Manchester United's Headliners, Articles and Rumours

[alex18122003]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has cried foul over the treatment of star winger Cristiano Ronaldo after he was booked for diving during the 2-0 victory over Fulham.


Scot Ferguson said that Cottagers goalkeeper Antti Niemi had cheated referee Rob Styles into making the decision after he had come off his line and obstructed the Portugal international, who jumped out of the Finn's way.

"The penalty-kick incident is the result of a perceived idea of the referee that Ronaldo dives, there's no question about that," Ferguson told Setanta.

"In this case the goalkeeper has conned the referee. There's no question the goalkeeper got Ronaldo booked. Why would he dive? It's a ridiculous decision.

"All goalkeepers would try that and it's up to the referee to interpret it. It was a wrong decision, simple as that."

Ronaldo scored either side of half-time with a rasping drive and downward header, meaning he would have been able to complete his hat-trick from the spot if a penalty had been awarded.

Ferguson was happy enough with the team's performance as the prolific forward line of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez again displayed fluidity with Anderson adding guile from midfield.

"It was a comfortable 2-0 win even though Fulham had a lot of possession in the game," he continued.

"It was a reasonable performance. When we put our foot on the gas, we looked as if we could score goals all the time.

"There were too many chances missed."

United move second in the Premier League table above Chelsea and are now three points behind leaders Arsenal.

[dc7176]

Man Utd ace Ronaldo: Don't blame ref

Cristiano Ronaldo has refused to condemn Rob Styles over the Old Trafford diving storm - but the Manchester United winger is certain the referee got it wrong.
After scoring both United's goals in their 2-0 win over Fulham on Monday night, Ronaldo was denied an opportunity to complete his first Red Devils hat-trick when Styles ruled he dived over Cottagers keeper Antti Niemi as the pair went for Louis Saha's through ball.

Instead of awarding United a penalty, Styles booked Ronaldo for gamesmanship, a decision TV replays later suggested was incorrect.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Styles had been 'conned' by Niemi, who correctly asserted he had not touched Ronaldo, covering up the fact he had not touched the ball.

But if the United man had not taken evasive action, he would almost certainly have been flattened.

Ronaldo was not quite as forceful as his manager, instead insisting it was simply a bad call.

"I try to do my job and I try to play honestly," he said.

"I respect the referee's decision but I do not have the same opinion because I thought it was a penalty.

"If you see the replay, the goalkeeper never touched the ball, so it is frustrating the referee gave me a yellow card."

Man Utd's Giggs: Ronaldo suffering over reputation


Ryan Giggs insists Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering for his reputation as a diver.
Ronaldo attracted plenty of criticism during the early days of his Manchester United career by going to ground far too easily under minimal contact.


United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced such rows were going through the mind of referee Rob Styles on Monday when he booked Ronaldo for diving in the Fulham box at Old Trafford despite TV replays showing Antti Niemi getting nowhere near the ball as he slid out to confront the Portugal star.

And Giggs, while recognising Ronaldo's blinding speed makes it difficult for a referee to make a split second decision, also believes that was the case.

"I think he is paying for his reputation," said the veteran Welshman.

"He did have a reputation (for diving) when he first came over here but that has gone now.

"It is hard for the referee. Everything happens quickly, Ronny is running so fast and he has to make a split second decision.

"Maybe he didn't give it because there was no contact. But Ronny was trying to avoid the goalkeeper and the keeper's arms followed his legs. In my view that is not simulation.

"Everyone thinks it is a penalty and if the referee looks back on it he will maybe feel he has made a mistake."

[machoman]

Ferguson predicts Arsenal slip-up

Sir Alex Ferguson is certain Arsenal will slip up in their bid to depose Manchester United as the champions.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their 14 Barclays Premier League games so far this season and lead United by three points with a game in hand.

And ahead of the crucial Christmas period, the Old Trafford manager insists the North London outfit will drop points.
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He said: "Arsenal are playing well, but it's a long season and they know that, too. They will drop points, there's no doubt about that."

