United Downs Liverpool

Manchester United 2 - Liverpool 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Van Persie (19), Vidic (55)
Liverpool: Sturridge (57)

Team: De Gea, Vidic (Smalling 80), Rio, Evra, Rafael, Carrick, Cleverley, Kagawa (Jones 77), Young (Valencia 46), Welbeck, Van Persie

For most of the game we were clearly the better side. We created the clearer chances but were left to endure sustained Liverpool pressure in the final 15 or so minutes when Ferguson decided to play to our weakness instead of our strengths. We made two defensive substitutions and decided to park the bus to see out the victory. Despite some disorder, we managed to just see out the win and collect 3 points to move 10 points clear in the table.

The first half wasn't a classic, but we were pretty much comfortable keeping possession, stroking the ball around, while Liverpool were just content to allow us the freedom. While lulling Liverpool to sleep, Van Persie scored one of the most casual goals you'd ever come across. Evra's blind cross was turned in nonchalantly by the Dutch supremo.

He could have had a second but a combinaton of defender and keeper kept the ball out and Kagawa could only crash into Reina while trying to put the rebound in.

Welbeck had a slew of chances to put us two up, but for all his hardwork, could not find the target. As mentioned before, he does everything on the pitch so well, but his finishing is just atrocious. If only we can combine Hernandez's finishing with Welbeck's all round play, we would have the perfect striker on our hands. But then again, we already have on in Van Persie.

We got the cushion in the second half when Vidic and Evra combined to put Van Persie's freekick into the Liverpool net a second time. It was nothing more than we deserved for putting pressure on the Liverpool goal. Up till then, I can't remember Liverpool even having a shot at our goal.

As if reading my mind, we lost the ball in our half and Gerrard fired a low shot which De Gea barely kept out, only for Sturridge to tap the rebound home. We were caught napping and paid the price. The goal gave the opponents confidence that they could get back into the game, and the game became a more even contest. Even then, we were still clearly the better team, until the final 15 minutes.

Ferguson withdrew Kagawa and Vidic with defensive players in the form of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. The idea was simple, to hold on to the win at all costs. We nearly paid the price a second time. Instead of piling on the pressure and playing to the strength of our attack, we sat back and invited Liverpool to come at us. Our solution of pumping long balls from defense kept allowing Liverpool possession from which they used as a launchpad to attack us with.

To our credit, we carried out the gameplan to perfection. It wasn't ideal in my book, but Ferguson's faith in his players gave us a win against a bitter rival.