Just like when we played them at Anfield last season, I was absolutely positive we'd win. There was not a doubt in mind, and the only concern was that I was so confident we'd win that I might not have been able to handle it if we didn't. It would have been an enormous shock to the system. This time, I even managed to predict the scoreline too. "3-1 or 3-2" I confidently told everybody who asked me beforehand. I also stated that if they did happen to somehow get two goals, the second one would arrive deep into stoppage time when it was too late for them to do anything. The reason for this logic is simple. Our defence is as good as anything I've ever seen when they have to be. They may slip up occasionally against lesser sides when maybe the concentration levels aren't what they should be, but when the pressure is on even the best attacking sides in the world struggle against Sami & co.
Just ask Barcelona and Roma. They'll experience that again in a few weeks of course, and if they needed a reminder of what they're up against, then watching a video of this game will tell them all they need to know about what a tough a nut we are to crack.
This was simply a great day. From the wonderful mosaic on the Kop (top marks to Andy & everyone else involved in that) to Jooooohn Arne Riise's stunning free kick, to Carra's fantastic headed clearance to deny Solskjaer at 0-0 and of course Little Mickey's two expertly taken goals. The mancs were simply outplayed, outworked and outfought.
The absence of Keane and Giggs was a blow to them of course, but that was tempered by the fact that Andy Cole and Lauren Blanc were also ruled out, so it wasn't all bad for Ferguson. As good as Giggs is, it's doubful whether he would have fared much better then Quenton Fortune did considering the immense performances Carra has been putting in of late. As for Keane, well I don't think he was missed because Nicky Butt(ugly) was probably their best player on the day.
The game was slow to get going, probably due to the ridiculous kick off time. Sky TV tend to get the blame for this, but apparently it's the police who insist on these early kick off times. Further proof that they are prepared to go out of their way to make life difficult for fanzine sellers. Or is that just me being paranoid?
Anyway, we settled down after about fifteen minutes, and were making most of the play. Barthez gave us a sign of things to come when he flapped at a cross and was grateful that Murphy's shot was blocked by one of his defenders. Their central defensive duo of Brown and Silvestre were looking distinctly shaky, whilst the inspired Smicer was giving Gary Neville all kinds of problems.
Vlad was brilliant in the first half, and I lost count of the amount of times either he or Emile won possession off the mancs in their half of the field. Once again, Heskey did a fantastic job for the team, and I just hope that he can get the goal his efforts deserve in the next game. I really fancied Emile to score in this one, but no chances came his way. He did as much as anyone to help us win this game though, and he led the line brilliantly and won everything in the air. The goals will come, but until then performances like this are more than stisfactory. Even my old fella conceded that Heskey 'wasn't bad', which is like hearing George Bush describe Osama Bin Laden as "a hell of a guy." It's fair to say Heskey isn't my dad's favourite player!
Owen had already had two sights of goal before Brown's mistake saw him through on goal. Put Michael in that situation and you know what the outcome is going to be. A carbon copy of the finish he produced against Boavista and it was 1-0.
Our tails were up and the mancs were hanging on at this point. Brown fouled Owen, and what followed is probably the best free kick I've ever seen. Certainly the best I've seen live anyway. The night before the game, Chris Smith and I had been saying how great it would be if JAR knocked one in against the mancs, as that would mean the whole of Anfield singing THAT song. Well our dreams came true.
I've never seen a ball struck as well as that. Stevie G's thunderbolt into the same goal past the same keeper last season was special, but this was even better. The ball was still rising as it went in, and had the net not got in the way then it could have done some serious damage to someone in the United end. As funny as that would have been, I'd certainly rather have the goal!
Anfield was rocking the theme of our latest 'cult hero' and the mancs were completely shellshocked. Half time came at the wrong time for us, as you know United will almost come out firing after a bollocking from Sir Exlax. Thommo revealed afterwards that he had written on the tactics board in the dressing room about what happened when the mancs were three down at White Hart Lane, and he stressed to the players the importance of keeping it tight early on.
He must have been tearing his hair out when we presented them with a gift of a goal less than five minutes into the second half. Riise had started the second half very sloppily, probably still basking in the glow of his wondergoal, and it was from his poor clearance that Beckham was able to hit a weak left foot shot past Jerzy. Our keeper should have kept it out, but he's been pretty much flawless since his arrival and I'm certainly not going to hold this small error against him.
That could have made things really difficult for us, as when the mancs get into their stride they're the best attacking side in the country by some distance. Luckily for us, they could well be the worst defensive side in the country by an equal distance, and in Barthez they have the definitive 'dodgy keeper.' How anyone could ever proclaim this guy the best keeper in the world is a complete mystery to me. He's even worse than Oliver Kahn, another hugely over-rated 'dodgepot' (© Alan Hansen I believe) of a keeper.