United could have been level at the top of the table with Arsenal had they not failed to beat Bolton Wanderers 10 days ago.


KNOCKOUT PHASE

Ferguson admitted: "We'd like to be three points better off. If we hadn't lost to Bolton then we would have been in a great position."

Ferguson also revealed he is pondering how strong a side to field in United's final Champions League Group F game against Roma.

The match is for nothing more than pride, with Ferguson's men having already secured top spot in the group and the Italians also having qualified for the knockout phase in second place.

With the congested Christmas fixture schedule on the horizon, including a vital Premier League trip to Liverpool, Ferguson said: "I have a dilemma for the Roma trip.

"Obviously we're already through, and I'd really like some of the young players to get some miles on the clock, but we have to make sure we don't get embarrassed."

[CibLover]

I wish I was out there playing with them!!!!!!

Sir Alex Ferguson says he would love to be playing in his current team - and reckons he would bag a few goals too.

Despite his glittering success at Manchester United, which has seen him amass an incredible 20 major trophies in his 21-year Old Trafford reign, Fergie was less distinguished as a player and never managed to win a medal during his 14 years as a player in Scotland.

And although he says he has more than made up for his failings as a player through his success at United, a part of him wants to be on the pitch playing with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. "I look at some of my players now, the wonderful football we play and I'd love to be out there playing with them," said Fergie. "I'd love to have been able to play with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney. I'm sure I'd score a few goals playing with them.

"What I've achieved as a manager has certainly made up for the disappointments I experienced as a player. Winning and succeeding is the name of the game in football, which I didn't have as a player. I played in a Dunfermline team that should have done better than we did. We could have won the Double in 1965 and we lost the title by a single goal.

"I took the blame for that because I was a striker and I missed a sitter in the second-last game of the season, then we lost to Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final. "Those disappointments stay with you. I never got a league-winner's medal as a player and maybe if I'd stuck that chance away, I'd have got one."

Fergie has built a remarkable dynasty at United in his two decades at the club but revealed for the first time how history could have taken a different course had he decided to take up two tempting job offers to manage abroad.

"If it hadn't been for Manchester United, I would have loved to have managed abroad," said Fergie. "And I had plenty of offers. When I was at Aberdeen I was interviewed for the Barcelona job, for which Terry Venables recommended me. "That would have been a challenge, managing Barcelona, adapting to a different lifestyle and learning a different language. I don't know how I would have approached the job, but it would certainly have been interesting. There were other offers, too. Inter Milan tried to get me when I came down to United and was starting to do well. Massimo Morratti got in touch with me a few years ago.

"But once you're at a club like United, it becomes hard to leave. You sort of get ingrained into the place and it becomes your life. That's why it's such a special club."

When he took over at United in November 1986, Fergie admitted he could not have envisaged surpassing the achievements of the great Sir Matt Busby, the manager who led the club to European Cup glory in 1968, a decade after the Munich Air Disaster. But Fergie has overtaken Sir Matt in terms of trophies won, although the current United boss paid tribute to his most revered predecessor for laying the foundations for the extraordinary success the club is now enjoying.

Fergie, speaking at the launch of a hologram at the United museum at Old Trafford to mark his 21 years in charge, said: "I'm proud of winning more trophies than Matt, but you have to wonder whether we'd have achieved what we have without his vision. Would English teams have gone into the European Cup as early as they did? Chelsea won the title in 1955 but didn't want to go into the European Cup because they didn't see any future in it, neither did the FA.

"But Matt did and that changed the whole concept of our domestic game, with United being the first club to go into European football. "His achievement in rebuilding the team to win the European Cup was also an amazing feat, because he more or less lost an entire team and he rebuilt it in a remarkable way.

