Officiating controversies aid Manchester United

FA Cup | Third Round | 9 January 2011

Manchester United vs Liverpool

Old Trafford | Attendance: 74,727

Not the perfect match-up for a third round FA cup fixture but that’s how draws are sometimes – unfair and stupid. The setting for this one was Old Trafford – home of the Manchester giants, currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table against their historic and fierce rivals Liverpool who are finding it difficult to stay in the top half of the league.

Sir Alex vs King Kenny

The Reds not only made a few changes to the team that lost at Ewood Park in midweek but also had a new manager in the name of Kenny Dalglish – a Liverpool legend, one of the rare few falling into the player-manager category in his time and now reprising his managerial duties, replacing former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson who was sacked (read left on mutual consent) just a day ago. Why it didn’t come as a shock was obviously because of Liverpool’s pathetic condition. And it didn’t take long for Dalglish’s first shock to arrive. Just half a minute into the game, Fletcher found Berbatov inside Livepool’s 18-yard box and he made the most of Agger’s lazy-leg-dangling follow-up tackle and went to the ground. It was enough to convince referee Howard Webb, who pointed to the spot straightaway. Ryan Giggs stepped up in place of the missing Wayne Rooney and although Pepe Reina did dive to the right side, the penalty was just too well struck and found the bottom corner. One-nil to Manchester United in less than two minutes.

Oh cuhmon!

Yes yes, bottom corner!

Wohooo!

Both teams continued to attack but nothing major happened till the half hour mark. It was in the 31^st minute when Gerrard challenged Carrick for the ball with a two-footed studs-showing lunge that the referee wasn’t left with any option but to send the Livepool captain off. A goal down and now a man down, new captain Kuyt and his teammates were gonna need to do much more than they had to turn this around. The remainder half of the half didn’t have much action, two shots by the losing team from over thirty yards out which went straight into the crowd except a Jonny Evans header that hit the post and could have easily gone in.

Bye bye fellas, I'm going! :P

Although it was expected of the home team to come out in the second half and increase their tally, it was the 10-men Liverpool who looked stronger on attack. Dalglish introduced Dutch-striker Ryan Babel and 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey at the hour mark and this added more vigour to the attack, both players with their pace getting Liverpool’s first decent shot on goal. It wasn’t the same story for Anderson who replaced on-a-yellow-card Fletcher as he earned one himself shortly while trying to make amends after he had given the ball away. From a few yards outside the box, Fábio Aurélio had a decent attempt on goal via the free kick even though he slipped but Kuszczak ensured that the Red Devils wouldn’t have to travel to Anfield and engage in a replay.

Anderson: Oh boy, not my face! | Aurélio: Oh no, don't slip you idiot!

If it weren’t for Reina, Manchester United would have definitely doubled their lead in the 68^th minute when they had five shots on goal all in the space of few seconds saved by the Spaniard. Although both teams did try to score till the end, there was no late drama and the second-minute penalty by the 37-year-old Welsh legend was enough to knock Liverpool out of the competition. Ferguson’s men face League One-side Southampton in the fourth round, a relatively easy fixture as compared to this one. They travel to White Hart Lane for their next Premier League encounter while Liverpool travel to Bloomfield Road and will be looking for a fresh and hopefully a better start under their new/old manager.

Not the perfect return but he'll not be walking alone that's for sure.

Okay, time to go! And oh, bring that(^) in RED!