If Premiership titles are won by
grinding out results without playing well then this could just be
Manchester United's year as they escaped from Anfield with a three
point haul, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over a Liverpool side that
bossed the whole of the second half.
The most intriguing aspects of a game that was more mediocre than
magnificent all occurred in the final few minutes, as United
cemented a 12 point advantage over Chelsea thanks to substitute
John O'Shea's winner in injury-time.
It was another substitute, this time Liverpool's Peter Crouch that
just moments before was denied by a world class save, as Edwin Van
der Sar sprawled across his goal to produce a title winning
intervention.
United's afternoon was tempered somewhat when with five minutes
remaining Paul Scholes lost his head in swinging but missing with
an air punch in the direction of Xabi Alonso, that culminated in
not quite a knock-out but a red card nevertheless.
The first half was a game of chess, albeit of a more robust variety
than which Mr Kasparov is accustomed, with both sides nip and tuck
in the opening sparring that only sporadically showed genuine
quality.
As is so often the case in the North West's most fiercely contested
derby chances were at a premium, at least in comparison with
tackles, as Patrice Evra set the tone in just the second minute in
going through the back of Steven Gerrard.
With temperatures raised Craig Bellamy had the first sniff of goal
moments later but Van der Sar was alive to the scent and was out
smartly to defend with his feet.
Daniel Agger's jackhammer of a left foot sent a drive from a full
35-yards searing over the top, before on the counter, Cristiano
Ronaldo dragged his snapshot wide on the turn. As United began to
settle into a semi-rhythm Ronaldo again was presented with a sight
at goal from Henrik Larsson's sumptuous flick but it was a similar
outcome as the Portuguese shot over.
Liverpool's main avenue in an attacking sense came through moving
Nemanja Vidic from the centre, where he excels, to out wide, where
he looked cumbersome against Craig Bellamy's lively forays down the
right.
It was from one such raid that Bellamy disposed a ponderous Vidic
before from the by-line delivering a ball across goal that was just
too heavy for Dirk Kuyt. While it was United that perhaps used
possession more intelligently, it was Liverpool that continued to
go closest to opening the scoring as John Arne Riise hit a
free-kick just wide, despite the presence of a wall that broke all
records in terms of proximity to the ball without being
penalised.
The final action of the half saw Jamie Carragher demonstrate a
remarkable determination with a fine piece of defending that denied
first Ronaldo and then a subdued Wayne Rooney in quick
succession.
Whatever was said in the home side's dressing room clearly had a
galvanising effect for it was Liverpool that came out the bolder
and more inventive in their play. Barely had a minute passed when
Steven Gerrard hurriedly controlled and volleyed high when he could
have struck first time and then Bellamy spurned a presentable
opening.
Kuyt's beautifully disguised pass was perfectly weighted into the
path of his partner, but the Welshman's touch was heavy, meaning
his second was off-balance as Van der Sar was forced into a
comfortable stop.
Bellamy's next contribution was more assured as he put the ball
into United's net, only to have his celebrations curtailed by a
sharp sighted linesman who made the correct call.
United's own attacking efforts looked positively limp in comparison
as first Larsson, making his last Premiership appearance being
seemingly heading back to Helsingborgs, was replaced by Louis Saha
and then more worrying was the sight of Rooney leaving the field
with a badly gashed knee, courtesy of Carragher's high
challenge.
Prior to this and Riise again showed the full venom of his left
foot with a drive from distance that dipped just over, as United
toiled manfully but showed little of the chutzpah that has
propelled them to the summit.
Saha called for a penalty as he tumbled in the box as Agger took
his standing foot but it would have been cruel on a Liverpool side
that were the brighter throughout the second 45 minutes.
Liverpool's effort were, though, to prove all in vain as the final
stages brought the most dramatic of climaxes as O'Shea inscribed
his name in derby day folklore.
Ronaldo's fizzing free-kick brought only an unconvincing parry from
an unsighted Jose Reina and from the rebound the Irishman secured
certainly the three points; and most likely the title.
