=>petit resume du match par Vodafone.......
United regained the Premiership´s summit from Arsenal - at least for a few hours - after enjoying their best win over arch-rivals Liverpool in half a century!
The game had an explosive start with Liverpool skipper Sami Hyypia getting his marching orders in the 5th minute after a foul on Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman dusted himself down before slotting home the penalty that set United on the road to, what in the end, was
a comfortable victory.
Van Nistelrooy made it two-nil, again from the spot, in the 65th minute and then goals from Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rounded off a memorable days for Sir Alex Ferguson´s lads.
The outcome of United´s season will more than likely be decided over the next six games spread over the three weeks.
MU.tv will be screening highlights of the match from 00:01 on Tuesday - click here to sign up and watch all the goals!
The title race hurtles into the final furlong with the fixture list throwing up an amazing trio of fixtures that will surely seal, one way or another, United´s fate. And there´s also the small matter of two European Cup fixtures against an up and coming little outfit from Spain called....Real Madrid.
Liverpool today, away to title race usurpers Newcastle United next Saturday and then on to north London the following Wednesday to face Arsenal in a contest that could really put the cat amongst the pigeons.
It´s a series of fixtures to get the pulse racing and the nerves jangling and it all starts with what surely remains the biggest single match on the English football calendar. There are other claims these days with Arsenal continually in the hunt for honours and the main threat to United´s ambitions, and the ongoing rivalry with Leeds United. But nothing really compares to a clash between the North West´s big-two. It´s been THE match for years and it to this day is generates a passion and fervour that is without comparison in this country.
Meeting your biggest domestic rivals is hardly ideal preparation for a clash with the reigning European champions three days hence, but all thoughts of Bernabeu, Figo, Ronaldo and the rest will be stowed away at least for another ninety-minutes.
Both teams were announced without their respective major England stars figuring in the starting line-up. David Beckham, a flu victim, was on United´s bench whilst Michael Owen was out without a back injury.
United, attacking the Stretford End, were out of the blocks in double quick time with Ruud van Nistelrooy forcing Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek to make a save in the opening fifteen seconds.
If that instant foray into the Liverpool area caused excitement amnngst the United fans the next couple of minutes proved to be downright sensational.
Barely three minutes had ticked away when referee Mike Riley sent the Red hordes into raptures with a penalty award after Liverpool skipper Sami Hyypia had taken out van Nistelrooy. The crowd roared for Hyypia to red-carded and they got their wish when Riley
pointed to the dressing room. Van Nistelrooy confidently struck the penalty past Dudek to bring up his 33rd goal of the season and give United a dream start.
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier quickly re-shuffled his pack in the light of events and minutes later he sent on Igor Biscan to restore the defensive numbers. Striker Milan Baros was the player to make way.
It was great start to the game for United and it set the pattern for the opening stages of the contest. Depleted Liverpool were forced on the back foot for a while as United pressed forward in an attempt to build on their early fortune. Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
and van Nistelrooy all looked lively but the visitors´ defence held firm with Djimi Traore taking the major role in the re-structured back-four.
Liverpool, however, didn´t spend the entire half defending. They threatened the United goal several times and for much of the time it was easy to forget that thet were a man down.
United maintained the upper hand throughout the remainder of the first half but despite several near misses couldn´t add to van Nistelrooy´s early spot-kick.
Twelve minutes into the second half and Dudek, who suffered heavy criticism after his costly error against United at Anfield earlier in the season, showed his undoubted capabilities with a fantastic save from Ryan Giggs´ stunning left foot shot from all of 30 yards. The keeper
was forced to retreat in a hurry, but he did really well to push the ball round the post.
The second half unfolded a little more predictably with United enjoying the lion´s share of the attacking play.
There seemed every likelihood that United would increase their lead, but few would have expected to arrive from the penalty spot for the second time in the match.
United had been looking dangerous and in the 65th minute they made their second breakthrough of the game. Scholes was halted just inside the area by Igor Biscan and referee Riley was again perfectly placed to make his judgement. He immediately pointed to the spot and within seconds van Nistelrooy had placed the ball before sweeping it past Dudek for the second time in the match.
The Reds, the Manchester version that is - were now in total command of the proceedings and striving to add to their tally.
The Old Trafford crowd - at least the bulk of them - were thoroughly enjoying themselves and in the 79th minute they were given another goal to celebrate. United broke down the right and when David Beckham, a 66th minute substitute for Phil Neville, crossed the ball
it by-passed van Nistelrooy to Giggs who thumped it into the roof of the net. It was his first home Premiership since April 2001.
United were home and dry now, but there was still room for spot of icing on the cake and in the very last minute Solskjaer blasted the fourth goal to seal United´s biggest win over Liverpool since December 1953 when they ran out 5-1 in a First Division fixture at Old Trafford.
Liverpool, with a man down since the opening moments of the game, did well to keep in sight during the first half, but after the break their weakened side began to buckle and ultimately United took over to dominate the game.
UNITED: Barthez; G Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre ( O´Shea, 66); Solskjaer, P Neville ( Beckham, 66) Keane, Giggs; Scholes ( Butt, 79); van Nistelrooy. Subs not used: RIcardo, Forlan.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek; Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise; Diouf ( Smicer, 71), Gerrard, Hamann, Murphy ( Cheyrou, 80); Baros ( Biscan, 7), Heskey. Sub snot used: Arphexad, Mellor.
Attendance: 67,630
