Big Match Review 2 - Liverpool V Manchester United

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
Torres 64 (Sent off: Vidic 90)
Ngog 90
(Sent off:
Mascherano 90

This match was by no means a classic, but pleasing for Liverpool fans to see a much needed contrast in form, especially with a superb second half display, which was rewarded with a victory that should give the team a major boost to get back into the title race.

The first half was pretty tame with each keeper rarely troubled. Liverpool started as the most threatening and came closest to breaking the deadlock early on when a free-kick from Aurelio was saved brilliantly by Van der Sar, who then reacted well to block the follow-up from Kuyt. Manchester United lifted their game a little midway through the first half and could have been ahead after a fine build up in the midfield was finished with a great cross from Valencia, but Rooney couldn't get enough power with his header to trouble Reina. Liverpool had a similar chance to score ten minutes before the break with Aurelio timing his run perfectly to meet Benayoun's cross, but again headed straight at the keeper. The most eventful moment at the end of a dull half was the United players crowding the referee after the half time whistle was blown, most likely out of boredom.

The second half showed little signs of the entertainment improving until just after the hour when Yossi Benayoun passed a sublime through-ball for Fernando Torres, who had no trouble easing past Ferdinand to strike the ball past Van der Sar for the opening goal.

Despite being a goal down, it still took the United players a while to show any desire to push forward for the equaliser, but the arrival of Nani and Michael Owen added more urgency to their attack in the final quarter of an hour. Owen was eager to silence the home crowd of the team where he became the star he once was and showed glimpses of re-producing his former Liverpool form, most notably when setting up Valencia who was unlucky not to score as he hit the ball against the cross-bar.

With less than five minutes to go before stoppage time, Owen was the victim of controversy when Carragher brought him down outside the box, much like when Vidic brought down Gerrard at Old Trafford last season and was subsequently sent off. However Carragher was lucky to escape with a booking, though a sending off would have spoiled a superb defensive display alongside Agger who was also impressive at the back.

As the game went into stoppage time, Liverpool and Manchester United went to finish the game 10 a-side as Vidic and Mascherano did what they do best against their big city rivals and got themselves sent off. Vidic for bringing down Kuyt during a Liverpool counter-attack and Mascherano for a needless lunge into Van der Sar, trying to chase a stray, long ball. After that, there was still time for one more goal as Liverpool broke free with the United defence waving their white flags for surrender as Lucas passed to substitute David Ngog to score with an easy finish.

Man of the Match: Yossi Benayoun, who looked threatening from the start with some great dribbling and fine passing to provide the best chances, especially when setting up Torres for the first goal. Difficult to pick out a player for Manchester United after a disappointing all-round performance, but Ryan Giggs had perhaps the most encouraging display with accurate passing and crossing that was as consistent as Vidic departing from this fixture for an early bath.