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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Man Utd 2-0 Liverpool | Man Utd 2-0 Liverpool |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Paul Scholes scored on his 500th appearance to set Manchester United on their way to a deserved victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford. | Paul Scholes scored on his 500th appearance to set Manchester United on their way to a deserved victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford. |
| The midfielder forced the ball home after keeper Jose Reina had got a hand to his initial shot after 39 minutes. | The midfielder forced the ball home after keeper Jose Reina had got a hand to his initial shot after 39 minutes. |
| That came after Dirk Kuyt had wasted the Reds' best effort with a free header from Mark Gonzalez's cross. | That came after Dirk Kuyt had wasted the Reds' best effort with a free header from Mark Gonzalez's cross. |
| Rio Ferdinand smashed in a second to make it 2-0 after 66 minutes as United returned to the top of the Premiership. | Rio Ferdinand smashed in a second to make it 2-0 after 66 minutes as United returned to the top of the Premiership. |
| It leaves Liverpool trailing their bitter rivals by 11 points, but on the evidence of this display, the Reds cannot claim the gap is deceptive. | It leaves Liverpool trailing their bitter rivals by 11 points, but on the evidence of this display, the Reds cannot claim the gap is deceptive. |
| United, watched by a record crowd of 75,828, were never at their best but the performance was still enough to cope with an uninspiring Liverpool. | United, watched by a record crowd of 75,828, were never at their best but the performance was still enough to cope with an uninspiring Liverpool. |
| With only Kuyt up front, Liverpool set out to stifle United in midfield, making for a scrappy opening to the game. | With only Kuyt up front, Liverpool set out to stifle United in midfield, making for a scrappy opening to the game. |
| The hosts had the better of the first half, with Louis Saha looking particularly dangerous up front, but Liverpool did have their chances. | The hosts had the better of the first half, with Louis Saha looking particularly dangerous up front, but Liverpool did have their chances. |
| After only seven minutes, Kuyt stole into the box unmarked but Steven Gerrard's cross was too high. | After only seven minutes, Kuyt stole into the box unmarked but Steven Gerrard's cross was too high. |
| Kuyt was again involved on the half-hour mark when Gonzalez rocketed past Ferdinand on the left and crossed for the Dutch striker, who headed too close to United keeper Edwin van der Sar. | Kuyt was again involved on the half-hour mark when Gonzalez rocketed past Ferdinand on the left and crossed for the Dutch striker, who headed too close to United keeper Edwin van der Sar. |
| While Gonzalez's speed was impressive, his shooting was far less so, the winger twice fluffing long-range efforts, and a minute after his second effort, United went ahead. | While Gonzalez's speed was impressive, his shooting was far less so, the winger twice fluffing long-range efforts, and a minute after his second effort, United went ahead. |
| 606: DEBATE Liverpool have gone from the second best defence in the Premiership to a set up similar to that in the mid 90s when we were awful BL 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Liverpool have gone from the second best defence in the Premiership to a set up similar to that in the mid 90s when we were awful BL 606: Have your say |
| Scholes found Wayne Rooney before stealing into the box to get on the end of Ryan Giggs' cross. | Scholes found Wayne Rooney before stealing into the box to get on the end of Ryan Giggs' cross. |
| Reina half-stopped his initial shot but the midfielder followed up to make sure of his 132nd goal for the club. | Reina half-stopped his initial shot but the midfielder followed up to make sure of his 132nd goal for the club. |
| The Liverpool keeper dived at full stretch to prevent Saha making it 2-0 before the interval and it was a buoyant United who walked in at the break. | The Liverpool keeper dived at full stretch to prevent Saha making it 2-0 before the interval and it was a buoyant United who walked in at the break. |
| Rafael Benitez watched only five minutes of the second half before making his first substitution, bringing on Jermaine Pennant for Gonzalez. | Rafael Benitez watched only five minutes of the second half before making his first substitution, bringing on Jermaine Pennant for Gonzalez. |
| That allowed Gerrard to move into the centre but the changes failed to inspire Liverpool and United scored a deserved second goal after 66 minutes. | That allowed Gerrard to move into the centre but the changes failed to inspire Liverpool and United scored a deserved second goal after 66 minutes. |
| Jamie Carragher, injured in a tackle minutes earlier, mis-hit his clearance and the ball came to Ferdinand, who sidestepped John Arne Riise and confidently swept the ball into the top corner. | Jamie Carragher, injured in a tackle minutes earlier, mis-hit his clearance and the ball came to Ferdinand, who sidestepped John Arne Riise and confidently swept the ball into the top corner. |
| Benitez introduced Peter Crouch as Liverpool looked desperately for a spark of inspiration but it failed to materialise as United easily held on. | Benitez introduced Peter Crouch as Liverpool looked desperately for a spark of inspiration but it failed to materialise as United easily held on. |