That said, the leap from Heskey to win the flick on was impressive, but not as impressive as the salmon like way in which Little Mickey soared above Silvestre to nod the ball into the net vacated by Barthez. The Kop had showed their class by giving Barthez a warm round of applause when he took his place in the Kop goal at the start of the second half, but following that cock up it piss taking all the way!
Chants of 'Dodgy Keeper' and ironic cheers whenever he did something right must have dented the confidence of even this most arrogant of individuals. The piss taking wasn't just restricted to Barthez though. "There's only one Jaap Stam" was a classic, and "Are you City in disguise" was payback for the same taunt which they directed at us a few years ago when they raced into an early first half lead (courtesy of two Pallister headers at the Kop end if I remember rightly). "Can we play you every week" may have actually been a legitimate request to the Premier League!
The best that Salford's finest could come up with was "sit down Pinocchio" directed at Thommo. A funny chant to be fair, but one which was shamelessly ripped off from Leeds. Not like the mancs to do that is it?
After the third goal United had loads of possession, but never looked like scoring. We seemed to tire as the game went on, and were content to just keep them out. Owen was replaced, Heskey ended up dropping into midfield, and our biggest attacking threat came from the ever willing Paddy Berger.
The delight at the final whistle was there for all to see. A signal was sent out by the reds with this performance. We're four points ahead of them, with a game in hand. We're getting stronger each week, whilst they seem to be getting weaker.
Ferguson was extremely magnamous in defeat, and I've never seen him so generous in his praise to the opposition, even claiming that we are now were United where four years ago. He made no excuses (which has to be a first), and for once actually seemed like a half decent kind of a guy. Maybe the early kick off meant he was sober for a change!
Another guy who I'm going to have give credit to is Graeme Poll. Besides Jeff Winter, Poll is the ref I despise the most, yet he was absolutely outstanding today. He didn't get every decision right of course, but I don't expect any ref to do that. What he did do, was use a lot of common sense and his performance actually played a big part in the fact that the game never looked like bubbling over at any stage.
Stevie G's tackle was nowhere near as bad as has been made out by the media. It wasn't two footed, his feet were actually on the ground when he attempted to tackle Veron, and he didn't get anywhere the player, who showed great agility to get out of the way so quickly. Still, it seems like some people aren't happy unless they're having a pop at Stevie lately, and it has definitely effected his form.
He had a decent game, and by anyone else's standards it would have been top class, but he was nowhere near his best. His dip in form seemed to co-incide with all the negative publicity he got before the last England game. I hope the National Press are pleased with themselves. Bastards.
I went for Hamann as my man of the match, but in all honesty it could have been one of about six players. Owen had the mancs shitting their pants whenever he got the ball, Carra was solid as a rock, proving once again that he is England's finest 'defender' by an absolute mile. Heskey was terrific, and Sami and Steph were... well Sami and Steph.
Thommo claimed Murphy should have been MOTM, which doesn't surprise me as Danny is certainly Gerard and Thommo's 'favourite.' For what it's worth I too thought Danny was superb. Not for what he did with the ball, but because it was clear that his job was to neutralise the threat of Veron. Just like he did with Rosicky, Danny made sure that Veron was not an influence on this game.
Veron sawe plenty of the ball, but most of the time he was coming deep to pick the ball up off his back four. Danny let him do that, as it poses no threat, but whenever Veron was anywhere our goal, SuperDan was there to take the ball away from him. Apparently the reason Danny gets picked so often is because when he is given a job to do he carries it out to the letter, and the last two games have given the perfect demonsration of that.
Despite Murphy's excellent display, I thought Didi was once again our best player. When we're up against a good side, Hamann is an invaluable player for us, and we're going to miss him when we face Barca at Anfield. Last year when we played them, he did more than anyone to keep Rivaldo quiet, so someone else will have to step up to keep tabs on the Brazilian. My money is on Murphy being handed the task.
One final point on this game, and it is something which Sky shamefully ignored on their coverage. When Beckham was subbed he was given quite a good round of applause from Liverpool fans. I clapped him when he went off, as the guy has matured beyond all recognition and I have no problem with him at all any more. He's a great player, and it was fantastic to see many reds recognise that fact. It's what separates us from the rest. Do you think Owen would get that kind of respect at Old Trafford?
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann, Danny Murphy, Vladimir Smicer (Patrik Berger); Michael Owen (Robbie Fowler), Emile Heskey:
