Top Four? Forget It!

While the camps of fellow title challengers Arsenal and Chelsea were hoping for a repeat of a Liverpool performance which saw them beat Man Utd in their last 3 matches, iSporter Pulasta Dhar chuckled away as a stubborn United team killed any hopes of Liverpool getting near them...

park_liverpool

Fernando Torres was hoping to beat Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in another breathtaking performance along with Steven Gerrard and he could not have expected a much better start to one of the most anticipated matches in the Premier League. Even though the teams are so far apart in the league table, the rivalry and the hate never seems to diminish. I have to admit I do not consider them to be our most fiery rivals as that place has been taken by Chelsea a few seasons ago, but still the seriousness of opposition could not be taken for granted.

It always takes some time for Manchester United to get in the groove and maybe Liverpool scored too fast for themselves. In a flurry of attacks from the United team, they suddenly got taken aback by a counter attack as Gerrard whizzed past Rio Ferdinand and played it to Kuyt on the right. Just like Park Ji-Sung has done for United, this Dutchman’s contribution since the time he came cannot be exaggerated. He put a brilliant cross in the box and Torres somehow postioned himself so brilliantly and rose to plant one in the corner of the net.

United were a little shocked but the game was never over. United rallied from then on and Liverpool were only dangerous on the counter attack as the Red Devils controlled the rest of the match. Then that happened which created a lot of doubt among Liverpool/Chelsea/Arsenal fans that United get most of the refereeing decisions. This feeling was aggravated more after Vermaelen’s horrendous sending off and Chelsea getting kicked out of the ECC amid some tactical brilliance.

Whatever the case, the referee had a view from behind as Valencia was tugged by Mascherano outside the box but the pair ended up falling inside. Any attacker in the world would have taken advantage of a tug so close to the box and I don’t know why we are denying Valencia that right. The subsequent penalty was well saved but when things are going as good for you as for Wayne Rooney, probably you might have ended up scoring too. 1-1 to United and game on.

From that time onwards, United were always favourites to win the tie. Park Ji Sung was frankly not having a great time, being muscled out a lot of times by the strong Carragher and Agger (Its one of those magic tricks football springs up when your two centre backs’ names rhyme) from good scoring positions. Wayne Rooney was restricted to long passing, which from the looks of it he seems to have learnt from Paul Scholes. The ball just whirs in the inverted motion so that it slows down after the bounce and it was a perfect one for Fletcher on the right wing.

roo_penalty

Fletcher’s cross found Park Ji-Sung who flew in from between two Liverpool defenders and parked the ball in the back of the net. The celebration was well deserved and he took the opportunity to show off the silkiness of his hair compared to the rest of Old Trafford. Rooney must be envious. The game was not finished as Liverpool started launching attacks of their own.

It was ironical how the same penalty spot that Torres dug out before Rooney’s kick worked against him as the ball bobbed from a low cross which he looked to swing at. Proper example of digging your own grave. Well, Rafa might argue all he likes and gives his guarantee of a top 4 finish, but it is unbelievable now that Tottenham and City have also started a good run.

I am extremely excited about one of City, Villa or Spurs making it to the Champions League next season. It will be a pleasure to see any of them in the most elite tournament of Europe. And well, all of them deserve it more than the Scousers after a terrible season.