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Soccer match analysis: Manchester United vs. Liverpool

by Nicholas Nikolov

Created on: March 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 07, 2009

After Liverpool's 4-0 demolition over Real Madrid in their mid-week fixture in the UEFA Champions League encounter last week, they will have a difficult test for them versus league leaders Manchester United this weekend.

This weekends English Premiership League fixture between Liverpool and Man Utd at Old Trafford; with manager Rafael Benitez side sitting third in the EPL, only trailing manager Sir Alex Ferguson's side by seven points.

Midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo converts the penalty in the 23rd minute, firing a powerful strike over the driving goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Four minutes after, striker Fernando (El Nino) Torres, 25, quite easily disposes defender Nemanja Vidic as the Spaniard races in-on-goal and shown veteran composure to delicately chip the challenging goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Exactly three minutes prior to the end of the first-half, midfielder Michael Carrick brilliantly turns away from Lucas and the Englishman's zooming strike from distance just fizzes over the crossbar.

Shortly thereafter, defender Patrice Evra takes down midfielder Steven Gerrard inside the area with the Liverpool captain converted his penalty with a well-struck low shot, drilling it past the Dutch keeper.

As the second half gets underway, with Ronaldo having three attempts to level the match first chance; the Portuguese star was making one of his trademark dashing runs down the wing, this on the left and blasting his shot, rattling it off the post. His second effort was well-secured by the Spanish stopper off Ronaldo's free kick. The final chance was a looping shot that almost caught Reina off his line, but Reina just extended enough to tap it outward.

In the 73rd minute, Sir Alex Ferguson decides to make triple changes to his squad in the obvious hope of getting back in the match. Midfielder Ryan Giggs comes on for Carrick, midfielder Paul Scholes replace Anderson, and striker Dimitar Berbatov takes out midfielder J.S. Park.

Three-minutes after the substitutions, Vidic gets sent off for the foul he committed on Gerrard. Defender Fabio Aurelio, 30, delivers a sublime well-placed free kick, thus giving Liverpool a two-goal cushion.

One minute into stoppage time, Reina launches the ball forward, bouncing beautifully for defender Andrea Dossena, 28, as the Italian stunning lofting shot dips right into the back of the net, sailing over the Manchester stopper.

Travelling Liverpool supporters in attendance began to chant "You will never walk alone!" witnessing see them completely overrun United 4-1; with Benitez side only three-points back of their arch rivals.

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