Manchester United Beats Liverpool 2-1
Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 to move to the top of the standings in English soccer’s Premier League.
Wayne Rooney scored twice early in the second half at Old Trafford as United jumped one point ahead of Manchester City, which visits Aston Villa tomorrow.
“It was a great performance,” Alex Ferguson, United’s manager, told Sky Sports. “They played some fantastic football.”
Tension ran high in Manchester after Luis Suarez, who scored the Liverpool goal, refused to shake the hand of United captain Patrice Evra before the game. It was their first meeting since Suarez was suspended eight games for racially abusing Evra in an October match.
Suarez walked past Evra during the handshake to goalkeeper David de Gea. Evra attempted to grab the arm of Suarez and was shrugged off. United’s Rio Ferdinand then refused to shake Suarez’s hand.
“I could not believe it,” Ferguson told Sky Sports. “He’s a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club and should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again. The history that club’s got and he does that, and in a situation like today could have caused a riot.”
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who earlier this week said it was time to draw a line under the affair, told Sky he wasn’t aware of Suarez’s action.
Never Saw
“I wasn’t there, I never saw it,” he said. “That’s contrary to what I was told. We’ll ask him and take it from there.”
United’s Paul Scholes had the best chance of the opening half when he headed straight at goalkeeper Pepe Reina from six yards out.
Suarez reacted furiously when a fouled wasn’t called against Ferdinand before halftime and kicked the ball away as the whistle blew. Sky Sports reported the teams then clashed in the tunnel, with police and stewards involved.
United took the lead in the 47th minute as Ryan Gigg’s corner kick found Rooney, who fired in a shot at the far post. Rooney struck three minutes later when he ran onto Antonio Valencia’s pass and scored his 17th league goal of the season.
Suarez scored in the 81st minute after Charlie Adam’s free kick bounced off Ferdinand. De Gea then tipped Glen Johnson’s shot over the crossbar in stoppage time to preserve the win.
Tension continued after the final whistle as Evra went near Suarez to celebrate with United fans. That infuriated Liverpool players and stewards, police and the match officials had to keep the teams apart.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.
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