently concerned at half-time to tell Torres to keep his focus on the game. It was “not easy” for Torres, the manager reflected, and there was more heavy irony when he noted how Gary Neville’s studs had connected with Maxi Rodríguez, leaving the Argentinian with a bloodied head. “I think it must have been a bird from the sky,” he said.

Park needed a stitch for a facial gash, inflicted by Glen Johnson’s boot. “A game like that, it’s always been feisty,” Ferguson said. “Both teams, with their pride and history, are going to compete. I don’t think it got to a serious point at any stage.”

While Liverpool are languishing in sixth, 18 points behind United at the top of the table, Ferguson’s men have their sights on a fourth successive title, two points clear of Arsenal and four ahead of Chelsea, and have the added motivation of overtaking their Merseyside rivals with a 19th championship in total.

“We have been very consistent in the last two or three months,” Ferguson said. “For periods of the game we played very well and in other periods we had to dig in and concentrate. It’s always difficult to lose a goal and come back and win, it’s a great quality that Manchester United have and it was that quality that won us the game again today.”

• Referee was influenced, says Liverpool manager
• United deny Valencia cheated to win spot-kick

Rafael Benítez’s dislike of Sir Alex Ferguson manifested itself tonight in the Liverpool manager responding to another damaging setback to his side’s aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League by demonstrating more bitterness towards the man who has become his nemesis in English football.

Benítez was aggrieved by the penalty that set Manchester United on the way to a 2-1 win, accusing Antonio Valencia of diving, and he referred to his previous accusations that Ferguson placed referees under pressure. “We know about the influence of Sir Alex in everything,” he said. “I’ve seen three replays [from different angles] and the last one was suspicious. See the replay for yourself and how he fell to the ground.” Asked whether he was saying it was a dive, he replied: “Yes, I think so. There is contact but the way he fell down – it was strange.”

Television pictures showed the initial contact from Javier Mascherano had been outside the penalty area and Benítez was asked whether Ferguson had been trying to get into the mind of the referee, Howard Webb, when he talked on Friday of the Anfield club getting preferential treatment. “Just on Friday he said something?” he interrupted, his tone heavy with sarcasm. “Which Friday? This Friday or every Friday? Or every Friday of every year?”

Ferguson had written in his programme notes that he felt “a twinge of sympathy” for Benítez’s current predicament, but the bad feeling between the two managers led to a confrontation on the touchline shortly after Wayne Rooney had scored his 33rd goal of the season, turning in the rebound after Pepe Reina had saved his penalty.

Rooney, recently troubled by a knee injury, left Old Trafford with a pronounced limp. His goal cancelled out Fernando Torres’s fifth-minute header for Liverpool, with Park Ji-sung scoring the winner in the second half. “When you have different opinions you have to express those different opinions,” Benítez said of that argument. “As you know, he [Ferguson] has his own opinion about everything.”

Ferguson’s argument was that Mascherano should have been sent off. “I thought the penalty kick was a red card,” he said. “There was no way [Jamie] Carragher could have got across to stop Valencia from shooting, absolutely no way. He [Valencia] is too quick for Carragher to get across. It was a penalty but the law of the game is that if you stop a player from a goalscoring opportunity it’s a red card, but not today it wasn’t.”

The United manager was unaware at that point that Benítez had spoken of Valencia being creative in his fall. “He [Mascherano] tugged him, and obviously I think the referee is right,” Ferguson said. “He has got to play the advantage [after the first contact] because he was right through on goal and it wasn’t until he was inside the box that he brought him down. So I think that was correct.”

Benítez, however, was angered by what he perceived as several crucial decisions going in United’s favour and said he was sufficiently concerned at half-time to tell Torres to keep his focus on the game. It was “not easy” for Torres, the manager reflected, and there was more heavy irony when he noted how Gary Neville’s studs had connected with Maxi Rodríguez, leaving the Argentinian with a bloodied head. “I think it must have been a bird from the sky,” he said.

Park needed a stitch for a facial gash, inflicted by Glen Johnson’s boot. “A game like that, it’s always been feisty,” Ferguson said. “Both teams, with their pride and history, are going to compete. I don’t think it got to a serious point at any stage.”

While Liverpool are languishing in sixth, 18 points behind United at the top of the table, Ferguson’s men have their sights on a fourth successive title, two points clear of Arsenal and four ahead of Chelsea, and have the added motivation of overtaking their Merseyside rivals with a 19th championship in total.

“We have been very consistent in the last two or three months,” Ferguson said. “For periods of the game we played very well and in other periods we had to dig in and concentrate. It’s always difficult to lose a goal and come back and win, it’s a great quality that Manchester United have and it was that quality that won us the game again today.”

Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez were forced to concentrate more on containment than supporting their isolated attack

How were Manchester United set up?

Manchester United were determined to avenge last season’s out of character 4-1 defeat by Liverpool. Playing with the enthusiastic, non-stop-running Park Ji-sung behind Wayne Rooney, they were looking for the twosome’s energy to destabilise Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool centre-halves.

United also hoped their wide players, Antonio Valencia and Nani, would continue their recent displays of improvisation and peg back the Liverpool full-backs. A 4-4-2 set-up is not United’s only current recipe but over the years their exciting football has constantly tried to maximise the two wide men. There was also a crucial role for the vastly improved Darren Fletcher and the steady, early-passing Michael Carrick in the centre of midfield.

The United set-up contrasted with Liverpool’s. Whereas Sir Alex Ferguson wanted his team to push forward, the visitors were set more on containment. They lined up in a 4-2-3-1, Rafael Benítez’s regular system, with Javier Mascherano and Lucas protecting the centre-backs and Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodríguez wide.

What was their gameplan?

Park played in front of Carrick and Fletcher, a workaholic in the first half but lacking the sureness of touch that Scholes could show in that position. However, he did get into that important six-yard box in the first period and was eventually rewarded with a goal in the second from Fletcher’s fine cross. Despite Park’s efforts and Rooney dropping deep in search of the ball, it was not easy for United because Mascherano and Lucas anchored themselves deep, neither player venturing forward to support – unlike the other evening against Lille in the Europa League.

Liverpool’s back four sat back, relatively relaxed, and their only problem appeared to be on the left flank, where Emiliano Insúa battled to control the speed of Valencia.

With Steven Gerrard labouring compared with his best form, Liverpool were steady first-half opponents without threatening much, albeit that Torres took his splendid goal when Kuyt got forward in the early minutes.

Did it succeed?

Yes, mainly because United’s attacking philosophy was aided by Liverpool’s reluctance to push forward. Torres became isolated and, although a threat when he got the ball, he was superbly marshalled by Nemanja Vidic, who showed no signs of last year’s errors.

United used the switch ball across the field to good effect, Rooney changing direction and hitting Nani, and Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville looking to change the play and disturb Liverpool’s cover as early as possible. As a consequence Rodríguez and Kuyt became more concerned with intercepting the crossfield pass and helping Glen Johnson and Insúa to cut out this danger at source.

Despite a strong bench which included Ryan Babel and the creative Yossi Benayoun, Liverpool continued far too long with their policy of what we have we hold. Park deserved his goal for his honesty and Liverpool failed to respond with any of the urgency or vibrant attacking which was the hallmark of teams prior to the Gérard Houllier and Benítez days.

Patrice Evra, in particular, was far more willing to support from full-back than Johnson or Insúa. Liverpool rarely hit high positions to cross balls from which Torres would benefit. In the second half United played a slightly higher line, aware Liverpool were leaving Torres isolated and could not run behind them, and Edwin van der Sar had a more than comfortable game.

Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez were forced to concentrate more on containment than supporting their isolated attack

How were Manchester United set up?

Manchester United were determined to avenge last season’s out of character 4-1 defeat by Liverpool. Playing with the enthusiastic, non-stop-running Park Ji-sung behind Wayne Rooney, they were looking for the twosome’s energy to destabilise Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool centre-halves.

United also hoped their wide players, Antonio Valencia and Nani, would continue their recent displays of improvisation and peg back the Liverpool full-backs. A 4-4-2 set-up is not United’s only current recipe but over the years their exciting football has constantly tried to maximise the two wide men. There was also a crucial role for the vastly improved Darren Fletcher and the steady, early-passing Michael Carrick in the centre of midfield.

The United set-up contrasted with Liverpool’s. Whereas Sir Alex Ferguson wanted his team to push forward, the visitors were set more on containment. They lined up in a 4-2-3-1, Rafael Benítez’s regular system, with Javier Mascherano and Lucas protecting the centre-backs and Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodríguez wide.

What was their gameplan?

Park played in front of Carrick and Fletcher, a workaholic in the first half but lacking the sureness of touch that Scholes could show in that position. However, he did get into that important six-yard box in the first period and was eventually rewarded with a goal in the second from Fletcher’s fine cross. Despite Park’s efforts and Rooney dropping deep in search of the ball, it was not easy for United because Mascherano and Lucas anchored themselves deep, neither player venturing forward to support – unlike the other evening against Lille in the Europa League.

Liverpool’s back four sat back, relatively relaxed, and their only problem appeared to be on the left flank, where Emiliano Insúa battled to control the speed of Valencia.

With Steven Gerrard labouring compared with his best form, Liverpool were steady first-half opponents without threatening much, albeit that Torres took his splendid goal when Kuyt got forward in the early minutes.

Did it succeed?

Yes, mainly because United’s attacking philosophy was aided by Liverpool’s reluctance to push forward. Torres became isolated and, although a threat when he got the ball, he was superbly marshalled by Nemanja Vidic, who showed no signs of last year’s errors.

United used the switch ball across the field to good effect, Rooney changing direction and hitting Nani, and Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville looking to change the play and disturb Liverpool’s cover as early as possible. As a consequence Rodríguez and Kuyt became more concerned with intercepting the crossfield pass and helping Glen Johnson and Insúa to cut out this danger at source.

Despite a strong bench which included Ryan Babel and the creative Yossi Benayoun, Liverpool continued far too long with their policy of what we have we hold. Park deserved his goal for his honesty and Liverpool failed to respond with any of the urgency or vibrant attacking which was the hallmark of teams prior to the Gérard Houllier and Benítez days.

Patrice Evra, in particular, was far more willing to support from full-back than Johnson or Insúa. Liverpool rarely hit high positions to cross balls from which Torres would benefit. In the second half United played a slightly higher line, aware Liverpool were leaving Torres isolated and could not run behind them, and Edwin van der Sar had a more than comfortable game.

• ‘I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card’
• Manager thinks United have an outstanding chance of title

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano should have been sent off in the pivotal moment of Manchester United’s comeback win.

Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, only for Wayne Rooney to equalise in controversial fashion. He tucked home the rebound from a penalty given for a Mascherano foul on Antonio Valencia which had started outside the area.

Ferguson said the foul warranted more than a booking: “I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I do not see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting. That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned.”

Regarding a tight battle for the title between United, Chelsea and Arsenal Ferguson said: “We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches – but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter? It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams.”

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez felt there was not much between the two sides. “It was very tight, they did not have too many chances, and neither did we,” he said. “With two top sides, it is always the little things which are the difference, and they were the better in these.

“After the goal, I always said it is about how you can control the game, and we could not, as we conceded early. In the second half, you could see Manchester United are a good team, but they did not have too many options and with a bit of luck, it could have been a draw.”

On the penalty incident, Benítez did not feel his player had merited a red card. “I have not seen the replay, but talking to people who have said it was inside and was a penalty, but Jamie Carragher was also there, so it was only a yellow card,” the Spaniard said.

Liverpool are now well behind in the battle for fourth place, but Benítez insisted the battle goes on. “It will be difficult, but we still have to fight,” he said. “You can see we can win against anyone. You have to improve when you play against a top side, but we created chances.”

Ferguson said: “It was very tight today and Liverpool are good at stopping you playing. But you have got to be patient and we scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-sung, who played another vital role for us today.”

Ferguson accepted the match had not been a classic. “I am sure it wasn’t, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it – there was no one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure.”

United’s midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way they were able to grind out victory. In a second half of few clear-cut chances, Park Ji-sung headed home the winner after an hour when he came through a crowd of bodies to finish Fletcher’s superb cross.

The Scotland international hailed the character of Ferguson’s side, who are chasing a record fourth successive championship. “It was a difficult game, with not much football played,” Fletcher told Sky Sports 1. “You want to win the title with flowing football, but sometimes you have to grind out results and show character – that is what we did.”

Fletcher maintained that the referee Howard Webb was right to give the penalty. “I definitely thought it was a foul,” said the United midfielder. “He was pulling Valencia and the contact with his legs was right on the edge of the box. The keeper saved it, but Wazza is so composed that he was able to tap it in afterwards.”

“The team which puts the most consistent run together will probably be champions, and we are making a good fist of it,” Fletcher added.

• ‘I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card’
• Manager thinks United have an outstanding chance of title

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano should have been sent off in the pivotal moment of Manchester United’s comeback win.

Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, only for Wayne Rooney to equalise in controversial fashion. He tucked home the rebound from a penalty given for a Mascherano foul on Antonio Valencia which had started outside the area.

Ferguson said the foul warranted more than a booking: “I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I do not see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting. That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned.”

Regarding a tight battle for the title between United, Chelsea and Arsenal Ferguson said: “We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches – but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter? It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams.”

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez felt there was not much between the two sides. “It was very tight, they did not have too many chances, and neither did we,” he said. “With two top sides, it is always the little things which are the difference, and they were the better in these.

“After the goal, I always said it is about how you can control the game, and we could not, as we conceded early. In the second half, you could see Manchester United are a good team, but they did not have too many options and with a bit of luck, it could have been a draw.”

On the penalty incident, Benítez did not feel his player had merited a red card. “I have not seen the replay, but talking to people who have said it was inside and was a penalty, but Jamie Carragher was also there, so it was only a yellow card,” the Spaniard said.