"So all the foundation work was done by Matt. My job really was to take that on. My philosophy was always to build a football club, rather than a football team. I did it at St Mirren, I did it at Aberdeen, and I was determined to do it at United. "At the time, people outside of the club couldn't see the progress we were making or the rewards that we knew were forthcoming.

"But within the club we felt we were getting somewhere and that it was only a matter of time before we made the breakthrough, which we did by winning the Premier League in 1993."

[CibLover]

A subject about my favourite Red Devil Legend!!

Reading's Ibrahima Sonko insists Liverpool marksman Fernando Torres has some way to go before matching his toughest-ever opponent.

Defender Sonko admits he was given the runaround by former Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Sonko (left) said: "I know it's strange, but the toughest player I ever came up against was Solskjaer when he used to play. I had to man-mark him and was thinking 'I'm not a rightback, I'm not a left-back, what am I doing here?'

"I'd had enough after 30 minutes and I just told the gaffer that it was impossible to mark someone like him.

He was the one player that would make me run the most because he would take me places to where I couldn't really mark him

"Other difficult players I have faced were Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney. Both of them are strong. Dirk Kuyt was good as well when we played Liverpool at their place."

[yinyang]

OBE honour for United hero Giggs

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has collected an OBE from the Queen for services to football. Giggs made his Old Trafford debut aged 17.
The 34-year-old Cardiff-born former Wales captain, who made his Old Trafford debut at 17, collected the award at Buckingham Palace.

Giggs, who was given the day off to attend the ceremony by club boss Sir Alex Ferguson, said: "It is a very proud day for me and my family."

He was among a number of sports people honoured in the Queen's Birthday List.

The father-of-two, who has clocked up more than 700 appearances for United, said that Sir Alex had given him some advice prior to the ceremony.

"He had been down a couple of times before and just said enjoy it.

"I'm lucky to play for such a great club for such a long time and have a successful career," he added.

Among the other sports stars receiving awards was Kris Radlinski, formerly captain of Wigan Warriors, who was made an MBE for his services to Rugby League.

[yinyang]

Roma v Man Utd

Champions League, Group F
Date: Wednesday, 12 December
Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Venue: Stadio Olimpico

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will captain a side that will be packed with fringe players.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand are rested.

Danny Simpson, Jonny Evans, Nani, Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha are brought in, along with young reserves Febian Brandy and Sam Hewson.

Roma defender Philippe Mexes is back after injury but midfielder Simone Perrotta is a doubt, while Alberto Aquilani and Marco Cassetti are out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Utd (from): Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Eckersley, O'Shea, Pique, Evans, Simpson, Lee, Chester, Cleverley, Hewson, Nani, Eagles, Carrick, Fletcher, Dong, Brandy, Saha, Rooney.

BIG MATCH STATS
Qualification
Manchester United and AS Roma have both qualified for the last 16. United are certain to win Group F.

Head-to-heads
Manchester United's 1-0 home win against AS Roma in the reverse group fixture on 2 October 2007 was the third encounter between the two. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal in the 70th minute.

The clubs met twice in last season's Champions League. On 10 April 2007, United booked an emphatic 7-1 victory in the CL quarter-finals - Roma's heaviest European defeat ever and the biggest ever win in the CL knock-out stages. Before that, Roma had beaten United 2-1 at home.

European history
AS Roma won the Fairs Cup in 1960-61, beating Birmingham in the final. They have reached two European finals since; in the 1983-84 Champions Cup, they were beaten by Liverpool and they lost against Internazionale in the 1990-91 Uefa Cup Final. This is AS Roma's fifth season in the Champions League and the second time they have reached the knockout phase.

Manchester United have won the Champions Cup/Champions League twice (1968, 1999) and the Cup Winners' Cup (1991). They are participating in the Champions League for the 13th time, which makes them joint record holders with FC Porto. In those 13 seasons, they have reached the knockout phase 11 times. It is also their 12th successive CL campaign, which is the longest streak ever.

Current European form
Roma have not been defeated in a European home match since losing 3-0 to Real Madrid on 8 December 2004.

United are aiming to secure their sixth consecutive win. Only four teams have established a perfect record in the Champions League group phase, but none of the four went on to win the competition in the same year.

Player and disciplinary info
Roma's Marco Cassetti is suspended and club mate Mirko Vucinic will be suspended for the first knock out tie if he receives a yellow card.

Nemanja Vidic is the only United player who has been on the field for every minute of their CL campaign this season.

Other miscellaneous facts
AS Roma's next goal will be their 50th in the Champions League.

Roma drew 1-1 at Livorno on Sunday, and are second in Serie A, five points behind leaders Internazionale.

Manchester United won 4-1 against Derby County on Saturday, and are second in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Arsenal.

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

[alex18122003]

Sir Alex Ferguson is confident his United starlets will not be fazed by the task ahead of them on Wednesday night at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Reds' boss has brought a decidedly youthful squad to Rome in a bid to provide the club's next generation with some vital Champions League experience after United assured themselves of top spot in Group F with victory over Sporting Lisbon two weeks ago.

The likes of Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Jonny Evans are all set to be handed a starting berth against Roma on Wednesday night. And despite suffering an embarrassing Carling Cup defeat against Coventry City in September, Sir Alex is confident they won't let him down this time round.

"We don't want to send teams out here to get humiliated or embarrassed, that's for sure," he insisted at his pre-match briefing in the Italian capital.

"We expect any Manchester United team we field to be 100 per cent committed and I'm sure you'll see that on Wednesday night."

The Reds will be up against a Roma side Sir Alex believes is much stronger than last season. The United boss was also full of praise for the way the club have stood by manager Luciano Spalletti following the humiliating 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford in April.

"When a coach in Italy loses a game 7-1, normally the guns come out and you are dead before morning," declared the Reds' boss.

"But they trusted Luciano and stood by him. He has repaid that trust because he is an excellent coach and I am very pleased his team is doing well now."

[yinyang]

Man United fans stabbed in Rome

The clashes came ahead of United's game against Roma. Five Manchester United fans were stabbed ahead of the club's European Champions tie against Roma.

Violence erupted between a group of 50 rival fans on a bridge near the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Police used two baton charges to disperse the fans. It is not known if any British nationals were arrested.

The last time the two teams met in April, 11 fans were taken to hospital after violence in the stadium. The stab injuries are not said to be serious.

Consular officials are at the hospital where the fans have been taken. It is reported that two others, one of them a 16-year-old boy, needed treatment for the effects of drink.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the situation outside and inside the stadium was "calm." Hooligan warning

He said: "It appears there was trouble outside the stadium.

"A number of British fans were injured and two British nationals have been arrested.

"Our consular officials are on the way to the hospital to check on conditions, the numbers involved and whether anyone needs assistance.

"The situation is now said to be calm both outside and inside the stadium."

The violence flared at the Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge, the scene of many clashes between visiting fans and Roma's Ultras contingent.

Last season there was trouble during the two clubs' Champions League game in Rome when fans were charged and beaten by riot police trying to regain control in the stadium.

Scuffles also broke out outside Old Trafford during the second leg of the tie, with 21 people arrested.

Greater Manchester Police officers travelled to Rome before Tuesday's game and issued a warning to hooligans not to attend.

[yinyang]

Big four set for Sunday showdown

"We need to win on Sunday. It's not about a draw or anything else" Robin van Persie. Robin van Persie believes champions Manchester United pose a bigger threat to Arsenal's hopes of regaining the Premier League title than Chelsea.

League leaders Arsenal host third-place Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday, while second play fourth with United meeting Liverpool at Anfield.

Van Persie said: "I just think our biggest rivals at the end of the season are United, because of the quality.

"That is why I think it will be a battle between Arsenal and them."

The Gunners are three points ahead of their London rivals and just one ahead of champions Manchester United.

And 24-year-old Van Persie believes Sir Alex Ferguson's side's strength will prove decisive come the end of the season.

"United have lots of quality players up there who can win games for the team," he said.

"Even when they are playing poorly, they have Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and lots of good strikers who can win games.

United will knock Arsenal off the top of the Premier League should they win at Anfield and remain there if the Londoners are held or beaten by Chelsea later on Sunday.

Red Devils striker Louis Saha rates last year's corresponding fixture with Liverpool, won by John O'Shea in injury time, as one of the highlights of his career and is confident a win at Anfield can strengthen United's title charge.

"Without doubt, it is the most intense atmosphere for a Manchester United player," he said.

Saha scored from the spot as United beat 2-0 Chelsea in September

"I have played there a few times now but the win we had there last season was amazing. That is one of the greatest feelings I have ever had as a footballer."

"My main memory of last season is that the win at Liverpool kick-started us towards the title. It proved we were strong enough.

"We are going there much earlier in the season this time and there is still a long road ahead. But it does give us a chance to show exactly how good we are."

Dutchman Van Persie, who has recently returned from a long-term knee injury, insists a win for Arsenal is vital if the Gunners are to remain in the hunt for the the title they last won in 2004.

"We need to win on Sunday. It's not about a draw or anything else. We need to win because we are just one point clear of them. That's why we need to win."

He added: "In games against teams like Middlesbrough, you can sort of collect bonus points. You need to win those games so you can, in a worse-case scenario, lose a game against Chelsea or Man United."

[yinyang]

Liverpool v Man Utd

Anfield
Sunday, 16 December
Kick-off: 1330 GMT

Team news to follow later.

BIG-MATCH FACTS
Liverpool make their seventh attempt to notch a 50th league victory over Manchester United.

A draw would be enough to see Manchester United climb above Arsenal to the top of the table, ahead of the Gunners' home game with Chelsea which kicks off less than 45 minutes after the final whistle of this game is blown; victory for Liverpool will half their six-point deficit on the Red Devils.

This is the second of three massive fixtures in eight days for the Merseysiders, following Tuesday's decisive 0-4 Champions League win over Marseilles in France, and ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter-final at Chelsea.

Liverpool suffered a shock loss, away to Reading last Saturday, and are in danger of their first back-to-back defeats in 17 Premier League matches.

Both these clubs are meeting a fellow member of the "big four" for the third time this season, and both are unbeaten: United beat Chelsea 2-0 at home on 23 September and drew 2-2 at Arsenal on 3 November, while Liverpool have drawn both theirs 1-1 at home, to Chelsea on 19 August and to Arsenal on 28 October.

Sir Alex Ferguson has had the better of the exchanges with Rafael Benitez. United have won five and drawn one of the six Premier League matches against Rafa's Reds, although the Merseysiders did knock out United from the FA Cup in February 2006.

Manchester United ended Liverpool's 30-match unbeaten Premier League record at Anfield with a 0-1 victory in this corresponding fixture last March. John O'Shea came off the bench to win a dramatic stoppage time winner, after Paul Scholes was sent off for swinging a punch at Liverpool's Xabi Alonso.

Liverpool have suffered more Premier League defeats to Manchester United than any other club (16), and conceded more Premier League goals against them than to any other side (44).

CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Defeat to Reading ended a 15-match unbeaten Premier League sequence of eight wins and seven draws.

2. The three goals from the Royals were the first conceded in five Premier League outings, and increased the total of those shipped in this league campaign by half as much again (from six to nine).

3. Last lost successive league games away to Portsmouth and Fulham on 28 April and 5 May respectively.

4. Averaging two points per match; 30 in 15. They are eight points better off than at this same stage last season.

5. Conceded the opening goal only twice in Premier League matches this season - fewer than any other club, and one of two clubs not to have let in a goal in the first 15 minutes; the other is Blackburn.

