Manchester United 2 - 0 Liverpool
Sunday 22nd October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester
Cristiano Ronaldo, after missing training the previous day through illness, didn't make it on to the pitch to continue his usual fued with John Arne Riise, but thankfully Manchester United didn't need him, with the Reds running out 2-0 winners in a tight match against some genuine title-rivals.
Gabriel Heinze was also on the sidelines, though is expected back to face Crewe in the Carling Cup.
The match began slowly with some fantastic defending from Rio ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, blocking attacks before the scousers managed to get anywhere near the box.
It was an opportunistic run from Paul Scholes that led to United's first goal. Louis Saha pulled the defence out of shape, and Rooney ploughed into the box. Rooney spreaded the ball to Giggs, who crossed in low and hard from the left. Scholes was there top tap the ball home, taking two touches but managing to avoid the on-rushing Sami Hyypia!
Carrick and Scholes had fun in the centre of the park, dominating possesion, whilst the work-rate of Fletcher meant that Liverpool were overworked!#
Michael Carrick set up Louis Saha on 50 minutes but the Frenchman could only force the keeper into a comfortable save. Saha had had a shot tipped round the post in the first half.
The match was wrapped up by Rio Ferdinand who was uncharacteristically cool on the ball in the Liverpool box. A take down with his right-foot allowed him to smash the ball home into the top corner with his left foot!
United won this six-pointer and never looked troubled. Bring on Chelsea!
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (O'Shea 78), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Brown 90), Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Ronaldo, Solskjaer.
Booked: Vidic.
Goals: Scholes 39, Ferdinand 66.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso (Crouch 70), Gonzalez (Pennant 52), Luis Garcia, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Warnock, Paletta.
Booked: Sissoko, Finnan, Crouch.
Att: 75,828.
Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
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