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Article by Mark
Graham, Stats Nerd
Manchester United 3 v 0 Liverpool,
Old Trafford,
13.30pm, Sunday 23rd March
2008.
Goals:
Manchester United: Brown (34), Ronaldo (79), Nani (81) -
Liverpool -
n/a.
Attendance: 76,000
A 3-0 score line in favour of the home side saw United
comfortably beat their fiercest rivals as Liverpool saw
Javier Mascherano receive a yellow for a tackle on
Scholes, before a second yellow for dissent, after seeing
Red, the Argentinean midfielder had then to be restrained
by team mates Alonso, Gerrard, David Guest & Peter Crouch, all the
time whilst embarrassing himself in front of 76,000 people
as the Liverpool player argued with Ref Steve Bennett.
Even after 44 minutes there was only one team in the game as United won
the all important midfield battle hands down with Carrick,
Scholes & Anderson passing Liverpool to oblivion, thus
keeping the visitors at arms reach, never giving a chance
to show the impressive form Liverpool have sustained
recently.
Before the
major flash point, United had looked a sure bet to take
the lead but some impressive keeping from Reina kept his
team in the match.
Wayne Rooney showing a textbook case of honesty, could have had
claims to a sure fire penalty as Jamie Carragher
tackled Rooney in the box, but the The White Pele chose to stay on his
feet before his eventual shot was saved by Reina.
Scholes the architect was ruling Liverpool with his
possession football & two steps ahead of all on the pitch
a Scholes'
free-kick left Liverpool's defence asleep only for fortune
to shine on the visitors as Rooney's touch eluded him.
Liverpool showed brief glimpses of threatening EVDS goal
as Aurelio from the left blasted a shot miles wide of the
target, Steven Gerrard went closest for Liverpool when
ball sat up for the midfielder which deflected over.
Ronaldo then struck a post from Giggs's free-kick but the
Linesman had ruled for offside.
On the other side of Reina's keeping, a Ryan Giggs
cross was almost palmed into his own net as the Spanish
stopper had two bites at the cherry to eliminate the
danger.
The reigning Premiership Champions the finally took a
deserved lead through an unlikely source as Wes Brown
capitalised on slack defending whilst running into the
box, Wayne Rooney may have not scored since October at Old
Trafford but his assists & work rate more than allow for a
lack of goals.
Rooney crossed from the left and like an Atlantic Salmon,
Brown leapt & in what can only be described the defender &
local Manc "Backed" the ball into the net despite the
challenge of Reina for the opener.
Minutes before
half time Liverpool's prolific and frustrated marksman
Fernando Torres who's supply line was cut off by United's
midfield was snapped at with challenges & upon arguing
with referee Steve Bennett about the tackles he was
receiving, a step was
taken too far & he received a yellow card.
Javier Mascherano then ran twenty or so yards already on a yellow
card remonstrating with the referee & it didn't take a
genius to guess what happened next as Alonso & other team
mates were desperately telling Mascherano to zip it
knowing what was the only out come of the protest.
Bennet then presented Mascherano with another yellow card leaving Liverpool with almost no chance of claming
any spoils in an already difficult game.
Spanish Keeper Reina continued to keep the score
respectable & his team in the game at 1-0 as Paul Scholes
forced Ronaldo into a scoring chance, Ronaldo then tried
from distance with a free kick which went barely wide
before the keeper foiled United again saving from Rooney.
As the match continued into is finale more saves came from
Pepe in the Liverpool goal as Carlos Tevez lashed a shot
with the quite brilliant Pepe saving, the laws of averages
then took centre stage as a Ronaldo shot was
saved........however from the ensuing corner kick, Ronaldo
attacked the ball nodding in his chance beyond a
challenging Reina who at the same time undone all the
brilliant previous goalkeeping.
United then ended the game with another assist from Wayne
Rooney after the England hitman slipped a pass into the
path of Nani, the classy dangerous looking sub the let rip
with a shot from distance not two minutes later ending a
seven game winning streak & putting paid to dying embers
of a Premeirship title going to Merseyside.
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