Boss praises Owen and Anderson
Sir Alex Ferguson saluted the players making their first appearance
against Liverpool after they helped to win his 50th game against
the old enemy.
Anderson and Owen Hargreaves worked tirelessly in United's engine
room to subdue Steven Gerrard and give the men in black the
platform to claim their fifth win in six league visits to
Anfield.
"Anderson was terrific, he wasnt intimidated by Steven Gerrard,"
Sir Alex told MUTV.
"I thought he handled that particular part of the game really well.
Steven was actually quite quiet today. Hargreaves has got more
experience obviously. Both of them did a great job."
The Anderson-Hargreaves axis underpinned an effective team display
in which grit outweighted the guile. That said, the goal which
separated the great rivals was fashioned by a clever piece of
setpiece play. Instead of delivering an inswinger from the right,
Ryan Giggs arrowed a pass to Wayne Rooney from the corner and his
shot was turned in by Carlos Tevez.
"Ryan had the opportunity to do that with the corner kick prior to
that one," said Sir Alex. "He could have used Owen Hargreaves
because the corner of the box was free.
"But we took that opportunity the second time around and of course
from Wayne Rooney's deflected shot, Carlos scored."
One goal was enough to win it for United, just as it was last
season when O'Shea scored and in 2005 when Rooney was the match
winner. Chances were at a premium with neither goalkeeper called
upon too frequently.
"It was a typical Liverpool-United game," assessed Sir Alex.
"The fans create such a fervour and its difficult for the referee.
Flowing football isnt the issue, its about winning the game. But
in the moments when we did play football in the first half, we
looked the better team.
"Its a marvellous day for us - a good team performance and a great
result. I said before the game that I feel the games between the
top sides are going to be important this season. Thats an
important win for us.
"At the moment were top (prior to Arsenal playing Chelsea) and I
hope we stay there at the end of the day.
"Its going to be a long struggle and a fight until the end of the
season. But Ive always said around December, if we can be top or
thereabouts on New Years Day then we have an outstanding chance of
retaining the title."
