Match Report: Liverpool 2 - 1 Manchester United

Liverpool 2 - 1 Manchester United

Saturday 28/01/2012

FA Cup 4th Round

Manchester United crash out of the FA cup to late Dirk Kuyt winner.

With a midweek Premier League fixture with Stoke City on the horizon, Sir Alex Ferguson made the decision to rest some key names. Wanye Rooney and Luis Nani weren't included in the match day squad, after both picking up knocks in the 2 - 1 victory over Arsenal last week. David de Gea was making his first start since the 3-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on New Years Eve.

But with the experienced duo of Ryan Giggs and the returning Paul Scholes United dominated the play in the opening stages. United were operating a three man midfield that also included the inform Michael Carrick, between them they starved the home side of possession, looking comfortable for long stretches.

However the first clear cut chance fell to the hosts and they managed to capitalise as Daniel Agger headed home a Steven Gerrard corner. David De Gea again struggled with the cross as the eventual header flew over his head as he failed to claim the ball.

United didn't panic and instantly rediscovered their passing rhythm as they looked to get back on level terms. And they did get level, with the goal coming six minutes from half time as Rafael took advantage of some sloppy defending from Jose Enrique crossing low for Park Ji-Sung who rifled the ball into the bottom corner of Pepe Reina's goal.

The equaliser was no less than the visitors deserved. After a quiet first half the teams went in level with most of the attention of the home crowd being directed towards United defender Patrice Evra, who had been racially abused by Luis Suarez earlier this season. The behaviour of the home crowd was very unsympathetic and was verging on abusive, adding a sour note to the game.

The second half continued much as the first, with United holding possession in the middle of the park rarely probing forward but denying Liverpool the ball. The game continued in this manner until the final ten minutes when the home side came alive, as both teams changed to a 4-4-2 formation Liverpool finally found their footing in the game, as they launched the ball towards the United keeper looking to force him into another error.

And the home side did grab a winner, but it wasn't at the fault of United Spanish keeper. As Pepe Reina hoofed a ball up-field, Andy Carroll jumped highest to knock the ball down to Dirk Kuyt who hammered home from close range after 87 minutes. There was no time for a United response and the game finished 2 - 1.

With Stoke City visiting Old Trafford on Tuesday evening United can now look at concentrating their efforts on the Premier League as the reds drop out of the FA cup at the 4th round.

Match Report: Arsenal 1 - 2 Manchester United

Arsenal 1 - 2 Manchester United

Sunday 22/01/2012

Premier League

Dany Welbeck secures all three points for the Champions against a lacklustre Arsenal side.

Prior to kick off we had seen Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at home, meaning United needed to win at the Emirates Stadium to keep up the pressure on the leaders.

Anders Lindegaard was preferred in goal for the fourth consecutive match as he bids to secure United's number one spot. Danny Welbeck was rewarded for his goalscoring performance agaisnt Bolton last weekend as he started up front along side Wayne Rooney. Phil Jones was back in the starting line-up, appearing at right back.

However the Englishman's return was short lived when after 16 minutes he was stretchered off through injury after he had fallen awkwardly whilst defending an Arsenal counter attack. Early reports are that he will be facing a couple of weeks on the side lines. Rafael was his replacement slotting in at right back.

Despite the injury United went onto dominate, pushing Arsenal deep into their own half. Nani and Patrice Evra probed down the left flank making life tough for Yohan Djourou in the Arsenal defense.

The home crowd was being silenced by the attacking display of the away side, however United weren't converting the pressure into goals, Johnny Evans came close following a Ryan Giggs free kick and Danny Welbeck blazed a close range shot over the bar. Just as it seemed Arsenal were going to get to half time on levels terms United struck. Ryan Giggs floated in a pinpoint cross from the left wing which Antonio Valencia headed home to put the away side one up at the break. It was the least they deserved after a strong half from the defending Champions.


After a torrid first half Djourou was replaced by 18 year old full back Nicholas Yennaris as Arsenal tried to negate the threat of Nani and Evra down the left. In the 51st minute Arsenal almost drew level, when Chris Smalling slipped, Tomas Rosicky took advantage storming through on goal, he unselfishly set up Robin van Persie who somehow blazed his shot wide of the post from a great position.

Despite the miss Arsenal found their feet in the second half as the game evened out into a much tighter contest.Moments after the Dutchman's miss Alex Oxlade - Chamberlain setup Aaron Ramsay in the box but the Welshman fired his shot over the bar. In a frentic few minutes United had a great chance to pull two ahead when Danny Welbeck outpaced Per Mertesacker, to go one on one with Wojciech Szczęsny, the English forward managed to pass past the keeper, but the ball didn't have to the pace to cross the line before Mertesacker got back to clear the ball inches from goal.