Liverpool are now well behind in the battle for fourth place, but Benítez insisted the battle goes on. “It will be difficult, but we still have to fight,” he said. “You can see we can win against anyone. You have to improve when you play against a top side, but we created chances.”

Ferguson said: “It was very tight today and Liverpool are good at stopping you playing. But you have got to be patient and we scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-sung, who played another vital role for us today.”

Ferguson accepted the match had not been a classic. “I am sure it wasn’t, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it – there was no one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure.”

United’s midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way they were able to grind out victory. In a second half of few clear-cut chances, Park Ji-sung headed home the winner after an hour when he came through a crowd of bodies to finish Fletcher’s superb cross.

The Scotland international hailed the character of Ferguson’s side, who are chasing a record fourth successive championship. “It was a difficult game, with not much football played,” Fletcher told Sky Sports 1. “You want to win the title with flowing football, but sometimes you have to grind out results and show character – that is what we did.”

Fletcher maintained that the referee Howard Webb was right to give the penalty. “I definitely thought it was a foul,” said the United midfielder. “He was pulling Valencia and the contact with his legs was right on the edge of the box. The keeper saved it, but Wazza is so composed that he was able to tap it in afterwards.”

“The team which puts the most consistent run together will probably be champions, and we are making a good fist of it,” Fletcher added.

Torres sent shudders through the Stretford End with an early goal but he had too little support to trouble the champions for 90 minutes

In the end, Manchester United won because they passed the ball with more authority and provided greater support for Wayne Rooney in attacking positions than Liverpool did for Fernando Torres. There were parts of this game when Torres looked as though he would terrorise Old Trafford single-handedly but he was an isolated, pouting and aggravated figure for most of the second half, muttering under his breath and making those little hand gestures that Iberian footballers are so fond of.

Torres might come from Madrid rather than Merseyside, but it could never be said that he does not feel Liverpool’s hurt. And this, undoubtedly, was a brutal day for everyone associated with the Anfield club. They are now 18 points behind United at the top of the Premier League table, and disappearing fast in the wing-mirrors of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

It was also their 10th league defeat and, very soon, the indignities could be even worse. A fourth successive championship for United would be the club’s 19th in total, taking them one above their most despised rivals as the most successful top-division club in the country. And to think that the Kop once held up a banner for United supporters in the season after the first of Ferguson’s 11 titles: ‘Come back and sing Ooh-Aah Cantona when you’ve won 18.’

Liverpool, as Ferguson pointed out in one of his subtle digs, are left trying to put a positive slant on the contest to reach the fourth Champions League qualifying place, but there used to be a saying at Anfield that first was first and second was nowhere. So what does that say of fourth?

Liverpool had played well. In fact they were one of the better sides to visit Old Trafford this season, but there is clearly the need for some major restoration work this summer because they cannot always rely on Torres or Steven Gerrard so heavily.

By his standards Gerrard had a poor game while Torres – brilliant in the first half, smothered in the second – will not remember the goal he scored in front of the Stretford End after five minutes but that agonising miss from 12 yards during the final, tense exchanges. That was the moment Old Trafford held its breath: Liverpool’s best chance of the half, Torres with the space to swivel and get in a clean shot at goal. But the striker rushed his effort and the chance to salvage something was lost.

Torres could hardly be held culpable for Liverpool’s deficiencies when the truth is that the supporting cast are just not as good as United’s. A shudder of apprehension reverberated around Old Trafford whenever he collected the ball in the first half, and it still seems crazy that Ferguson once explained that he had not tried harder to sign him from Atletico Madrid because he was “not a natural finisher”. That was the summer Liverpool paid £20m for the Spaniard – the same summer United signed, among others, Anderson and Nani for around £18m each.

Torres has been proving Ferguson wrong ever since and has now elevated himself to the point when he can strike fear into even the most intrepid crowd. Overall, though, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic can reflect that they eventually got to grips with him to spare themselves the ordeal of previous encounters.

Even so, it is tempting to wonder what damage that a Rooney-Torres partnership might have wreaked on opposition defences had Ferguson not got it so wrong. Hypothetical, of course, but how many goals would an injury-free Torres have scored in a season for United? Forty? Fifty? Liverpool’s supporters will just have to hope the same thought is not polluting the player’s mind.

Torres sent shudders through the Stretford End with an early goal but he had too little support to trouble the champions for 90 minutes

In the end, Manchester United won because they passed the ball with more authority and provided greater support for Wayne Rooney in attacking positions than Liverpool did for Fernando Torres. There were parts of this game when Torres looked as though he would terrorise Old Trafford single-handedly but he was an isolated, pouting and aggravated figure for most of the second half, muttering under his breath and making those little hand gestures that Iberian footballers are so fond of.

Torres might come from Madrid rather than Merseyside, but it could never be said that he does not feel Liverpool’s hurt. And this, undoubtedly, was a brutal day for everyone associated with the Anfield club. They are now 18 points behind United at the top of the Premier League table, and disappearing fast in the wing-mirrors of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

It was also their 10th league defeat and, very soon, the indignities could be even worse. A fourth successive championship for United would be the club’s 19th in total, taking them one above their most despised rivals as the most successful top-division club in the country. And to think that the Kop once held up a banner for United supporters in the season after the first of Ferguson’s 11 titles: ‘Come back and sing Ooh-Aah Cantona when you’ve won 18.’

Liverpool, as Ferguson pointed out in one of his subtle digs, are left trying to put a positive slant on the contest to reach the fourth Champions League qualifying place, but there used to be a saying at Anfield that first was first and second was nowhere. So what does that say of fourth?

Liverpool had played well. In fact they were one of the better sides to visit Old Trafford this season, but there is clearly the need for some major restoration work this summer because they cannot always rely on Torres or Steven Gerrard so heavily.

By his standards Gerrard had a poor game while Torres – brilliant in the first half, smothered in the second – will not remember the goal he scored in front of the Stretford End after five minutes but that agonising miss from 12 yards during the final, tense exchanges. That was the moment Old Trafford held its breath: Liverpool’s best chance of the half, Torres with the space to swivel and get in a clean shot at goal. But the striker rushed his effort and the chance to salvage something was lost.

Torres could hardly be held culpable for Liverpool’s deficiencies when the truth is that the supporting cast are just not as good as United’s. A shudder of apprehension reverberated around Old Trafford whenever he collected the ball in the first half, and it still seems crazy that Ferguson once explained that he had not tried harder to sign him from Atletico Madrid because he was “not a natural finisher”. That was the summer Liverpool paid £20m for the Spaniard – the same summer United signed, among others, Anderson and Nani for around £18m each.

Torres has been proving Ferguson wrong ever since and has now elevated himself to the point when he can strike fear into even the most intrepid crowd. Overall, though, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic can reflect that they eventually got to grips with him to spare themselves the ordeal of previous encounters.

