Liverpool 2 - Manchester Utd 1
Tevez 3, Brown (og 26), Babel 77
The most heated affair in the English football calendar ended with a Liverpool victory for the first time in 8 years, this encounter was quite different to those in the past for this was not a battle to two giants but a tale of three howlers.
The first of which happened just three minutes in when Carlos Tevez was allowed to remain unmarked and unchecked within the six yard box; one can only wonder where Arbeloa was if anywhere.
The second howler was really quite strange. Xavi Alonso made a half-witted strike that in all honesty went nowhere near anything remotely useful, but somehow it took a deflection off of Evra, and Van der Sar pushed into an unwitting Wes Brown. Spaniard Alberto Riera had the intent of following it in, but ultimately Brown's touch was the final one before it dribbled across the line.
And this is where the catfight started...
Carrick was tackled in a cynical piece of skull-duggery from Mascherano who probably deserved to be sent off or at very least shown a yellow card, but mysteriously unlike last year, earnt nothing and Carrick hobbled off and was replaced at half time by a sheep (Giggs).
After the half Keane, Benayoun, Scholes and Gerrard all lined up to take shots as Liverpool started to assert themselves but it was Ryan Giggs volley perilously tipped over the bar by Reina which took the wind out of Liverpool's sails.
On 77 minutes, Liverpool's pressure paid off. Mascherano battled his way down the right and to the line, Kuyt took up possession and played the ball across for Babel to crack home.
From here the remaining 13 minutes sort of fizzled out which was a good thing as for the first time for 8 years, I was able to walk away from an evening without feeling bad about the encounter. And for about 180 minutes, Liverpool were top of the league which was made all the sweeter because to do so meant stuffing one up Man Utd.
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