Liverpool beat Manchester United 3 – 1 at Anfield on Sunday to deal a hefty blow to the log leaders’ title hopes.

United suffered their second league defeat in a week after losing 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday, leaving them just three points ahead of Arsenal having played a game more.

Kuyt opened the scoring after 34 minutes from point-blank range after some trickery by Luis Suarez and the workaholic Dutchman doubled Liverpool’s lead five minutes later after a terrible mistake by the unfortunate Nani.

The Portuguese playmaker was then carried off on a stretcher before halftime after a bad tackle by Jamie Carragher.

(more…)

Chelsea came from behind to beat Manchester United 2 – 1 thanks to a late penalty by Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

United deservedly led through Wayne Rooney’s 29th-minute shot but defender David Luiz equalised nine minutes into the second half.

The champions, unbeaten at home against United since 2002, surged forward after that and took the points after Chris Smalling tripped substitute Yuri Zhirkov.

United remain top on 60 points, four clear of Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Manchester City are third on 50 with champions Chelsea now up to fourth on 48.

“It was a great performance by us. We didn’t deserve that,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. “It’s three years in a row the referees’ decisions have changed the game.

“I’m proud of my players tonight, they’ve endured a lot of decisions against them and they’ve done their best.”

(more…)

The Manchester derby at Old Trafford ended with some long forgotten Wayne Rooney magic yesterday as he scored the winner to seal the 2 – 1 win for United over Manchester City.

United had seen Nani’s first-half opener cancelled out after the break when David Silva deflected in an Edin Dzeko shot, but Rooney’s spectacular late strike ensured Sir Alex Ferguson’s side hold the bragging rights over their bitter rivals.

Rooney’s sixth goal of the season lifted league leaders United seven points clear of second placed Arsenal, who host Wolves later on Saturday, and eight ahead of third placed City.

Silva had a golden chance to put City ahead in the fourth minute after a one-two with Carlos Tevez, but the Spain winger poked wide from close-range.

(more…)

Pepe Reina has put Liverpool on alert by refusing to rule out a move to Manchester United.

Ten months ago the Spaniard signed a fresh six-year deal with the club but warned that he could follow international team mate Fernando Torres, who completed a £50million switch to Chelsea last week, out of Anfield in a bid to further his ambitions.

United are actively scouring Europe for a successor to Edwin van der Sar after he announced he will retire from the game at the end of this season and Reina, one of their main targets, has admitted that Liverpool’s absence from the Champions League has given him food for thought.

“Van der Sar is hanging up his gloves [at United] and people say that Arsenal are [also] looking,” Reina told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.

(more…)

Manchester United came back from 2 – 0 down to beat Blackpool 2 – 3 and move five points clear at the top of the table.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had gone 27 league matches without losing, a run stretching back to their 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in April last season.

But that sequence looked in danger as goals from former United defender Craig Cathcart and striker DJ Campbell put the Seasiders 2-0 up at half-time.

Blackpool could have had a penalty when Luke Varney was bundled over by Rafael da Silva early in the second half.

But United finally got one back when in-form Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov volleyed home Darren Fletcher’s cross in the 72nd minute.

Mexican striker Javier Hernandez, on for the lacklustre Wayne Rooney, equalised when he ran onto a Ryan Giggs pass and slotted past Richard Kingson in the 74th minute.

(more…)

Kenny Dalglish had a frustating start as Liverpool manager by losing 1 – 0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford last night courtesy of a second minute penalty by Ryan Giggs and a red card to Steven Gerrard by referee Howard Webb.

The penalty and 32nd-minute dismissal of Liverpool’s captain enabled United to cruise through to a fourth-round away game with League Two (third division) Southampton and spoil the comeback of Dalglish, who replaced Roy Hodgson on Saturday.

Holders Chelsea progressed with a 7-0 thrashing of Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge and will visit Everton, while Tottenham Hotspur beat League One (third division) Charlton Athletic 3-0 and Manchester City were held 2-2 at Leicester City.

(more…)

South Korea international Park Ji-Sung’s sixth goal of the season sent Manchester United two points clear at the top of the Premier League table after they beat former leaders Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford here on Monday.

United, who also have a game in hand over all their title rivals, could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty 17 minutes from time when Wayne Rooney fired wildly over the bar after Gael Clichy was adjudged to have handled inside his own area.

It was hardly a vintage performance but United, who visit reigning champions Chelsea on Sunday, were full value for a fifth successive home win which meant they also retained their unbeaten Premier League record this season.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted by Park’s display, telling Sky Sports: “His record against Arsenal is very good and he’s been in fantastic form, the lad.

(more…)