- 22 minutes ago
Liverpool recovered from their surprise home defeat to Barnsley by winning 1-0 at Arsenal last Saturday. United have scored nine times in their last two league games.
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00:00The familiar surroundings of Anfield, venue in December 1997 for another mouth-watering encounter between Liverpool and Manchester United.
00:09An early morning kick-off in what is always one of the most instrawling fixtures in the FA Premier League.
00:14The cream of English football head-to-head as the race for the title reached a critical stage, certainly for
00:20Liverpool.
00:21They needed maximum points if they were to maintain realistic hopes of keeping in touch with United.
00:26The Red Devils were eight points clear of their hosts going into the contest.
00:31Some interesting team news. Roy Evans included Robbie Fowler in the starting line-up following the completion of a three
00:37-match ban.
00:38Alongside him up front, Michael Owen, the 17-year-old replacing Karl-Heinz Riedler, who'd missed a hatful of chances
00:44in midweek.
00:4630 goals in seven matches illustrated United's sharpness in front of goal, but Alex Ferguson made one surprise change.
00:52Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left out, despite scoring twice in his last outing.
00:57Ronnie Jonsson came in for him, otherwise it was the same side that hammered Blackburn Rovers.
01:02Commentary at Anfield from John Helm.
01:05Interesting that Fowler's partner there is young Michael Owen and not Karl-Heinz Riedler.
01:11There had been a feeling that they might have started with Riedler and brought Owen on if need be later
01:16in the game.
01:17But that perhaps shows the Liverpool ambition and that they feel these two young strikers can gel together.
01:23And here is Fowler, just toe-poking that ball back down, and then via Redknapp and McIntyre, it's come to
01:30Kvarmut.
01:33And Manchester United have possession for the first time with Beckham.
01:36And finds Andy Cole a delightful ball from Beckham.
01:44Philip Neville, another wasteful, but then it's slewed off the side of Leonardson's boot.
01:50And the first free kick of the day goes Liverpool's way in against Andy Cole.
02:02Well, there's always pressure on any manager, but Roy Evans knows better than most the pressures of management at this
02:08time.
02:09Liverpool disappointingly down in seventh position at the moment.
02:14But he still believes that they can apply pressure on Manchester United at the top.
02:19And they're applying pressure through Owen now, and Fowler's taken up a good position, so has Leonardson.
02:24Here is Fowler now, he was edge of the area, and it's flicked with the outside of the boot.
02:29Just wide of the side netting.
02:32So the first real chance of this game, falling to the home side.
02:36And it was a neat link-up between Owen and Fowler.
02:40One touch, and the second carried the ball just wide.
02:51That was a good climb by Sheringham, who's got a second stab at it, into Andy Cole, he's offside.
02:58And, well, spectators all around the ground rose there, as the referee's assistant Mark Warren flagged for offside.
03:06And I think we'll see from this that he wasn't.
03:10He was being played on by McAteer.
03:23Do you want to be?
03:28It was easily broken up, but it's back with Redknapp.
03:31Now with Owen.
03:33Could be a booking here.
03:35The first of the day, it was Redknapp flattened.
03:38And it's Jonsson who is called to task by Mr. Ellery for the day's first yellow card.
03:49Ronnie Jonsson in Mr. Ellery's bad books.
03:59It's clearly Redknapp taking it, but it's the short one.
04:02And there he goes.
04:04Oh, and rather a lot to do, and a harsh challenge by Button.
04:07That's a booking for him.
04:09Well, that wasn't what they were attempting to induce with the short free kick.
04:14But it's the second United caution in the space of 60 seconds.
04:19But everybody in a white shirt is behind the ball.
04:23As Liverpool look for what would be a major breakthrough.
04:26And Bjornaby floats it in.
04:28And it's over the top.
04:32Fowler came racing in to meet Bjornaby's perfectly placed and perfectly flighted free kick.
04:38He got in there between those United men.
04:41And will be bitterly disappointed not to have at least forced Schmeichel into a save.
04:52This is promising, and Ryan Giggs with the shot.
04:55Didn't really get any purchase into it.
04:58And David James able to smother the ball.
05:02But it's lively stuff out there.
05:13Beckham.
05:15And Sheringham and attempting to play the ball back to Jonsson.
05:18Presented it to Owen.
05:20The referee allows the play to continue.
05:22Fowler's shot took the wicked deflection that carried it just over the top of the goal.
05:39Fowler's got a good goal-scoring record against Manchester United.
