00:00Ferguson's strengths is that every match is special to him.
00:04But the start of three away games in eight days marks his 500th in league football as the boss of
00:10Manchester United.
00:12That it comes against the club who would so dearly love to thwart his ambition adds a little extra reddish.
00:20Nowhere now the Liverpool of old and missing their goal scoring machines, but there's still hope on the Kop.
00:27Two changes from Saturday's line-up. Song and Babb come in for Qualima and Thompson.
00:35Manchester United have Japs Stamm fit again after missing two games with an ankle injury.
00:41And Roy Keane returns from suspension.
00:43And their top scoring duo are reunited with Andy Cole who scored twice in this fixture last season back in
00:50the starting line-up.
00:56The top referee in the country, David Ellery.
00:59Here's the man in charge.
01:02And Manchester United are playing in white.
01:07First test for Philbad.
01:09On by Paul Ince.
01:14No foul.
01:15Bit of a lean-in by Gary Neville.
01:20Jimmy Redner.
01:22One short of double figures in the scoring stakes.
01:24And now the leading scorer for Liverpool.
01:27In the absence of Fowler and Owen.
01:29With a smile on the face of Steve McManaman.
01:33Great kick for the challenger on Beckham.
01:36Which is why he was missing when Cole played the ball square.
01:49Keane.
01:51Beckham.
01:52Keane.
01:53Worked that simply.
01:54And Beckham again.
01:56Queuing up for the cross.
01:58And it's a lovely goal for Dwight York.
02:02And really, Liverpool, after having so much play.
02:07And in a style of such effort.
02:11Conceded the simplest of goals.
02:12Very, very well worked initially by Keane and Beckham.
02:17And another of those crosses.
02:19And Dwight York accepted the invitation for his 17th goal in the Premiership this season.
02:26And his 28th in total.
02:33Goal in the 23rd minute.
02:36Manchester United lead.
02:39McManaman.
02:41Mathieu going like a train on the left touchline.
02:45Needs a good cross.
02:46Reader comes to the near post.
02:52Beckham in possession.
02:53Cole.
02:54Good save.
02:55It was Dwight York, in fact, not Cole.
02:59But not dissimilar to the opening goal.
03:01Cross this time on the near post.
03:03But a very quick break by Manchester United.
03:06And Liverpool nearly paying for being caught out.
03:10Saved by their goalkeeper.
03:19Penalty.
03:24Carragus challenge and Blundqvist clearly hurts.
03:38Straight into the stomach.
03:43Ince and Keane having a few words with each other behind the referee's back
03:48and a little bit of push and shove ensues
03:51and David Beckham acts as the peacemaker
03:56Sure, it looks as though it had been pulled a bit of Roy Keane
03:59and Staunton having a word with his captain
04:02and if the two captains were not, it would appear leading by example
04:17Erwin has been in possession of the ball for some little time
04:22while the injured Leverkus was attended to
04:26and while an argument was sorted out by David Ellery
04:29now has a chance of his third penalty of the season
04:33put United in control
04:37and they are
04:39classic penalty
04:52win the right way
04:55the American goalkeeper
04:59but he needed an arm to be half as long again
05:042-0 Manchester United
05:07three points are on the plate
05:11only one goal in it
05:12in goal difference between the top two
05:14at the start of the evening
05:16so as many goals as possible will be welcome
05:18for Manchester United
05:23and Stan Buys with the referee
05:26and with the linesman
05:27and a yellow card
05:29is shown
05:31to Dennis Erwin
05:34for that challenge
05:35on Steve McManaman
05:40Manaman
05:44it's got one back by Berger
05:46oh a good try Patrick Berger
05:55real verve there both in winning the ball
05:58and in the shot
06:02cleanly away
06:04from Stemp
06:05and not too far over the angle
06:10new mouths open on the cup
06:17Berger
06:20McManaman
06:25Berger again
06:27needs the touch
06:28Leonardsen can't get there
06:29and the referee says penalty
06:32free kick against
06:33penalty against Blomqvist
