Premiership: Reds go two up against Devils
Liverpool have gone two goals up in their Premiership clash with Manchester United.
The ferocity was there, as expected, and both sides slotted instantly into a high tempo combined with great skill quality.
United though, were the sharper. Veron, clever, neat and not wasting possession, David Beckham drifting from wing to wing and Brown and Silvestre forming that mobile and effective central defensive pairing that United used in midweek in Lille.
Liverpool forced Fabien Barthez to come storming off his line in the first minute to attack a long throw from John Arne Riise. He dropped the ball but gratefully reclaimed under intense pressure from Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.
Owen had a drilled shot wide from Jerzy Dudek’s long ball, and then the striker spun to drive a shot that Bartez saved after a fine run from Vladimir Smicer.
But when Irwin got down the left his cross caused some trouble, as did van Nistelrooy’s run into the box that tempted Dudek out and needed a fine saving header from Jamie Carragher in the six-yard box with the keeper nowhere to be seen.
Liverpool were constantly looking for the long ball for Owen and Heskey to chase, United building with mobile and cultured inter-play.
Latest scores:
Liverpool 2
Manchester United 0
