Saturday 11/02/2012
Premier League
Wayne Rooney scores twice in four minutes to secure United the points in a tense match at Old Trafford.
With Liverpool striker Luis Suarez returning for his first start after an eight match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra in the return fixture in October, tensions were running high even before te kick off. Much had been said about whether the players would shake hands before the game, and it was here where the sparks began to fly as Suarez ignored the outstretched arm of Evra. The action almost led to a fight, as Evra showed his disbelief in being denied a chance to calm tensions by the guilty party meant it wouldn't just be the football discussed after th game.
United opted to start with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, with the Welshman starting on the left but floating in and around Scholes and Carrick helping United retain the ball comfortably in the early stages. In fact it was a cagey start from both sides as Glen Johnson, from left back, saw a early shot curl around David De Gea's post, was the best chance in the first ten minutes.
United's man of the moment Antonio Valencia was giving Jose Enrique a hard time down the right flank as the Spaniard struggled to keep pace with the Ecuadorian winger. This almost led to an early inroad as Enrique brought his man down just outisde the area, however the freekick came to nothing. United had the best chance of the half after some sublime interplay between Giggs, Rooney, Welbeck and Scholes saw the latter firing a header towards goal, however the chance was stopped comfortably by Pepe Reina.
Just before the half time break Suarez found himself played through for the first time in the match however Rio Ferdinand made a pin point last ditch challenge to swipe the ball from Suarez. As the Uruguayan went down he thought he had been fouled, demanding that Ferdinand was sent off. However Phil Dowd called the decision correctly, allowing the game to continue.
The appeal from Suarez hadn't helped the tension that was building throughout the half, as the players left the field of play, arguing between both teams began. Police intervention was required to seperate both sets of players. The mood of the game was sour, the football in the second half would have to improve if this was going to change.
And that's exactly what happened as Manchester United exploded out of the box in the second half. two minutes after the restart United won a corner. Jordan Henderson failed to deal with Giggs' ball as Wayne Rooney was at hand to thump home a volley to give United the lead. The home side had been the better side and now had a goal to back it up.
Just four minutes later Rooney doubled his and United's advantage to put them firmly in the driving seat. The England striker dispatched calmly through Reina's legs following a pass from Antonio Valencia as the Old Trafford crowd went wild.
Liverpool looked distraught as they desperately tried to hold onto the game, United continued to look dominant and could have been out if sight. Rooney found himself with the ball 10 yards from goal, however his momentum was too great and he only managed to poke his shot harmlessly wide. United kept their shape following the goals, not allowing Liverpool the opertunity to create any chances.
This was until the 80th minute when the visitors grabbed a lifeline, through who else but the under fire Suarez. Poking home from three yards after a defensive mix up following a Charlie Adam free-kick. The goal gave the visitors hope and put the home crowd on edge for the final ten minutes. However Liverpool didn't manage to rally as United kept their composure seeing out the final stages with relative ease to secure a valuable victory.
After the game Patrice Evra couldn't hold in his delight as he celebrated with the fans and his team mates, as he felt justice had been done. An important result in the title race as United move to the top of the table for a day at least, with rivals Manchester City not playing untill Sunday.
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