Even so, it is tempting to wonder what damage that a Rooney-Torres partnership might have wreaked on opposition defences had Ferguson not got it so wrong. Hypothetical, of course, but how many goals would an injury-free Torres have scored in a season for United? Forty? Fifty? Liverpool’s supporters will just have to hope the same thought is not polluting the player’s mind.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way United were able to “grind out” the win over Liverpool, which took them back to the top of the Premier League.


Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead but United fought back with goals from Wayne Rooney and Ji-Sung Park to snatch all three points.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way United were able to “grind out” the win over Liverpool, which took them back to the top of the Premier League.


Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead but United fought back with goals from Wayne Rooney and Ji-Sung Park to snatch all three points.

The best photos from Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford

The best photos from Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford

Stuart Mathieson rates the Reds after a crucial victory over old rivals Liverpool.

Stuart Mathieson rates the Reds after a crucial victory over old rivals Liverpool.

United finally buried their Liverpool hoodoo with a hard-fought victory over their bitter rivals to return to the Premier League summit.


While the trophies have continued to flow into Old Trafford, the Liverpool Reds have had the bragging rights in recent derbies with three wins out of three.

United finally buried their Liverpool hoodoo with a hard-fought victory over their bitter rivals to return to the Premier League summit.


While the trophies have continued to flow into Old Trafford, the Liverpool Reds have had the bragging rights in recent derbies with three wins out of three.

Afternoon So, quite a big game this one. United can go back to the top of the Premier League with a win, but equally Liverpool know that their hopes of grabbing a Champions League berth are dangling by a thread. A victory here is imperative if they are to keep pace with Tottenham, four points clear in fourth place having played the same number of games.

United will draw encouragement from both their recent form - they have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring 13 goals - and the fact they haven’t conceded at home since 12 December. The visitors will take heart from the fact they have not lost to United since March 2008 and last year won this fixture 4-1.

What price a repeat of that scoreline? 300-1, if you’re betting with one of the bolder bookies. I still wouldn’t take those odds.

Right, I’m going to rustle up some team news, but if you’re want to know exactly how today’s game could affect the overall standings, you can find out right now with our stats centre. We have also all today’s fixtures in our live score centre, as well.

Team news Sir Alex Ferguson reverts to a five-man midfield, with Dimitar Berbatov back on the bench. Foolishly, he also includes Nemanja Vidic, who has now been sent off three times in a row against Liverpool. Maxi Rodriguez replaces Ryan Babel for the visitors.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Nani, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Berbatov, Giggs, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Obertan.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog, Kelly.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

“This has been a good week for Liverpool,” declares Jamie Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio, choosing to focus rather more on the 4-1 win over last-placed Portsmouth on Monday, and rather less on the fact Albert Riera called his own team a “sinking ship” and accused Rafael Benítez of not listening to his players two days later.

Angry Nemanja “Paddy Power are offering 20-1 on Vidic being sent off today,” tinkles Kevin Wilson. “The most attractive bet in history?” I don’t know Kevin - you would have thought given his previous that it would take quite something to provoke him into the same sort of mistake. That said if anyone has any suggestions for the Liverpool players I’m all ears. So long as they’re funny.

Oh Micky Michael Owen is among Richard Keys’s guests in the Sky Sports studio - suggesting perhaps that everyone’s favourite diminutive and oft-injured England striker may already be looking ahead to a life after football. Things never really panned out for him as a helicopter tour guide, but frankly I’m just not sure he’s a natural pundit either. What else could Micky turn his hand to?

1 min And away we go, with Liverpool’s kick-off leading neatly into a spot of head tennis. “Never mind Spurs, City will have three games in hand, and only a point deficit if Liverpool lose this one,” points out Duncan Smith. “They’re clinging to fifth, never mind thinking of fourth.”

2 mins Rooney races into Liverpool territory after receiving the ball from a quick free-kick. Liverpool’s forwards were still standing around waiting for the free-kick to be given the other way after Torres collided with Ferdinand, but thankfully Carragher was paying attention and stepped up to pick the ball off Rooney’s toes.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool Cripes - I had just been writing that we were yet to see a chance when the ball was fed to Dirk Kuyt dashing down the right channel. He got to the touchline and cut it back to Fernando Torres, who had drifted away from Neville at the back post and arrived in the middle of the area to thump a header past Van der Sar.

7 mins Well this game had already started at quite some tempo but that’s only ramped things up another few levels. Torres really does love playing against United doesn’t he?

8 mins Wayne Rooney cuts in from the left before screwing a firm drive back across his body and past Reina’s right-hand post from just outside the D.

9 mins Liverpool win a corner, which is played short to Gerrard. He carries the ball out to the edge of the area, then tries to play it in, only to find that Dirk Kuyt is in an offside position.

Penalty to United! Incredibly soft award there - Mascherano might have made the slightest tug on Valencia’s arm but he was well outside the area, and the United midfielder just staggered on a few yards before collapsing in a heap. Mascherano gets a yellow - proving once again there is no consistency, because the situation is almost identical to Vermaelen’s foul on Franco yesterday. Except, I suppose that Vermaelen was at least actually in the box when that incident occured.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (Rooney, 11 mins) Rooney’s penalty, struck low to the keeper’s left, was well saved by Reina, but he could only parry the ball back out into the middle of the area, and the striker was first to react, side-footing into the unguarded net.

14 mins Well there’s quite an atmosphere at Old Trafford now, with the home fans reminding Liverpool how long it has been since they last won a trophy and the away support berating Rooney. That really was a very soft penalty award, but this is shaping up to be a cracking game.

16 mins “Michael Owen could become a doctor in the Wild West,” suggests Kevin Porter. “His name is an anagram of ‘I heal Cowmen’.”

18 mins Liverpool remain enterprising here despite the set-back, and Gerrard puts just a tiny bit too much on a through-ball for Torres, who is clean through but just beaten to the ball by Van der Sar inside the area. Some debate over whether Mascherano was the last man on that penalty incident, by the way, but I personally can’t see how any of the other defenders were going to get to Valencia.

20 mins “Wow, that stadium is completely empty,” writes Adam Hirst with just the tiniest hint of sarcasm. “What a message that sends out to the Glazers, the Hicks and Gilletts. Two sets of rival fans uniting in protest for the first time ever for the good of both their clubs. MUST and Spirit of Shankly should be so proud that they’ve pulled this one off and that the club owners will know not to take their support for granted ever again.”

21 mins Another corner for Liverpool, but this time it’s easily gathered by Van der Sar.

23 mins Wonderful work rom Valencia, who from a standing start creates a yard of room from Insua down the right before floating a cross right onto the head of Park six yards out. The midfielder can’t quite direct his effort on target, though, and the ball bounces wide of the far post.

25 mins Fernando Torres picks up a booking for a rash, if not especially violent late challenge on Park, and the striker is certainly looking rather “fired up”, shall we say. Which one suspects could turn out to be either a very good thing or a particularly disastrous thing for Liverpool.

27 mins United are finally beginning to show a bit more intent going forwards and Park’s cross from the left is only a yard or so too far in front of Rooney inside the area. Reina collects gratefully in the middle.

