Liverpool 0 v 0 Manchester United
Anfield, Liverpool
18th September 2005
United lost more points on leaders Chelsea with a disappointing result at rivals Liverpool.
United - Liverpool is still regarded as the biggest fixture of the season by many, although United fans would argue that they have more hate for Arsenal these days (although those days appear numbered with Arsenal's imminent decline). For the biggest fixture in theseason, and as an advert of the Premiership, it was a dismal performance from both sides.
Gone is the openness and attacking-edge of the Premiership, only to be replaced by five-men midfields and continued harrying of the opposition to disrupt all fluency in their play. The result is two teams with far from fluent play, and many fouls.
United were hit by the injury of Heinze midweek, and the performance of Richardson proved that United still had a degree of strength in depth, although they will be praying that no more defensive injuries ensue, especially after the news that Keane is out for over two months with a broken foot.
United started, and indeed finished, the stronger of the teams. Their dominance on the football field was not able to be translated into either chances or, more importantly, goals. Van Nistelrooy had the only clear cut chance of the game, on 40 minutes. The ball was played through to him on the right, but he attempted a lob in perhaps the wrong circumstances, and the ball hit the top of the net, rather than inside it.
Gerrard forced van der Sar into a good save on 60 minutes, with a long-range swerving shot, but that was pretty much the end of the action.
Fergie left his substitutions till too late in the game, meaning none of Park, Fletcher or Gigs had a realistic chance of making an impact.
Ronaldo had his usual nice touches, but was ultimately closed down too fast and with too much efficiency to allow him enough time on the ball to perform his usual miracles.
Chelsea will struggle at Anfield too, but United need to keep scoring and winning, or the season will be over by Christmas!
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Richardson, Smith, Scholes, Keane (Giggs 88), Ronaldo (Park 90), Rooney (Fletcher 88), van Nistelrooy.
