Match Review
Manchester United 2 v 0 Liverpool, Old Trafford, 13.00pm K.O. Sunday 22nd October 2006.
Goals Manchester United: Scholes (39), Ferdinand (66) Liverpool: none
Attendance: 75,828

A record turnout of 75,828 watched as United unmercifully bullied Liverpool for almost the entire 90 minutes. Goals from Paul Scholes and another Pele-esque strike from Rio Ferdinand secured all the points for United. In a game where Liverpool, much to their disgrace, didn't bother to turn in their usual blood and guts performance against United, their fans were also sounded very quiet from RANT's seat. Games against the scousers are usually highly charged for United fans but the resulting atmosphere meant that it may as well have been a Charlton, Bolton or Villa. The drab and silent Liverpool fans who aside from the occasional outburst of "Who's that dying on the ru.. etc etc" didn't seem to be their usual venomous, granny stabbing selves. It was almost as if they knew what was coming.

Craig Bellamy was missing with an injury and England's number one, Peter Crouch was on the bench. Benitez opted to field new Dutch signing Dirk Kuyt as a lone striker with Garcia floating behind on the rare occasions when the Merseydivers attacked. They flooded the midfield and tried stop United on the counter. The Reds were able to take the game in their stride without really playing well at all.

In the early exchanges Liverpool could have created chances with some better passing, as Kuyt, probably one of their two lights on a dismal afternoon, was left unmarked only to see the final ball drift past him. With nothing much at either end the best and only Liverpool chance came to Kuyt again as Gonzalez sped past Ferdinand and crossed for the Dutchman, whose header only managed to find his perfectly positioned countryman in United's goal.

Gonzalez was again Liverpool's main threat as he had a couple of shots during Liverpool's best spell of possession. United would soon punish their rivals for not taking their chances.

The move that produced United's first began with the eventual goalscorer Paul Scholes finding Wayne Rooney and bursting into the box. Rooney passed to Giggs on the left and the Welshman crossed a perfect ball for Scholes. Reina managed to deny the first attempt, resulting in Hyypia and Scholes fighting for ball, and when the Ginger Prince won the battle Old Trafford burst into celebration. United would again create before Graham Poll blew for half time with Saha testing Reina as the Spanish 'keeper tipped a snap shot around his post. United were in buoyant mood when they went in for the break 1-0 up.

Benitez brought on Jermaine Pennant for Gonzalez early in the second half with Gerrard moving in field. Gerrard was clearly off form and couldn't find his range of passing or shooting. He alarmingly gave the ball away on numerous occasions. The skipper did give Liverpool hope as his chipped effort over the United defence provided Garcia with an attempt on goal, but the Spaniard struggled to get any sort of goalward momentum on the ball and his weak header was claimed by EVDS.

United's second came on Ryan Giggs' 666th appearance and in the 66th minute. Rio Ferdinand, lurking at the far post, collected the freshly injured Jamie Carragher's attempted clearance and blasted a left foot shot past the Reina for 2-0.

Benitez then used his secret weapon as the 8ft tall expert marksman Peter "Does The Circus Know You're Here" Crouch was looked upon for divine intervention. However, big Pete only managed to get himself in trouble after kicking EVDS - Referee Graham Poll looked likely to send the gangly striker off only to show him yellow.

So Liver "another false dawn" Pool find themselves at the bottom of the Premiership mountain and 11 points off the leaders and United sit on top of the league. To add insult to injury and much merriment, SAF even said after the match: "Don't count them out yet..."

Ratings
van der Sar (7); Neville (8), Ferdinand (7), Vidic (8), Evra (8); Fletcher (8), Carrick (7), Scholes (9),Giggs (8); Rooney (7); Saha (7).
Subs Used: O'Shea (5) for Neville (78 mins), Brown (n/a) for Evra (90 mins)
Subs not used: Kusczak, Ronaldo, Solskjaer.

United's Man of the Match
Darren Fletcher restored some pride after bouncing off Harry Kewell in last season FA Cup exit with a committed display. Vidic was a monster in the air each and every time, while Evra was a terrier again. However MOTM was The Ginger Ninja with his 500th appearance for the Reds. The little midfielder stuck one in Liverpool's eye!

Match Reaction
Liverpool fans everywhere, now you know now how United fans felt when we submitted in the FA Cup last season and when United were bullied 3-1 at Anfield in 2001. Not nice when your team is passionless is it? Fletcher is having the season of his life and RANT feels (only if current wing form is kept up) he has something to offer the team. Well done son and keep it up.

Was Rant's Prediction Right?
Two in Row, Two in a Row! We said 2-0. United Rant 3 v 9 Wrong Predictions

Milestones
Paul Scholes' 90th Premiership goal of his United career and 132nd goal overall
Rio Ferdinand's 4th Premiership goal of his United career and
4th goal overall for the club
Ryan Giggs's 666th competitive appearance for United
Paul Scholes's 490th competitive appearance for United
Wayne Rooney's 100th competitive appearance for United

Miscellaneous Info
Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe is a cannibal
United's next match is on Wednesday 25th October 2006 against Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup at Gresty Road with a 20.00 kick off.