28 mins Now Nani chances his arm from 25 yards out or so, letting fly with a low, skiddy drive that hops once before being pushed around the post by Reina. United corner coming up …

29 mins … but nothing comes of it.

30 mins Steven Gerrard has apparently not scored an away goal in the Premier League since August. That sounds a very unlikely statistic, but would certainly help to explain Liverpool’s disappointing form on their travels. Torres has certainly been the one giving Liverpool most of their impetus going forward so far today, and sets off on another charge forward from the half-way line before being dispossessed by Evra as he looks to dart in from the right.

32 mins Rooney is dropping very deep to get the ball, which is his way of course, but it is making life tricky for United on the counter here. Glen Johnson is dispossessed and Park feeds Rooney midway inside his own half, but by the time he has turned there is only one team-mate and five Liverpool players ahead of him.

33 mins “As Adam Hirst (20 mins) knows well the seasons tickets were paid for in May last year no loss to the Glazers if they don’t turn up today,” says Alastair Lees. “Watch the season ticket renewals that will be interesting.” Will it though? Really?

36 mins The tempo has dropped just a little bit from the beginning of the game - which is only to be expected, really - and you suspect that neither team would be too unhappy to go in with this score at half-time.

37 mins Along with Torres, Kuyt has been driving a lot of Liverpool’s play going forward, but while he is working hard and putting himself in useful positions his final ball has been fairly poor on every occasion except for that cross for Liverpool’s goal. This time he tries to give Torres something to chase down the right but there’s too much on it and the ball rolls straight out for a goal-kick.

40 mins Park heads wide again from inside the area, though you have to give him credit this time - he had outjumped Agger inside the area to meet Evra’s cross in the first place.

41 mins Awkward moment in the Liverpool defence, as Gerrard comes overhits a pass back towards Carragher on the edge of his own box and the defender is forced to chase back and then belt the ball off Fletcher’s shins to win a goal-kick.

43 mins Funny game this - it hasn’t felt like a cagey game, though that is the exact word Andy Gray is now using to describe it, yet there have only been three attempts on target so far. In reality the play has been fast and loose in the middle of the pitch, but at the back both teams have been - goals aside - very solid.

45 mins We’re going to have two minutes of added time.

45 mins (+1) Gerrard finds himself running at Neville down the left with Torres alongside him in the middle but the captain badly misjudges his team-mate’s run, trying to play the ball around the outside of the defender but only succeeding in rolling it to Van der Sar.

45 mins (+3) Carragher is booked after bringing down Rooney in a central position right on the edge of the box and the striker leaps up to take the free-kick himself. It’s a decently-struck effort that clears the wall but doesn’t really have enough pace on it and Reina is down sharply to claim it at the first attempt.

Peepety-peep! Phew - and that’s the half. Back in a tick with thoughts and emails.

Physical Premier League? “Comparing the penalties given yesterday and today to those not given in the Champions League, is it fair to say that strikers in the premier league are being mollycoddled more than we think,” ponders Jon Leeuwenburgh. “Maybe the physical English game is no more than a myth?”

Micky’s magic “Michael Owen ticks all the boxes as a pundit,” opines Kieron O’Connor. “Played the game - check; nothing to say - check; incredibly boring voice - check. This template has served Alan Shearer just fine.”

A different take on the penalty “Enjoy your work on the podcast Paolo, but if being clean through on goal isn’t a penalty then what is,” says Matthew Savage. “Mascherano started to pull Valencia about five yards outside the area all the way the into the box, so surely Howard Webb just played advantage until it became clear that not was gained and he blew for the last offence. Was Torres booked for booting the penalty spot away? I’m here, but we didn’t see a card.” Personally I think the contact had ended before he reached the penalty area, but we’re all about opinions here at the Guardian. As for the Torres incident, which I negelected to mention earlier, Torres did wander over and take a scuff at the penalty spot before Rooney’s penalty, but no, he was not booked at the time (he has been since, of course).

Bothering the Glazers “Oh Alastair,” begins Adam Hirst in response to Alastair Lees (33 mins). “Does he really not think that 20,000 pints, pies and programmes would have made the Glazers sit up and take notice far quicker than a twirl of a green and gold scarf or ten? Anyway … the Red Card Race. At half time Mascherano is out in front, as always. Rooney’s goal and the fact that United weren’t behind for long spoils his chances. Carragher has just showed why he is always fancied, but I’ll go for an outsider. Dirk Kuyt.” My money’s on Torres, though I think it would be a real shame for the match if he was sent off.

Mark these words “As someone without Sky, I’m wondering if Torres’s completley free header for Liverpool’s goal has caused the ‘experts’ in the Sky Sports studio to question Ferguson’s persistence with using a man-marking system in defence yet,” says Benjamin Nelson, who should know better. We only criticise zonal marking systems in this country.

Time for just one more “Funny how Utd were screaming for Mascherano to be sent off,” notes someone claiming to be called Silver Fox. “How quick they forget the Vidic incident from Wembley a few weeks ago. I think Agbonlahors was more of a goal scoring chance than Valencias.”

46 mins The second half is underway, with United attacking the Stretford End this time around. No changes at half-time.

47 mins United break with Nani racing down the left but the combinatino of Gerrard and Johnson is enough to dispossess him and knock the ball out for a throw in. He probably should have looked to put a ball in sooner.

48 mins United finished the first half on the front foot and they’ve started the second half in the same way, holding the ball inside the Liverpool half and patiently working it from right to left looking for openings. Which is all well and good for now, so long as it eventually leads to some actual chances.

49 mins United win a free-kick on the left as Nani draws a foul from Johnson. The ball is whipped in towards the middle of the area, but it’s headed clear by Liverpool at the first attempt.

52 mins Fine effort from Park, who zags this way and that as he moves towards the D after receiving a pass about 30 yards out, before unleashing a bullet of a shot that unfortunately for him flies too close to Reina, who manages to absorb the shot with his gut and hold on at the first attempt.

54 mins “With Gerrard’s often ineffectual performances against big teams in the Premiership and Europe, one wonders if he isn’t protecting possible future transfer options,” says Scott Smith. “He disappears in these matches or just completely loses his touch.” Hmm, not sure that playing badly in big matches would necessarily win the admiration of potential suitors though, Scott.

55 mins Nani skips past a wild challenge from Johnson to play in Park, who in turn nudges the ball out to Rooney on the left-hand corner of the box. The striker looks to float a cross over to Valencia at the far post, but Agger intervenes.

57 mins Maxi Rodriguez thumps the ball angrily as Webb waves play on after the midfielder takes a tumble moving through midfield. There was no replay but to be fair, if it wasn’t a foul, then surely he should be booking the Liverpool player for a dive?

59 mins Ryan Giggs is warming up, and our commentary team are speculating that Park might be the man to make way. Which would be a shame in my opinion, because I would say Park has been one of United’s best players so far.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (Park, 60 mins) And as if on cue, Park gives United the lead. Fletcher puts in a wonderful cross from the right and with Neville’s run distracting Insua Park is able to run clean through and make a fantastic diving header.

62 mins And almost immediately Liverpool have a chance to hit back, as Gerrard cuts the ball back from the right flank to Torres, who has found a yard of space from Ferdinand inside the box. The striker’s first touch is poor, though, and the ball ricochets up of his boot into the air, allowing Ferdinand to recover.

63 mins Maxi Rodriguez is down taking treatment and Gary Neville is very lucky to escape a booking as his boot was well up almost above the midfielder’s head.

64 mins And now Valencia has been booked, but I have no idea what for.

66 mins Agger berates his team-mates for not showing enough movement before thrashing a shot high and wide from more than 35 yards. I guess he was trying to make a point, but that was rather wasteful.

68 mins Webb decides a talking to will suffice for Kuyt and Fletcher after a brief scuffle, but replays appear to show the United midfielder lashing out with studs up after being brought down by his opponent. To be fair I think the ref had his back turned but that was very petulant from Fletcher and you’ve seen red cards given for less.

71 mins Liverpool are still struggling to get any sort of sustained possession here, and when they do Fletcher is haring around after them like a man possessed and ensuring nobody has any time on the ball in the middle of the field.

73 mins Nemanja Vidic has finally been shown a card by Webb but this time it’s just a yellow one after he runs into the back of Torres. Alberto Aquilani is coming on for Kuyt. To be honest he probably deserves to have stayed on more than Gerrard.

74 mins Ryan Babel is getting warmed up for Liverpool too, but it’s hard to see them coming back into this now - United are barely letting them see the ball.

76 mins And here comes Babel, replacing Maxi Rodriguez moments after Rooney had clipped a shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

77 mins “Michael Owen is an anagram of I chew a lemon,” points out Rufus Peel. I’m just not sure there’s a career in it, though.

79 mins And here, at last is Ryan Giggs, coming on to replace not Park but Nani. I do wonder when that substitution would have been made, and who would have come off, had Park not scored when he did.

80 mins I believe Aquilani just made his first touch.

81 mins Torres might have found Babel running clear into the area a second ago had he looked a little sharper. At the other end Rooney is finding himself in more and more space as Liverpool commit men forward, but as yet hasn’t taken advantage.

83 mins Last change for Liverpool, as Benayoun comes on for Lucas.

85 mins Liverpool are finally seeing some of the ball inside United’s half but there is no invention whatsoever. Johnson stands totally motionless in possession for a good five seconds before playing a three-yard ball to Gerrard, who swiftly loses it.

86 mins Rooney wriggles free on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box before cracking a low shot just wide of the near post.

87 mins And now Park does leave the pitch, to a standing ovation, with Paul Scholes coming on to replace him. Even leaving out the goal, he’s had a fine game.

89 mins What a chance for Liverpool! Gerrard plays a low ball in from the right that eludes every one of United’s defenders as it rolls to an unmarked Torres right on the penalty spot, but he scuffs his shot completely. Even then, though, the ball loops up and onto the head of Benayoun at the back post, but he can’t get any power behind his header and instead just dabs it tamely into the hands of Van der Sar.

90 mins Five minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official. Andy Gray is aggressively pushing his theory that the ball bobbled up before it got to Torres - off the scuff mark that the same striker created before Rooney’s penalty in the first half.

90 mins (+2) Agger impatiently swipes at a cross from the left and it floats harmlessly away over Van der Sar’s goal.

90 mins (+5) Babel is penalised for backing into Ferdinand as he jostles for position after Reina’s long ball forward. That’s about as eventful as it has been in injury time so far.

Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! That is all folks. United go back to the top of the table with an important win, while Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League berth are left looking slender indeed. They will return to the changing rooms to discover that Manchester City are currently a goal up away to Fulham as well. Right, I’m straight off to do the live coverage of Blackburn v Chelsea. I do hope you’ll join me.

Afternoon So, quite a big game this one. United can go back to the top of the Premier League with a win, but equally Liverpool know that their hopes of grabbing a Champions League berth are dangling by a thread. A victory here is imperative if they are to keep pace with Tottenham, four points clear in fourth place having played the same number of games.

United will draw encouragement from both their recent form - they have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring 13 goals - and the fact they haven’t conceded at home since 12 December. The visitors will take heart from the fact they have not lost to United since March 2008 and last year won this fixture 4-1.

What price a repeat of that scoreline? 300-1, if you’re betting with one of the bolder bookies. I still wouldn’t take those odds.

Right, I’m going to rustle up some team news, but if you’re want to know exactly how today’s game could affect the overall standings, you can find out right now with our stats centre. We have also all today’s fixtures in our live score centre, as well.

Team news Sir Alex Ferguson reverts to a five-man midfield, with Dimitar Berbatov back on the bench. Foolishly, he also includes Nemanja Vidic, who has now been sent off three times in a row against Liverpool. Maxi Rodriguez replaces Ryan Babel for the visitors.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Nani, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Berbatov, Giggs, Scholes, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Obertan.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Torres. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog, Kelly.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

“This has been a good week for Liverpool,” declares Jamie Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio, choosing to focus rather more on the 4-1 win over last-placed Portsmouth on Monday, and rather less on the fact Albert Riera called his own team a “sinking ship” and accused Rafael Benítez of not listening to his players two days later.

Angry Nemanja “Paddy Power are offering 20-1 on Vidic being sent off today,” tinkles Kevin Wilson. “The most attractive bet in history?” I don’t know Kevin - you would have thought given his previous that it would take quite something to provoke him into the same sort of mistake. That said if anyone has any suggestions for the Liverpool players I’m all ears. So long as they’re funny.

Oh Micky Michael Owen is among Richard Keys’s guests in the Sky Sports studio - suggesting perhaps that everyone’s favourite diminutive and oft-injured England striker may already be looking ahead to a life after football. Things never really panned out for him as a helicopter tour guide, but frankly I’m just not sure he’s a natural pundit either. What else could Micky turn his hand to?

1 min And away we go, with Liverpool’s kick-off leading neatly into a spot of head tennis. “Never mind Spurs, City will have three games in hand, and only a point deficit if Liverpool lose this one,” points out Duncan Smith. “They’re clinging to fifth, never mind thinking of fourth.”

2 mins Rooney races into Liverpool territory after receiving the ball from a quick free-kick. Liverpool’s forwards were still standing around waiting for the free-kick to be given the other way after Torres collided with Ferdinand, but thankfully Carragher was paying attention and stepped up to pick the ball off Rooney’s toes.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool Cripes - I had just been writing that we were yet to see a chance when the ball was fed to Dirk Kuyt dashing down the right channel. He got to the touchline and cut it back to Fernando Torres, who had drifted away from Neville at the back post and arrived in the middle of the area to thump a header past Van der Sar.

7 mins Well this game had already started at quite some tempo but that’s only ramped things up another few levels. Torres really does love playing against United doesn’t he?

8 mins Wayne Rooney cuts in from the left before screwing a firm drive back across his body and past Reina’s right-hand post from just outside the D.

9 mins Liverpool win a corner, which is played short to Gerrard. He carries the ball out to the edge of the area, then tries to play it in, only to find that Dirk Kuyt is in an offside position.

