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Kuyt & Babel beat Van der Sar
The
Sun
Saturday 13 september 2008
Supersub Ryan Babel overshadowed
Dimitar Berbatov's big day as Liverpool stunned Manchester
United at Anfield.
The Premier League champions made
the perfect start with Berbatov laying on a goal for
strike partner Carlos Tevez after just three minutes.
Berbatov, playing in a central role with Wayne Rooney
wide on the right, found space to cut the ball back
to an unmarked Tevez to calmly sidefoot the ball home
past Pepe Reina.
But the debutant's regular moody expression quickly
returned when Edwin Van der Sar palmed a cross onto
Wes Brown for the cruellest of own goals to gift the
hosts an equaliser in the 27th minute.
Berbatov's misery was completed 13 minutes from time
when Babel slammed home from Dirk Kuyt's pass.
And United's day went from bad to worse when defender
Nemanja Vidic was red-carded for a second yellow in
the 90th minute.
Liverpool ace Jamie Carragher was delighted to see
his side finally get one over their fierce rivals after
five successive league defeats against United.
The defender said: "It's been too long and it’s
not just the three points — it's also the belief
and confidence it gives us because we've beaten the
best team in Europe.
"It gives us the belief that we can beat anyone
in the league.
"We hope we can now push on for the rest of the
season. It should spur us on because we've not been
playing too well up to now.
"That is the best we've played. It also gives
us a bit of breathing space between us and United —
and top of the table is where a club like Liverpool
should be."
Reds boss Rafael Benitez was also pleased to see his
side bounce back after Tevez's early strike.
And he highlighted the performance of strike duo Robbie
Keane and Dirk Kuyt as the inspiration behind the win.
He said: "It was good for the confidence of the
players.
"At half-time we were talking about having confidence
and determination going forward — and in the second
half we were the best team.
"We showed quality and character to come back
and the understanding of Keane and Kuyt was very good.
"Their pressing was really important for the rest
of the team."
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio,
Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Alonso, Mascherano (Hyypia 87),
Riera (Babel 71), Kuyt, Keane. Subs not used: Cavalieri,
Dossena, Torres, Ngog. Goals: Brown 27 og, Babel 77.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,
Rooney, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Carrick (Giggs 46),
Anderson (Nani 78), Tevez, Berbatov. Subs not used:
Kuszczak, Evans, O’Shea, Fletcher. Sent off: Vidic
(90). Booked: Tevez, Vidic, Nani. Goal: Tevez 3.
Att: 44,192.
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
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