United Edges Closer to Title (Liverpool 0 - Manchester United 1)

United put one hand on the title with a win against a very dominant performance by Liverpool. I was at Cow's place watching the game with Kentona and God.

For most of the game, Liverpool controlled the midfield and had the best chances. Bellamy was a constant thorn, running Vidic ragged. In fact he created the best chances but Liverpool failed to capitalise on it. We conceded midfield dominance, with only Scholes the only player in white having any sort of control on the ball. The pool midfield practically dictated the pace of the game.

In the beginning of the second half, good fortune and Van der Sar's safe pair of hands kept Liverpool from running riot. Although we had our moments going forward, the Pool defence kept tight and I couldn't recall us making Jose Reina sweat at goal.

Then in the dying minutes, Alonso delibrately pulled Scholes back, frustrating him to take a swipe but missing the target altogether. Scholes was deservedly red carded for violent conduct, but how in the world Alonso escape without being shown his second yellow was a mystery to me. With only 4 plus minutes left on the clock, it seemed that getting a draw would have been a feat in itself, given the way Liverpool approached the game and our own inert showing. I personally would have been leaping for joy to hear the final whistle given the circumstances.

But United had other plans. Being ten men down, Giggs celebrated his 700th appearance in a United shirt won a free kick at the left edge of the Pool box. Up stepped Ronaldo who drilled the freekick hard and low into the penalty box. Reina, partially distracted by Saha, could only parry the ball to the path of John O'Shea, who had replaced Rooney, and he blasted the rebound into the Liverpool net with his only telling contribution of the game. 91st minute and one goal up for the good guys!!!!

It was a goal we hardly deserved, and we knew it. The celebrations were wild, both with the United players, the fans in the stands and the diehards at Cow's place.

I quite honestly cannot believe what I saw and could hardly bear to watch injury time play itself out. No doubts about it, we were lucky as hell to etch this one out. But sometimes in soccer you create your own luck. Despite being 10 men down and against the odds, we still continued to play constructive football and were duely rewarded for our efforts.

I believe the trophy is now ours to lose and it's up to us to show our mettle. Although Chelsea did reduce the gap to 9 points with a crappy win over the fast fading Portsmouth, the psychological advantage must still lie with us. Let's make good use of it.

The only worry I have is losing Scholes to a 3 match ban. He's absence is going to be sorely missed given the inert performances by Carrick and whoever replaces him in the centre of the park. But screw that thought, for today, let's enjoy this win!