United were made to pay for not putting the game to bed whene Oxlade-Chamberlain burst through the United defense at speed in the 71st minute, set up Robin van Persie who beautifully placed his shot across goal into the bottom corner of Lindegaard's net. Arsenal had fought back after a poor first half and now seemed to be the team in the ascendency.

Soon after the goal Paul Scholes was brought on for Nani, who had picked up a knock and Ryan Giggs moved out onto the left. The substitution changed the game as United kept possession well in the middle of the park. In the 81st minute it was a Paul Scholes ball, floated into Valencia's path that created the winner. The Ecuadorian jinked his way past a couple of defenders, playing an excellent one-two in the process before Danny Welbeck smashed home from close range.

United responded in the best way possible to the equaliser by moving ahead again. Arsenal piled on the pressure in the closing stages but the visitors held on to secure the spoils. The reds sent out a message that they are not giving up their title without a fight as they move back to within three points of the leaders Manchester City.

Match Report: Manchester United 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Manchester United 3 - 0 Bolton Wanderers

Saturday 14/01/2012

Premier League

Paul Scholes makes a goalscoring return to help United back to winning ways against Bolton.



After his surprise inclusion on the bench in the 3-2 victory over Manchester City last Sunday, Paul Scholes made a return to the starting eleven for the game against Bolton. The 37 year old starting his first game since coming out of retirement. Danny Welbeck was preferred to start upfront along side Wayne Rooney as United were looking to make amends for losing their last two league games against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle.

United started on the front foot with Antonio Valencia tearing up and down the right flank, stretching the game early on. The first clear cut opportunity fell for United in the 20th minute when Zat Knight bundled over Danny Welbeck in the box to give the home side a penalty, and the perfect chance to go into the lead. However Adam Bogdan in the Bolton goal guessed correctly and superbly palmed away Wayne Rooney effort to keep the scores level.

Following the miss Bolton defended well keeping United at bay, not allowing the game to flow. It looked like they had done enough to go into half time on level terms, but in the first minute of stoppage time Paul Scholes popped up at the back post to neatly finish Wayne Rooney's low cross. The goal signalled a fairy tale return to action for Scholes whilst also settling the nerves left from the saved penalty.

Bolton carried on where the left off in the second half frustrating United and even carving a few chances of their own, David N'Gog spurred a close range effort, blasting over the bar. It took until the 74th minute for United to extent their lead, when they did Danny Welbeck was on hand to poke home from 12 yards following a sublime pass from Rooney. The instinctive strike had doubled the reds lead but in the process of scoring Welbeck had injured himself and had to be replaced by Chicharito.

With the points sealed United seemed to be cruising to a 2-0 victory when Michael Carrick decided to put the icing on the cake as he stroked the ball home beautifully from just outside the box to make it three.

Missed penalty aside United deserved to take home the spoils and it could have been more if Danny Welbeck had seen a first half shot hit the back of the net and if Wayne Rooney could have converted. United move level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with City not playing until Monday, the result puts the pressure on the Blues.

Match Report: Manchester City 2 - 3 Manchester United

Manchester City 2 - 3 Manchester United

Sunday 08/01/2012

FA Cup Third Round

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney scores twice to knock out cross city rivals at the first hurdle, as Paul Scholes makes a surprising return from retirement.


The return of Paul Scholes was the main talking point before the game, as Manchester United's legendary midfielder earned a place on the bench for the second Manchester derby of the season. Other changes saw Danny Welbeck return to the starting lineup, ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, partnering Wayne Rooney up front. Chris Smalling was fit enough to start as United's makeshift defence of recent weeks was beginning to look more familiar, he lined up along Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Phil Jones.

City started the better, pushing United deep into their own half as they tried to take advantage of their home support. However that crowd was soon silenced as Antonio Valencia's cross was met perfectly in the air by Wayne Rooney who headed an unstoppable header past Costel Pantilimon. The goal was United's first attack of note and they had made it count.

Just two minutes later the Blues took another blow as their captain Vincent Kompany lunged in recklessly on Luis Nani. The Manchester United winger just managed to get himself out of the way but Kompany had gone in two footed, making Chris Foy's decision easy, sending him off after twelve minutes.

One goal to the good and a man up, United were fimrly in the driving seat as they looked to settle the tie early. The away side piled on the pressure as their 5,000 fans sang the loudest. In the 30th minute United doubled their advantage as Danny Welbeck fired home an excellent volley, again leaving the outstreched Pantilimon no chance. The young Englishman was the only Mancunian to feature in the derby and he reeled away in exstacy following his brilliant strike.

The league leaders were in pieces, and in the 40th minute Rooney hit his second and United's third. When Aleksander Kolarov felled Danny Welbeck in the box Chris Foy pointed to the spot, and despite the City keeper stopping Rooney's initial strike he couldn't get to rebound as United took an unprecidented 3 - 0 lead at the Etihad stadium going into half time.

United had one foot in the fourth round and at the half time break City removed two of their more attacking players in David Silva and Adam Johnson for the more defensive options of Stefan Savic and Pablo Zabaleta. Moments after the restart City had a lifeline, Patrice Evra was deemed to bring down Micah Richards on the edge of the area and Kolarov's freekick found the bottom corner of the net to reduce the deficiet to 3-1.

Soon after the goal Valencia found himself in the City penalty area and as he outsmarted Kolarov the Serbian defender brought him down, stunningly Foy didn't award a second spot
kick for United, despite the clear foul. On the hour mark we saw the return of Paul Scholes, on as a substitute for Nani, however he made an instant impact for the wrong reasons as a stray pass allowed Sergio Aguero a shot on goal, his attempt foruntaley was parried back in his direction to give City their second. With just a single goal margin the home side were looking to complete an unlikely comeback.

But as the half wore on United shored things up with Paul Scholes making amends as me made 71 passes in his 30 minutes on the field with a 97% completion rate. This defused the City comeback and they had one final chance in the dying minutes as Kolarov struck another freekick from the same position as his first, but this time Anders Lindegaard repelled the effort as United completed a famous victory against their rivals.

United will now travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the 4th round of the FA cup as the draw brought up another tough opponent away from home.

Match Report: Newcastle United 3 - 0 Manchester United

Newcastle United 3 - 0 Manchester United

Wednesday 04/01/2011

Premier League

United lose their unbeaten away record and go down to their second successive Premier League loss to dent their title hopes.


After Saturdays disappointing 3-2 loss to Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United were looking to get back on track at the newly named Sports Direct Arena. United's defence had been crippled by injuries in recent weeks, so the return of Rio Ferdinand to the starting line up will have been welcomed by all United fans. However the back line still included inexperienced Phil Jones and Antonio Valencia again filling in at right back.

Anders Lindegaard was preferred in goal after David De Gea had struggled in the defeat to Blackburn. Dimitar Berbatov was selected to partner Wayne Rooney up front as he had
bagged six goals in his last three games. United were also looking to get their own back on a Newcastle team that picked up a point at Old Trafford after a poor refereeing decision had led to a Demba Ba equaliser.

The game began at break neck pace with both sides eager to make an early impression on the game. It was the reds who started marginally the better forcing Newcastle into rash challenges, with Fabio Coloccini lucky to escape a yellow card for a high boot. They almost took an early advantage when Dimitar Berbatov saw his header deflected onto the post, in which inexplicably a goal kick was given even though the ball had clearly ricocheted off a Newcastle defender.

However as the game developed the home side took the game by the scruff of the neck and in the 33rd minute the Magpies went into a well deserved lead as Demba Ba hit a sumptuous volley into the top of the net following a Shola Ameobi cross. The reds couldn't match Newcastle's energy in the middle of the park, with the threats of Rooney and
Ryan Giggs being subdued by Cheick Tiote.

The score stayed at 1-0 going into half time leaving Sir Alex's men with everything to do if they were going to get back into the game. At just a goal down there was everythign to play for. However United were stung almost immideatly after the restart when Yohan Cabaye fired an inch perfect free kick into the top left corner of Lindegaard's goal. The advantage was well and truly with the home side and the reds struggled to break them down as they were now in search of three goals if they were to turn the game around.

The closest the reds came was when Wayne Rooney saw his effort from four yards cleared off the line by ex red Danny Simpson as Newcastle continued to boss the game. One of the
few sparks of quality in the Manchester United team was an imperious passing performance from Michael Carrick, however the England midfielder found himself camped deep inside
his own half and struggled to make an impact.

In the 90th minute United were dealt a hammer blow when a defensive mix up meant Phil Jones nodded the ball into his own net to make the score 3-0 and give Newcastle a resounding victory. The loss means title rivals Manchester City retain a three point advantage at the top of the league with 18 games to play.