Penalty to United! Incredibly soft award there - Mascherano might have made the slightest tug on Valencia’s arm but he was well outside the area, and the United midfielder just staggered on a few yards before collapsing in a heap. Mascherano gets a yellow - proving once again there is no consistency, because the situation is almost identical to Vermaelen’s foul on Franco yesterday. Except, I suppose that Vermaelen was at least actually in the box when that incident occured.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (Rooney, 11 mins) Rooney’s penalty, struck low to the keeper’s left, was well saved by Reina, but he could only parry the ball back out into the middle of the area, and the striker was first to react, side-footing into the unguarded net.

14 mins Well there’s quite an atmosphere at Old Trafford now, with the home fans reminding Liverpool how long it has been since they last won a trophy and the away support berating Rooney. That really was a very soft penalty award, but this is shaping up to be a cracking game.

16 mins “Michael Owen could become a doctor in the Wild West,” suggests Kevin Porter. “His name is an anagram of ‘I heal Cowmen’.”

18 mins Liverpool remain enterprising here despite the set-back, and Gerrard puts just a tiny bit too much on a through-ball for Torres, who is clean through but just beaten to the ball by Van der Sar inside the area. Some debate over whether Mascherano was the last man on that penalty incident, by the way, but I personally can’t see how any of the other defenders were going to get to Valencia.

20 mins “Wow, that stadium is completely empty,” writes Adam Hirst with just the tiniest hint of sarcasm. “What a message that sends out to the Glazers, the Hicks and Gilletts. Two sets of rival fans uniting in protest for the first time ever for the good of both their clubs. MUST and Spirit of Shankly should be so proud that they’ve pulled this one off and that the club owners will know not to take their support for granted ever again.”

21 mins Another corner for Liverpool, but this time it’s easily gathered by Van der Sar.

23 mins Wonderful work rom Valencia, who from a standing start creates a yard of room from Insua down the right before floating a cross right onto the head of Park six yards out. The midfielder can’t quite direct his effort on target, though, and the ball bounces wide of the far post.

25 mins Fernando Torres picks up a booking for a rash, if not especially violent late challenge on Park, and the striker is certainly looking rather “fired up”, shall we say. Which one suspects could turn out to be either a very good thing or a particularly disastrous thing for Liverpool.

27 mins United are finally beginning to show a bit more intent going forwards and Park’s cross from the left is only a yard or so too far in front of Rooney inside the area. Reina collects gratefully in the middle.

28 mins Now Nani chances his arm from 25 yards out or so, letting fly with a low, skiddy drive that hops once before being pushed around the post by Reina. United corner coming up …

29 mins … but nothing comes of it.

30 mins Steven Gerrard has apparently not scored an away goal in the Premier League since August. That sounds a very unlikely statistic, but would certainly help to explain Liverpool’s disappointing form on their travels. Torres has certainly been the one giving Liverpool most of their impetus going forward so far today, and sets off on another charge forward from the half-way line before being dispossessed by Evra as he looks to dart in from the right.

32 mins Rooney is dropping very deep to get the ball, which is his way of course, but it is making life tricky for United on the counter here. Glen Johnson is dispossessed and Park feeds Rooney midway inside his own half, but by the time he has turned there is only one team-mate and five Liverpool players ahead of him.

33 mins “As Adam Hirst (20 mins) knows well the seasons tickets were paid for in May last year no loss to the Glazers if they don’t turn up today,” says Alastair Lees. “Watch the season ticket renewals that will be interesting.” Will it though? Really?

36 mins The tempo has dropped just a little bit from the beginning of the game - which is only to be expected, really - and you suspect that neither team would be too unhappy to go in with this score at half-time.

37 mins Along with Torres, Kuyt has been driving a lot of Liverpool’s play going forward, but while he is working hard and putting himself in useful positions his final ball has been fairly poor on every occasion except for that cross for Liverpool’s goal. This time he tries to give Torres something to chase down the right but there’s too much on it and the ball rolls straight out for a goal-kick.

40 mins Park heads wide again from inside the area, though you have to give him credit this time - he had outjumped Agger inside the area to meet Evra’s cross in the first place.

41 mins Awkward moment in the Liverpool defence, as Gerrard comes overhits a pass back towards Carragher on the edge of his own box and the defender is forced to chase back and then belt the ball off Fletcher’s shins to win a goal-kick.

43 mins Funny game this - it hasn’t felt like a cagey game, though that is the exact word Andy Gray is now using to describe it, yet there have only been three attempts on target so far. In reality the play has been fast and loose in the middle of the pitch, but at the back both teams have been - goals aside - very solid.

45 mins We’re going to have two minutes of added time.

45 mins (+1) Gerrard finds himself running at Neville down the left with Torres alongside him in the middle but the captain badly misjudges his team-mate’s run, trying to play the ball around the outside of the defender but only succeeding in rolling it to Van der Sar.

45 mins (+3) Carragher is booked after bringing down Rooney in a central position right on the edge of the box and the striker leaps up to take the free-kick himself. It’s a decently-struck effort that clears the wall but doesn’t really have enough pace on it and Reina is down sharply to claim it at the first attempt.

Peepety-peep! Phew - and that’s the half. Back in a tick with thoughts and emails.

Physical Premier League? “Comparing the penalties given yesterday and today to those not given in the Champions League, is it fair to say that strikers in the premier league are being mollycoddled more than we think,” ponders Jon Leeuwenburgh. “Maybe the physical English game is no more than a myth?”

Micky’s magic “Michael Owen ticks all the boxes as a pundit,” opines Kieron O’Connor. “Played the game - check; nothing to say - check; incredibly boring voice - check. This template has served Alan Shearer just fine.”

A different take on the penalty “Enjoy your work on the podcast Paolo, but if being clean through on goal isn’t a penalty then what is,” says Matthew Savage. “Mascherano started to pull Valencia about five yards outside the area all the way the into the box, so surely Howard Webb just played advantage until it became clear that not was gained and he blew for the last offence. Was Torres booked for booting the penalty spot away? I’m here, but we didn’t see a card.” Personally I think the contact had ended before he reached the penalty area, but we’re all about opinions here at the Guardian. As for the Torres incident, which I negelected to mention earlier, Torres did wander over and take a scuff at the penalty spot before Rooney’s penalty, but no, he was not booked at the time (he has been since, of course).

Bothering the Glazers “Oh Alastair,” begins Adam Hirst in response to Alastair Lees (33 mins). “Does he really not think that 20,000 pints, pies and programmes would have made the Glazers sit up and take notice far quicker than a twirl of a green and gold scarf or ten? Anyway … the Red Card Race. At half time Mascherano is out in front, as always. Rooney’s goal and the fact that United weren’t behind for long spoils his chances. Carragher has just showed why he is always fancied, but I’ll go for an outsider. Dirk Kuyt.” My money’s on Torres, though I think it would be a real shame for the match if he was sent off.

