Manchester United successfully completed the double over Liverpool in the league this season with the leaders already having beaten their rivals 2-1 at Anfield in September. PHOTO: AFP
Goals from Robin van Persie and Nemanja Vidic gave United a 2-0 lead before Liverpool substitute Daniel Sturridge pulled one back for the visitors in this latest clash between England’s two most successful clubs.
Van Persie gave United a 19th minute lead when he swept in Patrice Evra’s cross from eight yards out. It was the Dutch striker’s 17th Premier League goal this term, and 21st in all competitions, since he arrived at Old Trafford in a £24 million pre-season move from top-flight rivals Arsenal.
United made it 2-0 nine minutes after half-time when full-back Evra’s header from van Persie’s free-kick deflected in off centre-half Vidic.
But three minutes later Sturridge, on at the start of the second half for Lucas Leiva, marked his Premier League debut for Liverpool with a goal when he followed up the rebound after David de Gea saved skipper Steven Gerrard’s shot from outside the box.
It was Sturridge’s second goal in as many games for Liverpool following his move from European champions Chelsea after he was on target in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield last weekend.
However, Sturridge failed to make the most of two more chances and United held on for a victory that gave them a league double over Liverpool, who remained in eighth place, this season.
Benitez calls for united Chelsea front
Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez has called on Chelsea to assemble a winning run and prove to the doubters that everything is going well at the club after his side swept past Stoke City 4-0 yesterday.
Blues supporters are still not onside with the Spaniard, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo as manager in November, and he felt the heat again at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday when they lost to Swansea in their League Cup semi-final first leg.
Now Benitez wants his side to put a run together and see if they can close the gap that currently separates them from Premier League leaders Manchester United.
“You have to realise, and it is difficult if you are not watching the training, the team is doing well,” he said. “The players are happy. The players are training well and trying to perform.
“The atmosphere inside (the club) is great. We cannot control what is going on outside the pitch. We will try to do our best on the pitch and hopefully it will be easier.
Spurs turn to Dempsey following QPR stalemate
Andre Villas-Boas is convinced Tottenham Hotspur can maintain their Premier League challenge without striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Adebayor left to join up with Togo ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations immediately after appearing in the 0-0 draw against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday.
His departure leaves Villas-Boas with just one recognised striker, Jermain Defoe, but the Spurs boss is confident his squad can cope thanks to the presence of goal-scoring midfielder Clint Dempsey.
“We went through a period without Adebayor through injury and suspension and Clint did extremely well with Defoe,” saud the Spurs boss. “It was one of the good link-ups we had through the season.
“So he is a player we trust a lot. He always comes strong in the team and scored three goals in the last two games before this. He is always a goal-scorer, one of our highest goal-scorers, so we believe in him.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2013.
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