Vineet Ramakrishnan/Zeenews Sports Bureau
FINAL SCORE: MANCHESTER UNITED 2 VS 1 LIVERPOOL
Old Trafford: 94’ Patrice Evra was ecstatic as Luis Suarez walked off the Theatre of Dreams and the Man U captain went on with his celebration in front of a dejected Suarez to create rather unpleasant scenes near the tunnel. But, at Old Trafford, it was 2-1 in favour of Manchester United, Rooney finding the net twice against the Merseysiders.
90’ SPECTACULAR save by De Gea as dead ball setplays made Man U look vulnerable as ever. Glen Johnson’s thunderous strike from the edge of the box was saved by De Gea similar to what the keeper had done against Mata’s ‘snorter' in the previous game.
85’ OFFSIDE flag went up as Carroll went a step ahead when Suarez headed the ball towards the striker.
79’ GOAL !!! Of all the people it was Luis Suarez who got Liverpool back in the game scoring one for the visitors. Setplays again troubled Man U as a long ball hit Ferdinand inside the box but the defender was slow in reacting. Suarez seized the opportunity to poke the free ball past De Gea.
79’ YELLOW CARD to Michael Carrick as he stuck his leg out late trying to stop Suarez.
71’ Plenty of space given to Rooney right at the edge of the box as he puts one in to Giggs and he gives a back heel to Welback. Welback attempts a weak try easily stopped by Reina.
68’ A rare passage of play were Liverpool worked the ball well with Bellamy, Carroll moving in swiftly but Scholes headed a Glen Johnson pass to safety.
63’ Suarez into the fray now, he boots off an Evra throw in and Evra seemed not so pleased.
61’ It was a trademark long pass from Gerrard but the tall Andy Carroll could not match up to a flying Rafael that time who headed the ball to safety.
60' SUBSTITIUTIONS Jay Spearing goes out for Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy in for Stewart Downing for Liverpool.
59’ It could have been a third for Rooney and Man U after a tactical short pass medley by the Man U forwards but Rooney lost the ball in between his legs.
49’ GOAL !!! It’s a second by Rooney as Valencia got past Skrtel to pass it to an open Rooney inside the box who finished off the play with a sublime low kick past a hapless Reina’s left side.
47’ GOAL !!! Brilliant volley from Rooney from the corner as Man U went one ahead of Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Old Trafford: 46’ After the ‘shakehand’ incident, it is said that Ferdinand had a word or two to say to Suarez in the tunnel and the second half started with Man U winning a corner.
First Half
45’ Ferdinand comes up with a perfect tackle as Luis Suarez was ahead of the pack with De Gea only to be beaten after Kuyt and Suarez played a cheeky 1-2 to leave the Man U defence behind.
43’ YELLOW CARD Stewart Downing gets the first Yellow of the day as his late tackle stopped a flying Rafael on the right flank.
41’ Gerard took Liverpool’s first corner as Rafael cleared it with a strong header.
39’ Suarez took the run cutting past the Man U midfield and gave a short pass to Kuyt inside the box but Ferdinand came in like a bull taking the ball away from the Dutch and cleared it in a rather clumpsy way.
35’ Liverpool defended stubbornly against the Man U charge with Kuyt threatening the Reds’ goal on couple of occasion. Suarez had been shunted out of play by the Man U defenders.
34’ Valencia’s gave a good high ball cross past Enrique where Evra headed it above the goal post.
30’ One and two touches inside the box as Paul Scholes headed one hard but straight to Reina who pulled off an instinctive save. It had goal written all over it. Great Play by Man U as veterans Scholes and Giggs combined well.
24’ Gerrard fouled as the English international bullied down Rafael when the defender was looking to turn around. Refree Phil Dowd awarded a free kick.
17’ Rafael goes for goal, a low left kick after Valencia and Rafael combined well at the right flank but Reina stops the shot with ease.
16’ Scholes gave a trademark long pass to Giggs at the flanks and a little one two between the two before Liverpool defenders stole the ball from Welback.
13’ Not an explosive 10 minutes, but both Man U and Liverpool moved forward swiftly to create openings as both Reina and De Gea had a couple of easy saves to make.
9’ Glen Johnson got a stellar pass from Suarez and he had a shy at the goal, De Gea dived as the ball went inches wide of left post.
6’ Enrique pulled down Valencia on the edge of the box and Giggs took the free kick.
Thirty second into the match Evra runs into Rio Ferdinand bringing the big man down and surprise, surprise !!! Ferdinand had Luis Suarez chasing him while Evra came in with a reckless tackle.
The most anticipated match of the weekend has kicked-off with Liverpool’s Suarez and Gerrard starting off the proceeding.
Manchester United Line-up
David De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Evans, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
Liverpool Line-up
Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Sanchez Jose Enrique, Jay Spearing, Jordan Henderson, Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing, Luis Suarez.
First Published: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 18:00