Manchester United Premier League Champions

[Spooner]

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson delivered a scathing verdict on his team's display in the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.

He said: "We can take nothing positive from this. We didn't have one performer on the pitch apart from possibly Rio Ferdinand. It was disappointing."

Ferguson added: "Our defending was very poor for both Liverpool goals." United also had defender Nemanja Vidic sent off for two yellow cards and lost Michael Carrick to injury.
Carlos Tevez put Manchester United ahead from £30m new boy Dimitar Berbatov's pass, but Wes Brown's own goal put Liverpool level before substitute Ryan Babel's late winner.

Ferguson said: "You don't expect that from Manchester United. When we have a bad day we usually still get something from the game.

"Overall, they were the better team. Liverpool produced a performance of tackling, hassling and getting about us.

"The source of our defeat was not coping with the hassling and the tackling. You have to give them credit for that - but at the end of the day, we should cope.

"We started excellently, and it was a wonderful ball from Berbatov for the goal."

Liverpool ended a run of five successive defeats against United and

Ferguson said: "The difficulty of holding a record like that is that it gives the other team a big incentive every time they play you."

The United boss was unhappy about Vidic's dismissal, saying: "Carragher was making those challenges all day long, and no fouls were given.
"We had several bookings and a red card. Is that a reflection of Man United being a dirty team? I don't think so. I think the crowd plays a part."

Thats it boss!

[mugpunter13]

I cannot argue with Sir Alex, Man U had a bad day at the office,but I really think that,that game is going to be one of the highlights of Liverpools season.

[Charlie Wong]

The United boss was unhappy about Vidic's dismissal, saying: "Carragher was making those challenges all day long, and no fouls were given.
"We had several bookings and a red card. Is that a reflection of Man United being a dirty team? I don't think so. I think the crowd plays a part."

sorry Fergie, Carra didn't hack anyone down when they were clean through or go into aerial challenge leading with his arm?

what he did do was stick to Berbatov like glue and not allow the Bulgarian to turn and face goal.(apart Tevez' goal of course)

[TheRat]

Good performance tonight
Possebon was playing well until the TERRIBLE tackle by Pogatetz
Hope it's not broke

[AJ]

Agreed, simply dreadful tackle.

[Spooner]

Sick tackle.

[AJ]

So, we're actually doing ok.

8 pts with a very winnable home game against fulham in hand, a win there would leave us three pts behind early pace setters liverpool and chelsea having played them both away from home already.

Arsenal have lost twice already and seem to have the same problems as last year, they'll play great football but I think will fall short in the end.

Nothing to be worried about at all, ronaldo starting to come good, be nice for Berbatov to get his first goal soon.

We'll be close, finish above us and you'll be champs I think

[Spooner]

Agree AJ, Things looked worse when they did, Amazing what a win can do.

[Jonesy Knows]

Yeah amazing what a win does!

Now all Man Utd fans singalong to the tune of a famous Beatles song:

oooooh we'll get by with a little help from our ref friends!
oooooh we'll get by with a little help from our ref friends!

[TheRat]

Decent result but wish we were more clinical, could have had 10

Glad Berba is off the mark

[AJ]

didn't see the game because I was in brunei overnight but it sounds like a decent performance

[ralphie7]

Raphael did well - very comfy on the ball
good performance from the youngster.

opposition not up to much though
it could and should have 5 or 6

might even have been 7
if Rob had been the ref

[AJ]

is Wes Browns place in the team seriously under threat from this boy?

[TheRat]

Who knows but I am personally very excited about him
His close control is excellent although defensivly he got caught out a few times and the AaB players got in behind him a few times

[AJ]

yeah, that's pretty much my thoughts. Fine against a weaker team when he can attack, have doubts about throughing him straight in the League matches. I guess we give him as many games as we can and see how he does.

[marcoose]

Berbatov is finally off the mark with two goals. I thought he was going to do a Sally Gunnell on us! I'm feeling a lot more positive about the season now he is scoring and Ronaldo is back. It's a shame the positives from the other night were countered by injuries to Rooney and Scholes though.

[Spooner]

to PL marcoose.

Agreed with Ronaldo & Berbatov, I think we will go on a good run now.

[AJ]

Team seems to be clicking a bit now.

Reminded me a little of the newcastle game last year, goal less at half time but a strong second half showing.

Five wins in a row, Rooney in great form, Berbatov starting to score and Ronaldo getting sharper.

Six points behind the leaders, but we have winnable game in hand (fulham at home) and having played them both away already.

Chelsea look good and this may be their year, but I can't see us finishing outside the top two.

[Jonesy Knows]

I can

[AJ]

side bet time.

20 pounds says Manchester United finish above Liverpool

Will you take the wager Jonesy ? you have a 6 pt start after all.