05:43Four in the one season just a couple of years ago.
05:47And he's among those in there for this corner kick.
05:50Swung straight into Schmeichel's hands.
06:11Scheringham up there.
06:12Giggs in here.
06:13And James out.
06:14Scheringham in.
06:15But into the side net and not into the main netting.
06:21Rather nervous.
06:22Moment for James.
06:24Just as Schmeichel had a nervous moment a few moments ago.
06:28And Scheringham's height is posing a few problems here.
06:32James got his knees in the way.
06:33But Scheringham smacked it into the side netting.
06:37Needs to do some work on his last touch, I think.
06:46Let's see if Liverpool can take advantage.
06:49No, for the moment they can't.
06:54Well, the United will get in on to this one now.
06:57There was a moment's hesitation by Philip Neville there.
07:00But, oh, and now Philip Neville's involved in another loss of the ball.
07:03And that's a free kick.
07:20And that's a free kick.
07:33And it was driven through, but Schmeichel on hand.
07:41Not much hope of beating a goalkeeper of Schmeichel's quality like that.
07:52Neville.
07:54No, Giggs.
07:55They expect him to run at them.
07:57And he'll supply a ball here for Nicky Butt, which is encouraging Andy.
08:01Nicky Butt might get in.
08:03But he didn't have sufficient belief, I don't think, at the end of all that.
08:09Well, what a good chance that was for Butt.
08:12It was Ryan Giggs who picked him out and he advanced beyond Matteo.
08:17Took the ball back from Cole.
08:18And then really just toe-poked it up into James' hands.
08:24And, er, if Alex Ferguson has a criticism of this young player, but it is that he doesn't score enough
08:29times.
08:40That's a neat lay-off to the younger of the Neville brothers.
08:47Now the commanding figure of Pallister.
08:57Oh, they've finally got moving forward.
09:01Cole.
09:03Waiting his Giggs.
09:05And they've locked the players up here.
09:07And Cole advances!
09:08Oh, my word, it was almost an own goal.
09:11Cole didn't get the touch, I don't think, but a Liverpool head certainly did.
09:17And, er...
09:18Oh, maybe Cole did, and then it brushed away off the Liverpool body.
09:22Interesting one, this.
09:24Still, it's a United corner kick from Beckham.
09:27And Pallister inevitably in there.
09:29Made contact, but can do no more than deflect it to Giggs.
09:32But they've still a lot in there.
09:34And among them is Janssen.
09:35Palmed down by James.
09:37And finally claimed by the goalkeeper.
09:42Well, it took him two attempts to hold on.
09:53McManaman seems to be favouring the left side at the moment.
09:56And he's whipped this one away for Leonardson.
09:59Fowler will advance.
10:02Shattered by Pallister.
10:04Finally gets around to deliver a short ball for Redknapp.
10:10Fowler into McManaman.
10:12Fabulous football.
10:13Is it a fabulous finish?
10:14It's not.
10:15It's a corner.
10:18Well, delightful one-two there between Fowler and McManaman,
10:21who've played so many times.
10:23Juniors, reserves, first team.
10:25And it showed the telepathy.
10:27But McManaman's finish wasn't positive enough.
10:32It's yielded another Liverpool corner, though.
10:38Sheringham was equal to that.
10:41What can McAteer do?
10:43It's Owen!
10:44And Michael Owen just buffeted off the ball there by Beckham.
10:50He nearly got in behind those white shirts, though.
10:58Bjornaby's ball.
10:59Schmeichel.
11:16How to achieve a breakthrough.
11:18That must be on his mind as we approach half-time.
11:22So we look like having a scoreless first half.
11:28But it's a nonetheless interesting one.
11:35Well, you can see that the players know now it's so close to half-time.
11:39In fact, there it is.
11:40That's Mr. Eller's whistle on his even so far.
11:44Interesting stuff.
11:45And Roy Evans just pondering now as to how to try and eke out a win.
11:50Teddy Sheringham has been in supreme form for Manchester United, often threatening.
11:56There have been chances at both ends.
11:59David James has occasionally looking for a breakthrough here at Anfield as the players make their way into the dressing
12:09room.
12:09And the half-time score for Manchester United, the half-time score in Anfield, Liverpool 0-0, Manchester United 0
12:14-0.
12:29And we're underway again.
12:33One of the major talking points of that first half was about Nicky Butt and whether he was rather lucky
12:37to stay on, having already been booked in the opening ten minutes.