6. Trailed at half-time only once in this Premier League season (away to Everton).

7. Won the last five league and cup games at Anfield, with an aggregate score of 20-2.

8. Undefeated in 11 home league games; won six and drawn five since the 0-1 loss to Manchester United on 3 March.

9. The only club to have scored as many as four penalties in Premiership competition this season, and one of two clubs to have conceded four; the other is Birmingham.

10. The remaining Premier League fixtures this year involve a home game with Portsmouth, a Boxing Day visit to Derby and another away trip to Manchester City, before entering 2008 with a home fixture against Wigan on 2 January.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won 16 of 20 in all competitions, and lost one of 14.

2. One of two clubs with as many as 11 Premier League wins; the other is Arsenal.

3. Boasting the tightest defence in the highest league; just eight goals shipped in 16 outings, at one very two games, or three hours, on average.

4. Won three more Premier League matches than Liverpool (11 to eight), but lost one more (two to one).

5. Won 11 of the last 13 Premier League matches, losing just one of the 13.

6. Kept clean sheets in eight of the last 13 league outings, and failed to score in one of their last 13 league games; the 1-0 loss, away to Bolton on 24 November.

7. Not lost in any league game this term in which they have scored; won 11 and drawn two of 13.

8. Scored first in an unequalled 12 Premier League matches; won 10 and drawn two.

9. Conceded only two goals in the last 15 minutes of Premier League matches this term; only Arsenal and Liverpool can match that.

10. The remaining matches this year include a home game with Everton, a Boxing Day visit to Sunderland, and another away trip to West Ham, before the New Year's Day fixture home to Birmingham.


KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 12 goals.

TORRES and Steven GERRARD are the clubs' joint top Premier League marksmen with six goals each.

Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.

REINA leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove, keeping nine clean sheets.

MANCHESTER UNITED
Cristiano RONALDO is Manchester United's top scorer with 14 goals.

RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with nine. He jointly leads the race for the Barclays Golden Boot, alongside Arsenal's Emmanuel ADEBAYOR.

Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have started all of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.

If on the field from the outset:-

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.


HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United did the double over Liverpool for the fourth time in the Premier League last season, and the second time in three seasons.

Manchester United were the only club to win home and away against the Merseysiders last season, but Liverpool were one of 12 doubled by the Red Devils in the last campaign.

United are aiming to beat Liverpool in the league for the fourth time in a row.

The only point in 18 Liverpool have notched against United came from a goalless draw at Anfield on 18 September 2005.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Liverpool 49 wins, Man Utd 56, Draws 43
Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Man Utd 16, Draws 7

at Liverpool only
League (inc PL): Liverpool 35 wins, Man Utd 21, Draws 18
Prem: Liverpool 4 wins, Man Utd 8, Draws 3

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
3 March 2007 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Man Utd scorer: O'Shea 90
Sent Off: Scholes (Man Utd) 86

REFEREE
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

[alex18122003]

Wayne Rooney is targeting a double on Sunday - victory over fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield and pole position in the Premier League.


“It's a massive weekend for the top four clubs,” Wayne told Red View.

“The fact that Arsenal and Liverpool both lost last weekend was great for us. If we win on Sunday then we’ve got a great chance of going top. That'll spur us on.”

Not that Rooney - Liverpool-born, Everton-bred - needs any extra cajoling. “When the fixtures come out, I look for the games against Liverpool, and possibly City as well."

Wayne wasn't looking, however, when John O'Shea scored the last-gasp winner in last season's match at Anfield.

“I was getting stitches in my leg in the dressing room,” Wayne told us. “Scholesy walked in after being sent off and we were hoping to hold on for the draw. Then our press officer ran in saying Sheasy had scored. We were all jumping around and I went back out. It was one of the best feelings I’ve experienced.”

The 3,000-or-so United fans who were there would no doubt echo that sentiment.

“We’ve got the best away fans around,” praised Wayne. “They never stop singing throughout the game and supporting the team. They could really help us on Sunday.”

