FA Cup Half time report: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
Referee: Howard Webb
Starting XI for Manchester United: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254, Javier Hernandez;
Subs: Lindegaard, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Owen-c25355, Anderson, Smalling, Fabio Da Silva, Obertan, Gibson
Starting XI for Liverpool: Pepe Reina, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Torres-c13707;
Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonjo-Shelvey-c19081
Manchester United won the penalty in the first minute of the match, when Dimitar Berbatov was fouled by right back Daniel Agger. The player appealed and Howard Webb pointed towards the penalty spot.
Veteran midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pepe-Reina-c29672 judged the direction right but couldn’t reach as the ball hit the back of the net.
The early lead gave Manchester United the much needed confidence to play this intense game. Liverpool then came in with all guns blazing and attacked almost at will. The side were expected to go on attacking but was seen on the back foot.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 and Dimitar Berbatov were seen combining well with each other to produce a show early on.
On the 20th minute, Gerrard found Kelly overlapping down the right and his low cross was awkward for Ferdinand, but the United http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Captain-c8314 did well to stab the ball away with Fernando Torres poised behind him.
In the 35th minute, a very bad challenge from Steven Gerrard on United midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Carrick-c25282 stopped the play. Carrick was seen withering in pain as Gerrard slid in with studs up on the player’s leg. Howard
Webb was on the spot and awarded a red card to the club Captain. The side was now reduced to ten men, giving the advantage to Manchester United. United then started to enjoy most of the possession and combined well with each other.
Not the best of ways to get back into the managerial career for Kenny Dalglish, who was appointed the manager following the sacking off manager Roy Hodgson. With side now reduced to ten men, Dalglish would have to do a lot of thinking
in the half time interval to find the equaliser. For Manchester United, Sir Alex would want to build on the lead and take advantage of the red card. Failure to defend this lead may be a wrong option and United would be looking for the kill in the second half.
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