12:41So he went in rather rashly on another challenge.
12:53Fowler tries to knock the ball back to McManaman.
12:59Held up by Sheringham and the puck with a first-time ball.
13:03Straight to McAteer.
13:05And Leonardo wins his own little battle with Giggs.
13:09Not just once, but twice.
13:15Pauister.
13:21Plenty of resolve about Liverpool now as Manchester United's Sheringham stayed down, clutching his ankle, but as he picked himself
13:29up, the ball was blown out.
13:34Sheringham felt there might have been some retribution for that.
13:42The lights are in.
13:44The header directed directly to Jonsson.
13:47And nothing's happened as yet in the half.
13:49It might now though.
13:50Cole's shrieking away.
13:51The warm-up against him, Cole with the shot.
13:54And it dribbled along the ground.
13:56Certainly not one of Andy Cole's better efforts.
13:59He scored in the 3-1 win here last April and was on his way there.
14:03Turning inside, Kovarman made the space for the shot, but really never hit it.
14:08Thirteen so far this season though.
14:18This is Dominic Matteo.
14:22This is Dominic Matteo.
14:28Forward again with Matteo.
14:34A touch from McManaman.
14:35Leon Arson with time to turn, but there's hardly anybody ahead of him in a red shirt.
14:41And now there's nobody.
14:43We'll have to go back as Neville tries to pinch a yard or two down the touchline.
14:51Quite a...
14:52A bristling start to the first half.
14:55It's been a much quieter start to the second.
14:57And with five minutes of that half gone, we're looking for something to happen here.
15:09Again it's Kovarman, he's made the slip this time.
15:11It's Andy Cole.
15:12Surely now it's goal number one.
15:15And it's gone to guess who?
15:19Well, I was just saying we're waiting for something to happen.
15:22And there's only one man to look to these days.
15:24The slip by Kovarman.
15:26And the finish from Andy Cole.
15:29So a moment for the United fans to relish.
15:32But Kovarman, who's been dependency itself so far,
15:36made the slip and was punished.
15:40Andy Cole is really on fire with his game at the moment.
15:44And he nipped inside Matteo and drove it beyond James' right hand.
15:57McManaman dancing through the United ranks.
15:59A brilliant play from McManaman.
16:01The ball in it for Owen.
16:02Down he goes.
16:03The referee looks and points.
16:05Penalty given.
16:07Fury in the United defence.
16:11Referee Ellery will not be dissuaded though.
16:15McManaman had done all the hard work.
16:17Now there is Owen.
16:18And there's the tackle by Butt.
16:20Philip Neville was in there too.
16:21But it must have been Butt's challenge from behind.
16:24That concedes the penalty.
16:29Nicky Butt who conceded it.
16:31And has already been shown a yellow card remember.
16:34Can do no more than stand and watch though.
16:36Along with Owen and everybody else.
16:38Because Robbie Fowler said,
16:40Give me the ball.
16:41Give me the goal.
16:43Liverpool level.
16:46And drama on the hour at Anfield.
16:50Well there was fury in the United ranks.
16:53And a cleverly taken penalty kick by Robbie Fowler.
16:58Has given us some game now.
17:11Philip Neville.
17:14Now some clear ground.
17:16And who to run into it but McManaman.
17:19Terrifying sight for Manchester United supporters.
17:21Especially the way McManaman's playing at the moment.
17:24And he's played the ball in for Owen.
17:25Who makes the space and then slips.
17:27Still looks to give a ball.
17:29Leonardson.
17:30And it takes two deflections.
17:31The last one off Berg.
17:32Corner for Liverpool.
17:36And you're left to wonder there.
17:38What might have happened if Mike Lyon hadn't slipped.
17:40Because he was around the defender.
17:43What a fairy story that would be.
17:45If the 17 year old scored the winner.
17:48Liverpool are coming forward.
17:50And having a corner out of that as well.
18:02It's a pulsating contest.
18:04And the ball will drop for Leonardson.
18:06Who hooks it high into the top.
18:09Who hooks it high into the top.
18:18Who hooks it high into the top.
18:21who higher into falls.
18:36And they've come down over Mariorop.
18:38They've come down to Cire dance.
18:43And that's something.
18:44That's right there, Janssen.