Mark these words “As someone without Sky, I’m wondering if Torres’s completley free header for Liverpool’s goal has caused the ‘experts’ in the Sky Sports studio to question Ferguson’s persistence with using a man-marking system in defence yet,” says Benjamin Nelson, who should know better. We only criticise zonal marking systems in this country.

Time for just one more “Funny how Utd were screaming for Mascherano to be sent off,” notes someone claiming to be called Silver Fox. “How quick they forget the Vidic incident from Wembley a few weeks ago. I think Agbonlahors was more of a goal scoring chance than Valencias.”

46 mins The second half is underway, with United attacking the Stretford End this time around. No changes at half-time.

47 mins United break with Nani racing down the left but the combinatino of Gerrard and Johnson is enough to dispossess him and knock the ball out for a throw in. He probably should have looked to put a ball in sooner.

48 mins United finished the first half on the front foot and they’ve started the second half in the same way, holding the ball inside the Liverpool half and patiently working it from right to left looking for openings. Which is all well and good for now, so long as it eventually leads to some actual chances.

49 mins United win a free-kick on the left as Nani draws a foul from Johnson. The ball is whipped in towards the middle of the area, but it’s headed clear by Liverpool at the first attempt.

52 mins Fine effort from Park, who zags this way and that as he moves towards the D after receiving a pass about 30 yards out, before unleashing a bullet of a shot that unfortunately for him flies too close to Reina, who manages to absorb the shot with his gut and hold on at the first attempt.

54 mins “With Gerrard’s often ineffectual performances against big teams in the Premiership and Europe, one wonders if he isn’t protecting possible future transfer options,” says Scott Smith. “He disappears in these matches or just completely loses his touch.” Hmm, not sure that playing badly in big matches would necessarily win the admiration of potential suitors though, Scott.

55 mins Nani skips past a wild challenge from Johnson to play in Park, who in turn nudges the ball out to Rooney on the left-hand corner of the box. The striker looks to float a cross over to Valencia at the far post, but Agger intervenes.

57 mins Maxi Rodriguez thumps the ball angrily as Webb waves play on after the midfielder takes a tumble moving through midfield. There was no replay but to be fair, if it wasn’t a foul, then surely he should be booking the Liverpool player for a dive?

59 mins Ryan Giggs is warming up, and our commentary team are speculating that Park might be the man to make way. Which would be a shame in my opinion, because I would say Park has been one of United’s best players so far.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (Park, 60 mins) And as if on cue, Park gives United the lead. Fletcher puts in a wonderful cross from the right and with Neville’s run distracting Insua Park is able to run clean through and make a fantastic diving header.

62 mins And almost immediately Liverpool have a chance to hit back, as Gerrard cuts the ball back from the right flank to Torres, who has found a yard of space from Ferdinand inside the box. The striker’s first touch is poor, though, and the ball ricochets up of his boot into the air, allowing Ferdinand to recover.

63 mins Maxi Rodriguez is down taking treatment and Gary Neville is very lucky to escape a booking as his boot was well up almost above the midfielder’s head.

64 mins And now Valencia has been booked, but I have no idea what for.

66 mins Agger berates his team-mates for not showing enough movement before thrashing a shot high and wide from more than 35 yards. I guess he was trying to make a point, but that was rather wasteful.

68 mins Webb decides a talking to will suffice for Kuyt and Fletcher after a brief scuffle, but replays appear to show the United midfielder lashing out with studs up after being brought down by his opponent. To be fair I think the ref had his back turned but that was very petulant from Fletcher and you’ve seen red cards given for less.

71 mins Liverpool are still struggling to get any sort of sustained possession here, and when they do Fletcher is haring around after them like a man possessed and ensuring nobody has any time on the ball in the middle of the field.

73 mins Nemanja Vidic has finally been shown a card by Webb but this time it’s just a yellow one after he runs into the back of Torres. Alberto Aquilani is coming on for Kuyt. To be honest he probably deserves to have stayed on more than Gerrard.

74 mins Ryan Babel is getting warmed up for Liverpool too, but it’s hard to see them coming back into this now - United are barely letting them see the ball.

76 mins And here comes Babel, replacing Maxi Rodriguez moments after Rooney had clipped a shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

77 mins “Michael Owen is an anagram of I chew a lemon,” points out Rufus Peel. I’m just not sure there’s a career in it, though.

79 mins And here, at last is Ryan Giggs, coming on to replace not Park but Nani. I do wonder when that substitution would have been made, and who would have come off, had Park not scored when he did.

80 mins I believe Aquilani just made his first touch.

81 mins Torres might have found Babel running clear into the area a second ago had he looked a little sharper. At the other end Rooney is finding himself in more and more space as Liverpool commit men forward, but as yet hasn’t taken advantage.

83 mins Last change for Liverpool, as Benayoun comes on for Lucas.

85 mins Liverpool are finally seeing some of the ball inside United’s half but there is no invention whatsoever. Johnson stands totally motionless in possession for a good five seconds before playing a three-yard ball to Gerrard, who swiftly loses it.

86 mins Rooney wriggles free on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box before cracking a low shot just wide of the near post.

87 mins And now Park does leave the pitch, to a standing ovation, with Paul Scholes coming on to replace him. Even leaving out the goal, he’s had a fine game.

89 mins What a chance for Liverpool! Gerrard plays a low ball in from the right that eludes every one of United’s defenders as it rolls to an unmarked Torres right on the penalty spot, but he scuffs his shot completely. Even then, though, the ball loops up and onto the head of Benayoun at the back post, but he can’t get any power behind his header and instead just dabs it tamely into the hands of Van der Sar.

90 mins Five minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official. Andy Gray is aggressively pushing his theory that the ball bobbled up before it got to Torres - off the scuff mark that the same striker created before Rooney’s penalty in the first half.

90 mins (+2) Agger impatiently swipes at a cross from the left and it floats harmlessly away over Van der Sar’s goal.

90 mins (+5) Babel is penalised for backing into Ferdinand as he jostles for position after Reina’s long ball forward. That’s about as eventful as it has been in injury time so far.

Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! That is all folks. United go back to the top of the table with an important win, while Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League berth are left looking slender indeed. They will return to the changing rooms to discover that Manchester City are currently a goal up away to Fulham as well. Right, I’m straight off to do the live coverage of Blackburn v Chelsea. I do hope you’ll join me.

Ryan Giggs reckons his appearance record will be short lived with Wayne Rooney the man to break it.


The Welsh winger broke the senior appearances for United less than two years but says Rooney will have surpassed his total by the time he retires and will have overtaken Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goals record for the club.

Ryan Giggs reckons his appearance record will be short lived with Wayne Rooney the man to break it.


The Welsh winger broke the senior appearances for United less than two years but says Rooney will have surpassed his total by the time he retires and will have overtaken Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time goals record for the club.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed his persistent back problem left him “bent over like an old hunchback” and struggling to walk.


And the United defender has also admitted that he hid the extent of the problem from Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed his persistent back problem left him “bent over like an old hunchback” and struggling to walk.


And the United defender has also admitted that he hid the extent of the problem from Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson.