United give Magpies Premier League reality check
Liverpool draw with Arsenal as goal-keepers come under fire.
MANCHESTER:
Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs scored as Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Newcastle giving the losers a sharp reminder of the gulf in class between the Championship and the elite league.
United had a comfortable advantage over last season’s Championship winners by half time even though it proved to be another frustrating night for Wayne Rooney, who remains goalless for club and country since scoring against Bayern Munich in a Champions League match in March.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was especially impressed by veteran midfielder Paul Scholes and delighted with the result against what he termed a tough outfit.
“They got into the Premier League last season by being a determined and a good unit with a good work ethic,” said Ferguson.
“We were wasteful with some chances. Berbatov could have scored three or four, but his performance was excellent. The three points is always important in your first home match. It was a steady performance.”
Berbatov finished off a fine move with just over half an hour gone before Fletcher’s close-range effort made it 2-0 at the interval.
And substitute former Welsh international Giggs extended the advantage with a third goal with five minutes remaining maintaining his extraordinary record of having scored in all 19 seasons he has played in the top flight.
Chelsea ended United’s run of three successive Premier League titles with their victory last season but began their attempts to win the crown for a record 19th time in some style.
Liverpool draw with Arsenal
Spanish goal-keepers Pepe Reina and Manuel Almunia came under fire as Liverpool and Arsenal fought out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher refused to blame goal-keeper Reina for the late goal which gave Arsenal a point while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger lent his support to Almunia who allowed David Ngog’s drive to beat him at his near post.
With Roy Hodgson looking set to celebrate his first league match in charge with a victory, Reina bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Marouane Chamakh.
“I’d have to have a look at it again, but a lot of time you get a foul for that,” said Carragher. “I know they say they’re protected. But he’s the best goal-keeper in the world and you saw that last year.”
Wenger refused to blame Almunia for Liverpool’s goal, even though the Spaniard was beaten at his near post.
“It’s difficult to say it was his fault,” said Wenger, who has been linked with a move for Fulham’s Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer. “He’s been beaten at the short corner but you give credit to Ngog.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2010.
Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs scored as Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Newcastle giving the losers a sharp reminder of the gulf in class between the Championship and the elite league.
United had a comfortable advantage over last season’s Championship winners by half time even though it proved to be another frustrating night for Wayne Rooney, who remains goalless for club and country since scoring against Bayern Munich in a Champions League match in March.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was especially impressed by veteran midfielder Paul Scholes and delighted with the result against what he termed a tough outfit.
“They got into the Premier League last season by being a determined and a good unit with a good work ethic,” said Ferguson.
“We were wasteful with some chances. Berbatov could have scored three or four, but his performance was excellent. The three points is always important in your first home match. It was a steady performance.”
Berbatov finished off a fine move with just over half an hour gone before Fletcher’s close-range effort made it 2-0 at the interval.
And substitute former Welsh international Giggs extended the advantage with a third goal with five minutes remaining maintaining his extraordinary record of having scored in all 19 seasons he has played in the top flight.
Chelsea ended United’s run of three successive Premier League titles with their victory last season but began their attempts to win the crown for a record 19th time in some style.
Liverpool draw with Arsenal
Spanish goal-keepers Pepe Reina and Manuel Almunia came under fire as Liverpool and Arsenal fought out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher refused to blame goal-keeper Reina for the late goal which gave Arsenal a point while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger lent his support to Almunia who allowed David Ngog’s drive to beat him at his near post.
With Roy Hodgson looking set to celebrate his first league match in charge with a victory, Reina bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Marouane Chamakh.
“I’d have to have a look at it again, but a lot of time you get a foul for that,” said Carragher. “I know they say they’re protected. But he’s the best goal-keeper in the world and you saw that last year.”
Wenger refused to blame Almunia for Liverpool’s goal, even though the Spaniard was beaten at his near post.
“It’s difficult to say it was his fault,” said Wenger, who has been linked with a move for Fulham’s Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer. “He’s been beaten at the short corner but you give credit to Ngog.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2010.