18:48And then is
18:51Mr Ellery had no doubt and here is another chance for United to regain the
18:55lead
19:00Beckham, Giggs and Sheringham discussing tactics here
19:07it looks as though either Beckham or Giggs is going to try and curl this one
19:12somewhere around the line or is Beckham going to crack it in? He certainly is it's
19:16a wonder strike from David Beckham
19:20with 70 minutes gone Manchester United show their credentials yet again
19:27and what a glorious strike from Beckham it was the tightest of angles for him but
19:34it wasn't too difficult over the top of the wall into the corner off the bar the
19:39upright the ball in the net and a quite spectacular free kick
19:46so what a 20 minutes we've got in prospect as Owen takes the pass
19:50and in towards Leonardson was cut out but only got as far as McAteer
19:56and a teaser of a ball in was aiming for McManaman and had to be put away by Gary Neville
20:15but it's Liverpool now looking for something with Riedler
20:22Manchester United break like lightning and Giggs
20:28has come 50 yards and then found Cole
20:30there's trouble here for Liverpool
20:32Cole give him a glimpse and he might get a goal
20:34it's rattled him to the side and hitting
20:37well he speared the ball wide of James's right hand
20:41after the thrilling gas room gigs
20:48it's such a high quality contest
20:49it's got to go down as one of the games of the season
20:54McAteer
20:58what else can it produce
20:59it's an absorbing contest
21:02well United have three up against three now
21:04lost three against two
21:06Cole's pulled away
21:08bloody look to take Carriger on on the inside
21:11and it's a cross here for Beckham
21:13ahhh, a doubt in the end by the defender Carriger
21:22well Beckham, Sheringham, Giggs, Cole, they're all on song
21:29well it's a thrill a minute
21:36Lyon says the referee
21:38Sheringham to win the corner
21:47well Liverpool were so excited to get level
21:52I forgot that Manchester United are very capable of coming again
21:55and Alex Ferguson pointing the way
21:58I think he's telling Philip Neville and Pallister to stay back
22:03they'll get too ambitious at moments like this
22:05he's Sheringham, it's Cole, it's 3-1
22:09wonderfully worked routine
22:11in the 74th minute
22:13Manchester United surely have done enough now
22:16the scoreline identical to the one here last season
22:20there's the corner
22:21Sheringham up for it
22:22and a simple finish for Andy Cole
22:24in the right place at the right time
22:27as he always seems to be these days
22:28no more than three or four yards out
22:31nothing either Leonardson
22:33nor James could do about that
22:35but Sheringham's power in the air
22:37and Cole's devastating
22:39ability to be in the right place
22:42when he has to be
22:43have taken United into a two goal lead
22:46at 3-1
22:51Reidler starting from a very withdrawn area of the field
23:00for him
23:00but it really is a daunting prospect
23:02for the rest of the Premier League
23:03that Manchester United are about to get six points clear
23:07that's a good touch from Berger though
23:09and in here for Reidler
23:12and Reidler squeezes the shot in
23:14and it just goes across the face of Schmeichel's goal
23:17that was a good centre forward play
23:19from Karlheinz Reidler
23:21the 31 year old
23:23just managing to turn away
23:25from Berg
23:26but deliver the shot across goal
23:28it's not going to be
23:44from a very good point
23:45but
23:45oh
23:46oh
23:46oh
23:46oh
23:47oh
23:48oh
23:50oh
23:51back in it there at one apiece
23:52but Manchester United then
23:54took the game by the scruff of the neck again
23:56Reddap's going to try his luck
23:59well he can pop them in
24:00he's only got the one goal this season
24:03against Spurs in a
24:044-0 thrashing but today it's this man
24:07who's found the target
24:0915 times he's done
24:11that this season now as well
24:16happy days
24:17for Andy Cole
24:29Manchester United again showing they really are the yardstick
24:32by which anybody
24:34would judge themselves
24:35and Andy Cole's two goals have done the trick
24:38again for Alex Ferguson's side
24:40they extend their lead at the top of the
24:42Premier League for now
24:44and bitter disappointment for
24:46Roy Evans who saw his side
24:48come back into it at one stage
24:50with Andy Cole
24:50and the first word
24:52and the last word
24:53and the final score
24:55at Anfield
24:56Liverpool 1
24:57Manchester United 3
25:00another gripping spectacle
25:02between two teams
25:03who love to hate each other
25:04the three points added further momentum
25:07to Manchester United's title charge
25:09but come May
25:10it was Arsenal
25:11and not United
25:12who became champions
25:13Liverpool were unable
25:15to keep up with the top two
25:16and they eventually had to settle
25:18for third place
25:19not quite good enough
25:20for a team steeped in
25:21tradition
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