UNITED DO ANFIELD JOB

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

 

Well when the Scousers came to Old Trafford they were way off form and got suitably outclassed. Having said that, since then they've raised their game and hauled themselves if not into the title race but are at least breathing down Chelsea's necks. So a trip to Anfield at this point was going to be tricky? Result, Gary returning at right back(and to the captaincy). Rio and Vidic in central defence, Evra left back, Ronaldo right back, Carrick and Scholes centre mid, Giggsy left mid and Rooney and Larrson up front.

Well John Arne Risse put in a good freekick as the first serious effort of the game but then it got pretty scrabbly. United certainly got their share of the chances but neither side really looked like dominating the game though untill the Scousers started to turn up the heat and forced our backs against the wall. United's defence did not budge though and we got the chance for a few counters but no goals looked certain for either team when half time came.

The general play didn't really improve in the second half with the home side picking up where they left off with United again relying on counter attacks. Both teams became more cautious with United going on to be hampered first by Wayne getting injured and going to to be replaced by O'Shea then Scholesey getting sent off. As a result, United would up dodging a bullet late on but in injury time they had one last roll of the dice. Ronaldo sent in an injury time freekick and O'Shea slammed it in just before the final whistle. Messy. Very messy, but three points at Anfield.

Elsewhere, Chelsea faced Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The home side certainly had their moments but it was Didier Drogba who opened the scoring before half time. The Blues continued to look out of whack throughout the second half but a late Soloman Kalou strike secured the win to keep up something resembling a title challenge. That leaves the Blues remaining nine points behind United at the top of the Premiership though they still have a game in hand.

North of the border, Aberdeen faced Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium in the SPL. Irish midfielder Gary Dempsey opened the scoring for the Dons though the homeside spent most of the rest of the first half on the attack. Defender Richard Foster put the Reds two up with his first goal of the season. Dean Holden pulled one back for the home side but they couldn't do anything more. The Dons picked up the three points despite spending most of the game defending.

Elsewhere, the main match worth mentioning from a Dons perspective was the game between Rangers and Hibs at Easter Road. The Gers won the game 2-0 with Charlie Adam getting both goals. Hibs may have started badly but they had their moments of pressure. However, Walter Smith's crew were the better side. That leaves the Dons in third in the SPL, seven points away from Rangers and a Champions League preliminary spot but eight points ahead of Hibs and the non-Europe places and with a game in hand.

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