[alex18122003]

Premier League - United win at Anfield again

A goal by Carlos Tevez gave Manchester United a crucial 1-0 Premier League win over Liverpool at Anfield. The defeat is a hammer blow for Rafa Benitez' side who fall nine points behind their arch rivals.

United's first half performance can only be described as a smash-and-grab, the teams relatively even in terms of threat with Liverpool pressing and almost forcing two big errors from Edwin van der Sar but their North Western rivals looking to hit them on the break at pace.

The hosts had close to a dozen chances to United's none when, two minutes before the break, a clever corner routine saw Ryan Giggs drill the ball low to Wayne Rooney on the edge of the box, his angled drive towards the bottom left corner turned into the roof of the net by Tevez.

Until then Liverpool had looked the closest to scoring with firstly Sami Hyppia firing over after Fernando Torres had overhead-kicked Nemanja Vidic's clearance of a corner on three minutes.

The United keeper then twice messed up attempted punches, he was firstly grateful to Anderson for clearing off the line with Torres fluffing the rebound and secondly to Patrice Evra for clearing off the line after the ball rebounded off the back of Rio Ferdinand's head following the Dutchman's collision with Vidic.

United for their part had threatened but not made Pepe Reina work, most of their impetus coming down the left with Anderson and Giggs combining in fine form, Evra overlapping and Rooney providing support from the front. But they could not get a final ball across, either due to a lack of quality in the delivery or good defending from Jamie Carragher and Hyppia and, at one point, Steven Gerrard with an immaculately-timed tackle on Anderson.

But the Mancunians took the lead, the rehearsed corner routine taking Liverpool by surprise and asking questions about the zonal marking that many sides now employ on set-pieces, the Argentina star played onside by Yossi Benayoun, blamelessly covering the far post.

The second-half started on a more even keel but with Liverpool effectively chasing the game, United could afford to remain relatively deep and look to pick their hosts apart with occasional expressions of ambition.

One break in particular had to be foiled after Cristiano Ronaldo surged down the right wing and cut the ball across to Rooney, while Liverpool were mostly restricted to long-range efforts.

Rafa Benitez responded to the tightness of the match by bringing on Ryan Babel for the impressive but tiring Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch for the ineffectual Dirk Kuyt.

Liverpool pressed, as expected, but the pattern continued, the Reds unable to find a genuine breakthrough, another flap by Van der Sar and a flashing low drive from Babel that went inches wide the closest they came to an equaliser, although there was a low-level penalty appeal when the ball appeared to strike Tevez on the arm as United tried to clear a corner, although any contact was inadvertent.

Babel was proving to be a dangerous outlet, either hugging the left touchline or cutting inside to shoot himself, but without enough time to truly stretch Wes Brown his impact was reduced.

And Gerrard had United hearts in mouths when he sent an injury-time free kick onto the roof of the net but they held on for the win which will seriously question Liverpool's title credentials.

[mr_missile]

Cut and paste story :

MANYOO BACK IN FOR BERBA

Just as it was starting to look up for Spurs (two away wins in a row!), The Daily Mirror waltz in and frankly p**s all over their chips.

They claim that ManYoo are set to make another offer for Dimitar Berbatov, but on closer inspection Spurs fans might be able to rest easy.

The Mirror reckons that Sir Fergie will slap £6million, Louis Saha and Wes Brown on the table and tell Juande Ramos 'take it or leave it sunshine'. Or something like that.

Now, if reports are to be believed Spurs turned down £18million for the Bulgarian in the summer, so whether a third of that plus a permanently crocked striker and a defender they could get for free in the summer will tip the balance is debatable.

However, the significance of the bid could simply be that it will yet again unsettle Berbatov, just as he is coming back into last season's form.

The Mirror does go on to reveal that Spurs are not without a sense of humour, claiming that they insist Nani must be part of the deal. Good one.

[DatukSeks]

Saha out and Berba in is good biz

But why sell Brown ?