Sunshine Spring and Old Trafford

Liverpool Football Club have reached that time in the season where all the big clubs start to play each other again. This afternoon, the journey down the M52 took Rafa Benitez and the team to Old Trafford. How the afternoon was going to turn out was anyone’s guess. Apart from an article in a couple of this morning’s newspaper’s both manager’s had remained rather quiet. Both knew that they had to win the game, Manchester United to ensure that they remained at the top of the premiership and Liverpool to stake a claim on fourth place.

Sir Alex Ferguson would as always put out a team suited to the occasion, with Rafa Benitez, it is unfortunately always a guessing game. We had already been informed that Riera was suspended due to his badly timed comments and good guess work had already told most of us that Aquilani would not be starting. For the some reason he is not being allowed to adjust to the English Premiership. The team though, was one that should have seen us win the game. It was Reina, Insua, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas, Gerrard, Rodrigeux, Kuyt and Torres. Referee for the afternoon was Howard Webb, who had been bought in at the last moment due to the enormity of the game.

As the teams were led out onto the Old Trafford turf, the sun was shining and the temperature was the best it had been in several months. Both teams were aware of what they had to do and as Liverpool kicked off, the result was anyone’s guess. I was pretty sure that was going to be draw, with both teams playing safe, but that was changed in just under five minutes when Fernando Torres found his way through an open defense and Liverpool were already 1-0 up. The game restarted and both teams began to attack each other very quickly, with good tackles from either side , although Mascherano did what only Mascherano does well and earned himself a yellow card along with giving Manchester United a penalty. The penalty taker was going to be Wayne Rooney who at the moment is on fire and having the game of his life. As he was going up to take the kick, Ferando Torres pointed out that the penalty spot appeared to be rather deep into the earth, but Howard Webb told Rooney to get on with it, which he did. Reina anticipated his move very well and saved the ball, only to miss it again as Rooney kicked the rebound straight into the back of the net.

At this point the camera then switched to the bench and it appeared that Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez were having a go at each other which resulted in Andre Mariner have to separate them.

Stevie G still did not seem to be at his best and although taking part in some good passes, the end product was not arriving in the goal mouth. At the other end of the pitch though things were beginning to happen with Ji Song Park, beginning to cause problems and having his first shot at the goal, this one though Reina saved. Torres, whose temper of late, seems to be short, got caught in a tackle and earned Liverpool’s second yellow card of the afternoon.

Up until this point in the game, Liverpool’s defense was having a good day, in particular Jamie Carragher who was playing extremely well. But the inevitable happened and our defense was slowly beginning to fall away and it became increasing obvious that at some point Manchester United would score again

The second half started with Manchester United kicking off and getting very quickly into their stride with a lot of good passing play. Torres was brought down by Michael Carrick but at this point in time Howard Webb decided to ignore it. Johnson tripped up nani and Manchester United was awarded a free kick which thankfully they wasted. Liverpool had by now picked up the ball and had a small period of good passing play, but again the much needed second goal was eluding them.

Liverpool’s defense had by now begun to show signs of tiredness and if it had not been for the hardworking Jamie Carragher, I dread to think what the score line might have been. Ji Sung Park, who along with Rooney appeared to be having the game of his life was making things very difficult for Liverpool but finding his way through several times before finally having one shot saved by Reina and a further shot reach the back of the net.

Panic had by now set in amongst the Liverpool players which resulted in an argument between Fletcher and Kuyt. With all the players beginning to circle the pair, Howard Webb waded in and pulled them apart. This is I guess proved that for once the FA were right in changing the referee.

With the game now being run by Manchester United, Vidic went for Torres and everyone waited to see if yet again he would be sent off, this time though he was awarded with only a yellow card. But the clock was now ticking on and both managers decided it was time for a change. Aquilani was bought on for Kuyt, Babel for Rodrigeux and Ryan Giggs for Nani. As always though, with Benitez, these changes were too little, too late. The game continued with Manchester United surging forward all the time, with the threat of a third goal. Then the final two changes of the game happened with Benayoun coming on for Lucas and Paul Scholes coming on for Park. This though did not make any difference and the match ended after five minutes extra play with Manchester United winning 2-1.

The question of whether we will reach fourth place still remains though and to be honest I believe we will be lucky to reach sixth. It has not been a very good season and a one hundred per cent improvement is needed come August. If that means a change of Manager then so be it. One thing for sure is, whoever our owners will be at the point in time, they are going to have spend money to bring the team up to standard (we can all dream).

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