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| Manchester United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was pleased to hear the final whistle as his side hung on to their 2-1 lead |
Liverpool can be heartened by second half
Brendan Rodgers' side were close to awful before the break. Steven Gerrard was mugged by Van Persie. Joe Allen under-hit a backpass to Pepe Reina that should have been punished by Danny Welbeck to score United's second. And Gerrard was again the culprit with a heavy pass in an attempted one-two with Luis Suárez when the latter closed in on goal. These were just three illustrations of a too tentative Liverpool side during the opening 45 minutes. When United scored their second the sense was they might take a hammering. Instead after Daniel Sturridge's goal United became the nervy ones and were grateful for the final whistle.
Robin van Persie bests Luis Suárez
The showdown of the star strikers after the first half ended with Rodgers deciding that his No7 required help. On came Sturridge to link up with the Uruguay forward, who dropped in behind the former Chelsea man. Before this Suárez had been becalmed, as Van Persie continued to do what he has done all season. With 19 minutes gone a slide-rule ball from Patrice Evra was nonchalantly flicked beyond Reina for the opener. "You two-faced bastards, your hero is Scouse," the Liverpool fans had taunted their opposite numbers about Wayne Rooney. But Old Trafford's darling now is actually a Dutchman.
The showdown of the star strikers after the first half ended with Rodgers deciding that his No7 required help. On came Sturridge to link up with the Uruguay forward, who dropped in behind the former Chelsea man. Before this Suárez had been becalmed, as Van Persie continued to do what he has done all season. With 19 minutes gone a slide-rule ball from Patrice Evra was nonchalantly flicked beyond Reina for the opener. "You two-faced bastards, your hero is Scouse," the Liverpool fans had taunted their opposite numbers about Wayne Rooney. But Old Trafford's darling now is actually a Dutchman.
Daniel Sturridge adds a dimension to Liverpool
On signing the forward the Liverpool manager said that his favoured position was playing through the middle as the main striker. The problem was what this might mean for Suárez who has shone when operating in the role. As the second half began an answer was offered as Suárez dropped back into the playmaker's role and Sturridge became the centre-forward, taking fewer than 15 minutes to display the requisite predatory instincts. When Gerrard's low shot was palmed out by David de Gea it was Sturridge who left Rafael flat-footed to score his first league goal for his latest club after last week's one in the FA Cup.
On signing the forward the Liverpool manager said that his favoured position was playing through the middle as the main striker. The problem was what this might mean for Suárez who has shone when operating in the role. As the second half began an answer was offered as Suárez dropped back into the playmaker's role and Sturridge became the centre-forward, taking fewer than 15 minutes to display the requisite predatory instincts. When Gerrard's low shot was palmed out by David de Gea it was Sturridge who left Rafael flat-footed to score his first league goal for his latest club after last week's one in the FA Cup.
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