06:35foul by Blomqvist
06:39as Leonardsen tried to get to the ball
06:41the Swede adjudged to have
06:44impeded the Norwegian
06:48and a chance for Jamie Redknapp
06:50to pull Liverpool
06:51back into the match
06:54and put
06:55the three points in question
07:07it's 2-1
07:1525th minute of the second half
07:20clean penalty
07:22by England's Redknapp
07:25Michael guessing to go right
07:28left the hole
07:31Mathieu
07:32Berger inside
07:34Ince inside him
07:34spending so much time forward now
07:36Ince
07:36here's Riedler
07:38Covered by Stamm
07:40Corner
07:42Was waiting for it
07:43and was better placed
07:48Balls up
07:52And Irwin could be in trouble
07:54because he kicked the ball away
07:56he's been booked already
07:58he's shown
07:59yellow
08:00and he will now be shown red
08:03and
08:04and
08:04Dennis Irwin
08:05will not play
08:06in the cup final
08:11Suddenly it's all gone wrong
08:12for Manchester United
08:15and
08:16Mr. Ellery's opinion
08:17he knew the ball had gone out
08:18and he kicked it away
08:19to waste up
08:21some time
08:23and the second yellow card
08:25and Manchester United
08:26are down to ten men
08:28and locking a bit
08:32nail-biting time
08:33for the Manchester United faithful
09:00the second
09:03is
09:03people
09:06And it could be crucial to the destiny of the Premiership title.
09:14Look as though Riedler was going to do it.
09:17No reaction on the face of Alec Ferguson.
09:28Riedler couldn't dig it out.
09:29The goalkeeper came forward and Ince found the empty net as the ball broke for him.
09:44His 8th goal of the season.
09:47His 5th in the Premiership.
09:50Then Hansen tries to get there.
09:52Back comes Thompson.
09:57Mike York hurt in that exchange.
10:00But back on his feet.
10:02Oh, what a chance for Kerrigan.
10:06There was no flag.
10:10An unchallenged head up.
10:12And he doesn't even get it on target.
10:16And what will prove to be a disappointing night for Alec Ferguson.
10:20There was then a moment, surely, of some relief.
10:27Keane a little overeager.
10:30And the referee will come to show the yellow card to the Manchester United captain.
10:38Three times Keane has been sent off by David Ellery.
10:47And the final whistle is blown.
10:50It's 2-2.
10:53Manchester United have just a point.
10:59Stirring stuff.
11:00Fine comeback by Liverpool.
11:02But you have to sympathise with Manchester United.
11:05How costly will be Dennis Owens' kick of the ball away after the whistle had gone.
11:122-2 the final outcome.
11:17And there is now considerable doubt among the supporters of Manchester United as to whether the treble is to be
11:26theirs, as to whether the championship is to be regained.
11:28Oh, the quality of the first goal was absolutely magnificent.
11:31And a marvellous cross and a great header.
11:35And the second goal should have killed it off.
11:37But, you know, you never know in a game of football.
11:38Did you ever feel the victory was in doubt?
11:422-1, yes.
11:43At some stage where we missed many times the chances we created.
11:48And we could have scored the third, three, four, before they scored the 2-1.
11:53So, after that, we won during ten minutes, maybe in the second half.
11:57But after that, we were always in control and were always dangerous tonight.
12:02Still top of the table.
12:04A better goal difference.
12:05You must be favourites to retain the championship, mustn't you?
12:08I don't know if you have a better goal difference, but I think it's still all open to everybody.
12:13I mean, I think it's fair to say that we would have won a game, but for the referee.
12:17And we're just not going to let him deny us the opportunity to win this week.
12:22Erm, we'll recover from it.
12:25Whenever that game, we should have to pick up the goals, which will mean something now.
12:30And it looks as if it could go to goal difference now.
12:32I believe just about have the edge, but everything to play for still, as they say.
12:37And Alan, I mean, we've watched an awful lot of sports.
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