Dimitar Berbatov’s first hat-trick for United settled a pulsating clash as both the striker and the fixture lived up to Sir Alex Ferguson’s pre-match billing.source
A stooping header in the first half, then a beautiful bicycle kick and a towering header in the second, earned the Bulgarian a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful and his team all three, priceless points. But the headlines would have been dramatically different had Dimitar not headed John O’Shea’s 84th-minute cross triumphantly past Pepe Reina - Liverpool had dragged themselves from 0-2 down to 2-2 with Steven Gerrard scoring from a penalty and a free-kick in a frenetic six-minute spell.
As expected, Sir Alex made almost wholesale changes to the side held 0-0 by Rangers in midweek – nine in total, including the one enforced by Antonio Valencia’s grim injury and another due to Rio Ferdinand reporting flu-like symptoms. But the team taking on Liverpool more closely resembled the league eleven that lined up against their local rivals Everton at Goodison Park – the only alteration being Wayne Rooney in for Gary Neville, with John O’Shea moving back from midfield to right-back.
With the rain steadily falling at Old Trafford, the Reds attempted to put the early skids under the visitors’ back-pedalling rearguard. Nani, in particular, tested new Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky on United’s right flank and forced a couple of corners – one of which Nemanja Vidic nearly converted with a header over the bar.
However, the Portuguese winger spurned a wonderful opening in the 16th minute when, after being slipped into space inside the box by Rooney, he took a touch too many and enabled Liverpool to get three bodies between him and the goal. With his best shooting chance gone, he returned the ball to his team-mate; when Rooney’s effort was then blocked, Nani comfortably missed on the rebound.
While the rain abated, United’s search for a breakthrough did not. After a brief alarm bell when Glen Johnson fired inches wide of the far post from Liverpool’s first corner, normal service resumed. The play, however, was not flowing as it did in the early stages; Howard Webb not helping the mood of the home crowd or the manager by blowing up for some petty fouls in Liverpool’s favour and ignoring a Konchesky challenge that left Nani clutching his face.
Sustained pressure on Pepe Reina’s goal eventually paid off three minutes before the break, when Ryan Giggs whipped a second corner in quick succession into the box and Dimitar Berbatov broke free from Fernando Torres to bury a header. The Bulgarian’s fifth goal of the season – his fourth in the league – sent United into the dressing room with a deserved 1-0 lead; an advantage that might have been doubled had Webb heeded pleas from United players and fans to punish Jamie Carragher for handball.
Nani rattled a post as the Reds continued in the same vein after the break, while Fletcher’s deflected shot dropped between Berbatov and Reina – with the Liverpool keeper just managing to snaffle the ball. United’s number nine would not be denied his double for much longer – he claimed it in glorious style in the 59th minute, with arguably his greatest goal for the Reds so far. Controlling Nani’s left-footed cross with his thigh, Berbatov executed an exquisite bicycle kick, over Reina’s head and into the Stretford End net off the crossbar.
Game over for the shot-shy Merseysiders? Not quite. After giving Edwin van der Sar nothing to do for an hour, the visitors gained a penalty when Jonny Evans sent Torres tumbling in the area. United’s goalkeeper was well beaten by Steven Gerrard – and incredibly, agonisingly, the same was true from a free-kick six minutes later. This time the Liverpool skipper was faced with a wall, but his shot somehow found its way between Fletcher and the man who’d committed the second crucial foul on Torres, John O’Shea.
For the second league game in a row, both against a team from Merseyside, United had let a two-goal lead slip. But while Everton’s endeavours almost merited such a turnaround, Liverpool’s paltry contribution to the contest did not – Old Trafford was aghast, save for the away fans who’d suddenly found their voices.
Sir Alex threw on Federico Macheda in search of another fairytale moment. But this was to be Dimitar’s dream day and when O’Shea atoned for conceding Liverpool’s equalising free-kick with a fabulous cross from the right, the Reds' number nine seized his opportunity to beat Reina for a third time. The home fans roared - and shortly after rose to applaud the predator off the field. His work done, Berbatov watched as United triumphantly closed out the game.
Highlights:
No comments:
Post a Comment