Memory That Fades: EPL matchday 3

VS
Liverpool vs Manchester United
EPL Matchday3
Anfield
Sept 13 2008

Liverpool 2 - 1 Manchester United (highlights)

I never thought I would have to say this, but fair play to Liverpool. They had an intensity about them that we, for once, didn't match.

Their recent record against us is awful and another loss against us would really have set them back. This was a test of their title credentials which they had to pass - the pressure was on them. It seems they wanted to win more then we did on Saturday.

Liverpool responded to the pressure in a positive way and although they were not particularly inventive, they worked a lot harder and deserved the luck that gifted their goals. The turning point of the match was the mistake from Edwin van der Sar - it gave Liverpool a goal they would have struggled to create on their own and gave them the belief they could win the game.

Our formation was an interesting one - I was expecting 4-3-2-1 like the system deployed against Portsmouth but Sir Alex went for 4-4-2 with two young stars Wayne Rooney and Anderson in wide positions. Rooney, to be fair, kept the width well but it's not his most effective or creative position, especially when he has to track back and defend.

Dimitar Berbatov looked the part up front but he hasn't had too much football recently and he tired in the second half. Sir Alex may have to make some tough decisions in the interests of balancing the team - and it could mean putting Berbatov, Rooney or Carlos Tevez on the bench.

Another defeat next weekend, at Chelsea, would give us a big gap to close. We have to bounce back, something that we have done very well in the last two seasons. With Cristiano Ronaldo's help, I think we can do it.