Saturday 15/10/2011
Premier League
Manchester United grab their first point at Anfield for three years, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.
Sir Alex Ferguson shuffled the pack ahead of their encounter away at Liverpool, with Wayne Rooney, Nani, Anderson and Chicharito finding themselves on the bench. Instead in came, Danny Welbeck, Park Ji-Sung, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher. The omission of Rooney was a result of his sending off for England the previous week, with the manager explaining 'his head wasn't in the right place'. United had lost their last three league visits to Anfield, and were looking to put an end to this run to keep them top of the premier league.
It was Liverpool who made the brighter start to the game, with the return of their captain Steven Gerrard, for his first start of the season, spurring the home side on as they pushed United back into their own half. The game soon evened out, play was scrappy with both sides wasteful in possession. Chances were few and far between, and it took until 16 minutes for the first half chance, when Phil Jones rose to meet a Patrice Evra cross, which he headed wide from close range. Both sides seemed nervous as the game was becoming a midfield battle with neither team looking like making a breakthrough.
It took until the 35th minutes for the first shot on target when Luis Suarez managed to turn Johnny Evans in the box, but his shot was straight at David De Gea who beat the ball away comfortably. The half finished goalless, with both sides struggling to get going, in what had been an edgy first half.
Both United and Liverpool were more composed on the ball as the second half began, and it was the hosts who were looking more of a threat as both Suarez and Gerrard had shots saved by De Gea. United's Spanish 'keeper was looking solid between the sticks, keeping Liverpool at bay with ease for the first hour. However this was about to change, when after 67 minutes Charlie Adam went down easily on the edge of the area following the slightest of touches from Rio Ferdinand. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard stood over the free kick, and proceeded to strike the ball through the United wall to put the home side 1-0 up. Replays showed that Ryan Giggs was at fault, moving in the wall allowing Gerrard's shot past him, giving De Gea no chance.
There was an instant response from the United manager, who brought on Wayne Rooney and Nani, as they now needed to come from a goal behind. The match opened up as United piled forward, determined to escape from Anfield with at least a point. Phil Jones was replaced by Chicharito with fifteen minutes left, as the visitors went all out for the equaliser. And after only a matter of minutes of coming on it was Chicharito who squared things up, heading home from close range following a Danny Welbeck flick on from a Nani corner. United were jubilant as they had forced their way back into the game However a minute after the restart they almost threw all the hard work away when Dirk Kuyt had a close range shot brilliantly saved following an excellent early cross from Stuart Downing. Moments later the home side were denied again by De Gea as he managed to claw away a chipped volley from Jordan Henderson in the 90th minute.
1-1 it finished, as both sides had rallied in the second half making it an exciting finish to one of the biggest games in world football. By only picking up a point United had relinquished the top spot to their cross city rivals, but coming away with a point from Anfield has to be seen as a point gained. United remain unbeaten in the league after 8 games, with Manchester City up next in the league as they travel to Old Trafford next weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment