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Manchester United today has moved ten points ahead of City in the title race with a hard fought victory over our old rivals Liverpool. The first half was largely dominated by United, with Luis Suarez unable to get into the game thanks to a great effort by the United back line, supplemented by the hard working Tom Cleverley and the magnificent Micheal Carrick. Robin Van Persie put United ahead with a clinical finish from Patrice Evra's cross after fantastic build up play. United soon went 2-0 up in the second after Nemanja Vidic robbed a goal from Patrice Evra. Daniel Sturridge soon pulled one back however to make sure the last thirty was nail biting.
The first twenty or so minutes was reasonably quiet as both teams battled for supremacy. However you cannot keep a player like RVP quiet for long. It was due to fantastic build up involving Carrick, Shinji Kagawa, Tom Cleverley and Patrice Evra. Started by Kagawa's lovely first touch to pluck the ball from the air, what followed was sharp passing in tight spaces with good movement. Evra found the ball on the left and drilled a low cross in and RVP swung his left foot to guide it home. I can watch football like that for hours on end.
Danny Welbeck was nigh unplayable in the first half. his movement and presence up top caused Liverpool nightmares. He worked his socks off and his quality of build up play was great. However his finishing was damm awful. If he rights this wrong we have another top striker on our hands. Danny... Take notes from RVP
First he pounced on a bad back pass. He's running at goal and his shot was scuffed with his left foot. There was another on his left foot that was blazed over. His touch seems to desert him and that means the ball gets stuck between his feet. Just needs to think a little clearer. He will get there......
RVP could have doubled his tally. Ashley Young took his man on and found a delicate pass for the Dutchman. It was difficult and the shot was ballooned over.
Into the second half and you would have been forgiven for thinking game over. With Liverpool still struggling, RVP swung in a ball onto the had of Evra. It seemed he had scored yet another. But replays showed his headed was deftly flicked on by Vidic into the net. He also appears to be half a yard offside. Oh well... poor Liverpool...
However game over it was not. Steven Gerrard who had been non existent up untill then stole the ball away from Carrick. Nobody pressed him and Evra looked on as he shot well. David De Gea made a good save. Rafael thought so too and he stood still in admiration of his Spanish keeper. Sturridge capitalized and finished the rebound. Idiotic defending from Evra and Rafael
Liverpool poured it on from then on in. Strurridge wasted a few more chances that would have made him a real hero in Kop land. Suarez came alive and linked up well with his new partner. He too was a wriggiling little so and so and some last ditch defending was needed to prevent him scoring in the box. Yet Liverpool could not break through and it ended 2-1
There were some really fantastic performances today for United, especially first half. Welbeck and Carrick were brilliant, although the former dropped off in the second half, yet still worked hard. Tom Cleverley continues to show why Sir Alex has trusted him more and more recently with another hard working and clever performance. Almost scored a wonder volley too. The defense was good save for that ten seconds that lead to the goal. RVP is as clinical as they come right now. Young played well and Kagawa showed why we paid several million for his services. I think it won't be till next season before we see the best of him. When we do learn how he likes it however, expect him to explode.
Lets now watch Arsenal take points off City hopefully in the game that has just kicked off.