Liverpool v. United - Match Reaction

Carroll - Didn't have too much to do; but did well when he had to - 7

P Neville - Solid. Some vital clearances. A few bad tackles but as its Liverpool, I'm not complaining! -7

Silvestre - I was a bit worried when I heard Rio wasn't there but he was absolutely solid! He managed to control the defence-even with one man short! -8.5

Brown -  Solid. Was great in air. Was absolutely fantastic...until he got sent off that is! But then again, did some stupid unnecessary tackles and it was fair for him to get sent off. - 8

Heinze - Better as the game progressed. Did what we expected, great as usual. What stood out was the great tackle on Morientes! - 7.5

Keane - Almost flawless...almost. Was calm throughout and made some important tackles. Unlucky not to score.  Had Gerrard in his back pocket!  - 9

Scholes - Appeared to be a bit sloppy earlier on in the game. Great passing, he was immense defensively too and went forward when he had to. - 9

Ronaldo - Was great in the first half. Worked well alongside some other players. Beginning to grew less selfish recently and made a lot of right decisions today. Getting past players again with ease. Has done what he said he would do, and has vastly improved. - 7

Fletcher - Good passing and tackled well too. Wasn't as good as the game progressed though, but another great performance. 7

Rooney - Apart from the goal, he was alright I suppose. Always looked a threat though. And a fantastic goal celebration too! Good lad! -6

Saha - His movement was almost electric. Got tired later on but did give them some problems at first. - 7

Subs:

O'Shea - Solid, but didn't have too much to do. - 6

Fortune- Did what he had to do. - 6

Bellion- Didn't put one foot wrong today in the whole 10 seconds or so he was on! -N/A

Liverpool:

Dudek - Should have let another one in, otherwise excellent. Not exactly the first time he's been excellent against us at Anfield. Was unlucky not to let another one in though. - 9 ~Their MOTM~

(We can always rely on Liverpools 'keepers when it comes to the big games!)

Carragher - 6.5 (Denied Saha a goal, of course I'm not happy about that, but to be honest, he was probably one of their best players on the pitch)

Traore - 6 (Alright I s'pose.)

Pellegrino - 6 (Looked short of fitness to me. Looks like its going to take some time for him to adapt to the English game.)

Hyypia - 6.5 (Thought he dealt well with Saha)

Hamann - 6 (Quiet)

Gerrard - 5 (Always looks great against poor teams-the midfield was dominated by Keane and Scholes!

Riise - 5 (Was silly of Benitez to take him of as he was much of their attacking threat, but I'm not complaining!)

Garcia - 5 (Final delivery is just crap)

Morientes - 5 (Faded badly as the game progsessed)

Baros - 6 (Really stuggled against out rock solid defence)

I admit, I was worried when I heard that Rio was not there, and with G Neville not there and that, but the whole defense was bloody brilliant today! Good job for Benitez that he didn't comment on the fact that with Rio not being there, and as he stated "We'll see at the end of the match"...and we certainly did!

Baros should have definitely got booked today, the diving, cheating scum!

Brown did some silly tackles and it was a definite sending off. Nonetheless, the was awesome before he got sent off.

As for Gerrard, best Midfielder in the Premiership?! Well, he does look great against poor sides! Compared to Keane, today he played like a school girl! And of course, today again, he came in with his trademark two footed tackle™ ! Don't know if I was the only one who saw it, but did he elbow Scholes?!

Keane stated that that it was disappointing to lose Brown and he thought that Brown was unlucky.

But we were still the better team-with 10 men on the pitch!