L
legend
Guest
United rally keeps Anfield feet on ground
By Ian McGarry
Liverpool 4 Manchester United 1 - not the score but a trophy count which in other circumstances might induce a panic at Old Trafford not felt since the Anfield glory days of the Eighties. <table align=right border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width=155> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan=2 width=5><SPACER type="block" width="5" height="1"></td> <td width=150>
</td></tr> <tr> <td>Ruud Van Nistelrooy: Scored United's only goal
(StanleyChou/Allsport)</td></tr></tbody></table>The addition of the FA Charity Shield to the glut of silverware Gerard Houllier's side have collected over an impressive seven months came with the added spice of victory over their arch-rivals in Cardiff yesterday. Goals by Gary McAllister and Michael Owen raised the curtain on a new season in similar fashion to how they closed the last - with a lap of honour in Wales. This time it was after a 2-1 win over <cite>the </cite>team to beat in England. United's consternation at losing this showpiece for the fourth time on the trot will be tempered by the the fact they have always gone on to retain their League crown. If only Liverpool could relocate to the Millennium Stadium they could approach the new campaign with a justifiable confidence that it is theirs for the taking. Beating United is not even a new experience for Houllier's men, having done the Premiership double on them last time out. Nevertheless, as they accepted the congratulations of their fans, a sense of reality prevailed which prevented the celebrations becoming a party. Even Sir Alex Ferguson smiled warmly at the end of an entertaining 90 minutes, but he will not have enjoyed tasting defeat in the first high-profile match of his final year in charge at Old Trafford. The resurgence of his side in a one-sided second half suggested his players felt the same way. Riled by defensive errors which saw Liverpool quickly two up, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes clawed back territorial advantage after the break and only the brilliance of Sander Westerveld denied the United captain an equaliser. Keane's effort was mirrored throughout his team but it was Liverpool who were the sharper from the kick-off. Owen drove Denis Irwin to distraction before squaring to Danny Murphy. A split second of danger as Murphy lined up his shot appeared to subside as the ball ricocheted away but Keane's impatience to clear saw him sweep Murphy's legs from under him and referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot. McAllister did not waste the opportunity to force a second-minute lead. With the Liverpool midfield quicker to every ball, Westerveld's decision to kick long in the 16th minute seemed strange, though not as bizarre as what happened next. Emile Heskey nodded on and Jaap Stam lost his footing as he tried to intercept. Owen collected and left Gary Neville marooned with clever footwork before steering the ball into the net. If the England striker was made Prince of Wales in the eyes of the Liverpool faithful after his two-goal transformation of the FA Cup Final against Arsenal, they were ready to crown him king there and then. Sven Goran Eriksson was another satisfied observer, given the likelihood of Owen versus Stam when England meet Holland on Wednesday, although the Swede will be wary of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Twice the £19million striker worried Liverpool at the start of the second half and in the 51st minute he pulled one back for United. The move of the match saw David Beckham, Keane and Ryan Giggs combine brilliantly to put the striker through to beat his fellow Dutch international in goal. Keane was denied the same pleasure but Van Nistelrooy had every right to feel aggrieved after Stephane Henchoz blocked a shot with his arm for the second time in the match. So Liverpool enter the new season in possession of a European trophy and every domestic gong in the game, except the one which United have virtually made their own over the past decade. Victory, the lasting kind which brings joy and relief in equal measure, will be not be won in a single afternoon in Wales but over many more across the grounds of England in the next nine months. The phoney war is over, let the real battle commence.
<!-----Bottom of page----->
By Ian McGarry
Liverpool 4 Manchester United 1 - not the score but a trophy count which in other circumstances might induce a panic at Old Trafford not felt since the Anfield glory days of the Eighties. <table align=right border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width=155> <tbody> <tr> <td rowspan=2 width=5><SPACER type="block" width="5" height="1"></td> <td width=150>
(StanleyChou/Allsport)</td></tr></tbody></table>The addition of the FA Charity Shield to the glut of silverware Gerard Houllier's side have collected over an impressive seven months came with the added spice of victory over their arch-rivals in Cardiff yesterday. Goals by Gary McAllister and Michael Owen raised the curtain on a new season in similar fashion to how they closed the last - with a lap of honour in Wales. This time it was after a 2-1 win over <cite>the </cite>team to beat in England. United's consternation at losing this showpiece for the fourth time on the trot will be tempered by the the fact they have always gone on to retain their League crown. If only Liverpool could relocate to the Millennium Stadium they could approach the new campaign with a justifiable confidence that it is theirs for the taking. Beating United is not even a new experience for Houllier's men, having done the Premiership double on them last time out. Nevertheless, as they accepted the congratulations of their fans, a sense of reality prevailed which prevented the celebrations becoming a party. Even Sir Alex Ferguson smiled warmly at the end of an entertaining 90 minutes, but he will not have enjoyed tasting defeat in the first high-profile match of his final year in charge at Old Trafford. The resurgence of his side in a one-sided second half suggested his players felt the same way. Riled by defensive errors which saw Liverpool quickly two up, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes clawed back territorial advantage after the break and only the brilliance of Sander Westerveld denied the United captain an equaliser. Keane's effort was mirrored throughout his team but it was Liverpool who were the sharper from the kick-off. Owen drove Denis Irwin to distraction before squaring to Danny Murphy. A split second of danger as Murphy lined up his shot appeared to subside as the ball ricocheted away but Keane's impatience to clear saw him sweep Murphy's legs from under him and referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot. McAllister did not waste the opportunity to force a second-minute lead. With the Liverpool midfield quicker to every ball, Westerveld's decision to kick long in the 16th minute seemed strange, though not as bizarre as what happened next. Emile Heskey nodded on and Jaap Stam lost his footing as he tried to intercept. Owen collected and left Gary Neville marooned with clever footwork before steering the ball into the net. If the England striker was made Prince of Wales in the eyes of the Liverpool faithful after his two-goal transformation of the FA Cup Final against Arsenal, they were ready to crown him king there and then. Sven Goran Eriksson was another satisfied observer, given the likelihood of Owen versus Stam when England meet Holland on Wednesday, although the Swede will be wary of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Twice the £19million striker worried Liverpool at the start of the second half and in the 51st minute he pulled one back for United. The move of the match saw David Beckham, Keane and Ryan Giggs combine brilliantly to put the striker through to beat his fellow Dutch international in goal. Keane was denied the same pleasure but Van Nistelrooy had every right to feel aggrieved after Stephane Henchoz blocked a shot with his arm for the second time in the match. So Liverpool enter the new season in possession of a European trophy and every domestic gong in the game, except the one which United have virtually made their own over the past decade. Victory, the lasting kind which brings joy and relief in equal measure, will be not be won in a single afternoon in Wales but over many more across the grounds of England in the next nine months. The phoney war is over, let the real battle commence.
<!-----Bottom of page----->
