Manchester United 1-8 Liverpool, Over view - 2008/09
Liverpool's march towards the 2008/09 Premiership title continued today with a stunning display at Old Trafford. The Super Reds went ahead just before the kick-off when Riera was sent away down the left wing.
His cross was handled on the half way line by a United defender and a penalty was awarded for this cynical foul. Gerrard stepped up to slot the ball home for Liverpool's 33rd penalty of the season. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The 15th minute saw the Super-Smashing Reds go two up after Ferguson was penalised for coughing just outside the area. Gerrard's resultant free kick was slightly miss-hit, but even if the keeper was not being pinned to the floor by Mascherano, he would not have saved it. 2-0. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The 21st minute saw more trouble for United when Vidic was sent-off for enquiring about the referee's Liverpool shirt. However two minutes after the interval United struck back after an amazing piece of good fortune. The referee's assistant could only parry Berbatov's shot and Rooney thumped the ball home. Confusion reigned for 10 minutes as the entire Liverpool squad surrounded the referee, arguing that the referee's assistant had been fouled 15 minutes earlier. The referee grudgingly had to give the goal even though he racked his brain for a reason to disallow it.
Rafa was furious and rushed down from his seat in the stand to the dugout, knocking over a number of blind, disabled, pensioners in wheel-chairs on the way down. Fortunately, things settled down again as Babel's took a long-range shot, which deflected off the corner flag but had clearly crossed the line, 3-1. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
Just after the restart, un-sportsmanlike Scholes was dismissed for making ridiculous claims for a penalty after Mascherano had nearly decapitated Hargreaves. The referee and his assistant missed the incident as they were both asking Kuyt for his autograph, but replays showed that Mascherano's flying kung-fu kick, followed by a forearm smash was clearly unintentional.
Ten minutes later Rafa took off Kuyt and replaced him with Benayoun, Arbeloa, and Alonso. Wonderful, wonderful Liverpool's 4th came shortly after. Rooney was caught offside just outside the United penalty area and Carragher's free-kick thundered in after deflecting off the underside of the flood lights. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The super, marvel, wonder Reds kept the pressure on until the bitter end. In the 98th minute Ferdinand conceded a free kick just outside his own area for blatantly glancing at the referee. Torres stepped up and proceeded to chip the ball right into the referee's path and he made no mistake from 10 yards. Goal number 5 and it was no more than Liverpool deserved.
Gerrard slotted home number 6 from the penalty spot after Evra went down with a broken leg. Fortunately Mascherano was nearby when it happened and, after running 50 yards, he was able to bring the incident to the referee's attention. Unfazed by Evra's cynical tactics, protruding bone and spraying blood, the referee sent him off for diving (and time wasting) and awarded Liverpool the penalty. Gerrard cheekily chipped the ball over the keeper and the crossbar, but the referee decided that it was a goal, because based on past records, Gerrard rarely missed.
When the final whistle went after 33 minutes of injury time, United traipsed off with their heads low, having been taught a footballing lesson by what is by far the greatest team the World has ever seen. As the losers hit the showers, a superb flowing movement by Liverpool culminated with a fine diving header by Rafa and it was 7-1. However the referee decided that it was such a good goal, it should count double.
8-1 then - and it was no more than Liverpool deserved.
Liverpool's march towards the 2008/09 Premiership title continued today with a stunning display at Old Trafford. The Super Reds went ahead just before the kick-off when Riera was sent away down the left wing.
His cross was handled on the half way line by a United defender and a penalty was awarded for this cynical foul. Gerrard stepped up to slot the ball home for Liverpool's 33rd penalty of the season. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The 15th minute saw the Super-Smashing Reds go two up after Ferguson was penalised for coughing just outside the area. Gerrard's resultant free kick was slightly miss-hit, but even if the keeper was not being pinned to the floor by Mascherano, he would not have saved it. 2-0. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The 21st minute saw more trouble for United when Vidic was sent-off for enquiring about the referee's Liverpool shirt. However two minutes after the interval United struck back after an amazing piece of good fortune. The referee's assistant could only parry Berbatov's shot and Rooney thumped the ball home. Confusion reigned for 10 minutes as the entire Liverpool squad surrounded the referee, arguing that the referee's assistant had been fouled 15 minutes earlier. The referee grudgingly had to give the goal even though he racked his brain for a reason to disallow it.
Rafa was furious and rushed down from his seat in the stand to the dugout, knocking over a number of blind, disabled, pensioners in wheel-chairs on the way down. Fortunately, things settled down again as Babel's took a long-range shot, which deflected off the corner flag but had clearly crossed the line, 3-1. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
Just after the restart, un-sportsmanlike Scholes was dismissed for making ridiculous claims for a penalty after Mascherano had nearly decapitated Hargreaves. The referee and his assistant missed the incident as they were both asking Kuyt for his autograph, but replays showed that Mascherano's flying kung-fu kick, followed by a forearm smash was clearly unintentional.
Ten minutes later Rafa took off Kuyt and replaced him with Benayoun, Arbeloa, and Alonso. Wonderful, wonderful Liverpool's 4th came shortly after. Rooney was caught offside just outside the United penalty area and Carragher's free-kick thundered in after deflecting off the underside of the flood lights. It was no more than Liverpool deserved.
The super, marvel, wonder Reds kept the pressure on until the bitter end. In the 98th minute Ferdinand conceded a free kick just outside his own area for blatantly glancing at the referee. Torres stepped up and proceeded to chip the ball right into the referee's path and he made no mistake from 10 yards. Goal number 5 and it was no more than Liverpool deserved.
Gerrard slotted home number 6 from the penalty spot after Evra went down with a broken leg. Fortunately Mascherano was nearby when it happened and, after running 50 yards, he was able to bring the incident to the referee's attention. Unfazed by Evra's cynical tactics, protruding bone and spraying blood, the referee sent him off for diving (and time wasting) and awarded Liverpool the penalty. Gerrard cheekily chipped the ball over the keeper and the crossbar, but the referee decided that it was a goal, because based on past records, Gerrard rarely missed.
When the final whistle went after 33 minutes of injury time, United traipsed off with their heads low, having been taught a footballing lesson by what is by far the greatest team the World has ever seen. As the losers hit the showers, a superb flowing movement by Liverpool culminated with a fine diving header by Rafa and it was 7-1. However the referee decided that it was such a good goal, it should count double.
8-1 then - and it was no more than Liverpool deserved.
