Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0 Analysis
Liverpool Win Against Manchester United Set to Reignite Season
Oct 26, 2009
It was a game Liverpool needed to win. Not only to claw back points on United, but for the confidence and rejuvenation of a club with so much inner turmoil it is on the brink of devastation. The unrest behind the scenes at Anfield began in the boardroom with the relationship of George Gillett and Tom Hicks breaking down to the point they wouldn't talk. Then, as Rafael Benitez was within a whisker of building a title winning side, they ran the club into debt and couldn't afford to strengthen the squad.
It appeared as though the unrest was beginning to spill down into the dressing room and on to the pitch. A series of poor performances and four defeats in ten games raised eyebrows from the stands and voices on the training ground. Several players have aired their frustrations about the lack of strength in depth and it seemed the belief in themselves was beginning to subside. Against Manchester United on Sunday however, the Reds showed spirit, resilience and the world they can play football.
Torres Does it Again For Liverpool
Liverpool controlled the game virtually from start to finish. Other than an early scare when Wayne Rooney's finish was judged offside the home side were dominant and created the better chances and had their finishing been better would have run out comfortable winners. Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva and Fernando Torres were all culpable of missing the target when they might have done better, but predictably it was the latter that produced a moment of magic to edge Liverpool in front in the 65th minute. Yossi Benayoun spotted the Spaniard run and played him in with a slide rule pass. Torres was strong in shrugging off Rio Ferdinand's challenge before hammering the ball into the roof of the net.
The Reds continued to impress, but frustratingly couldn't find the cushion of a second goal. Then, with ten minutes left, Benitez substituted Fernando Torres for David Ngog, a decision that could have proved costly. For the first time in the game United were beginning to apply pressure and were committing men forward. When Torres left the pitch, Liverpool's confidence and believe seemed to leave with him. The home side were struggling to keep the ball and were under serious pressure. How many times have United grabbed late goals? With five minutes injury time awarded it looked as though they might do it again. But their performance didn't merit a goal whereas Liverpool's did. In the dying seconds Ngog was put through on goal to calmly slot passes Edwin van der Sar. Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal showed exactly how much the win meant by sprinting the length of the pitch to be the first to congratulate the goal scorer.
Proof Liverpool Can Play Without Gerrard
The performance was exactly what Liverpool needed and the result proved they are capable of beating the best teams - and without Steven Gerrard. In the corresponding fixture last year, Liverpool beat United at home without Gerrard or Torres. So why when either one or the other aren't playing against teams Liverpool should be beating, the other squad players don't look capable of winning? Only Benitez can answer that!
