Canadian Music Week in Review page8 page12
page16
Monday, March 16, 2009
Resplendent Reds ALI KASIM EDITOR IN CHIEF Not since Istanbul in the summer of 2005 have Liverpool supporters all around the world experienced such euphoria in one week. Only this time, there was no European Champions League trophy to show at the end; or a trophy of any kind for that matter. All that took place were two victories. Two famous wins, back-to-back, in the space of five days. Two results that successfully capped off the biggest week of Liverpool’s season thus far. Reds fans could not have scripted the last five days any better than they have turned out. They’ve watched their side dismantle Real Madrid and Manchester United, two of the game's most decorated clubs, in that time. And if Tuesday's 4-0 Champions League win was accompanied by understandable claims of Real's surprising incompetence, no-one must take an ounce of credit away from Liverpool as they pulverised champions Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday. Indeed, what made Liverpool’s win even more remarkable was the fact that it was at Old Trafford, where, prior to Saturday, United have managed to stay unbeaten since February 2008 – a duration that has seen a run of 30 home games without defeat for the Red Devils in all competitions. The loss to Liverpool also meant that United were beaten for the first time in the league this season since their 1-2 loss to Arsenal in November last year. More importantly than all though, Liverpool, with this victory, have revived their ambitions of capturing their nineteenth Premier League title – a prize they haven’t claimed since 1990. For the first part of this season,
the Reds looked in good stead of breaking their nineteen-year jinx, opening up a seven-point lead between them and second place Chelsea after twenty rounds of matches. At that juncture, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez launched a surprising public tirade against United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in response to his comments that Liverpool might get “nervous” in the league title home stretch. Benitez responded with a list of accusations, including how Ferguson intimidates referees before matches and is immune from censure and reprimanding from the English Football Association. The mind games immediately seemed to go against Benitez and Liverpool as the Reds only bagged 10 out of a possible 21 points in the subsequent seven matches, dropping to third in the standings and seven points behind United, who went on to record eight consecutive victories in a row during that time.
needed a trademark block from Jamie Carragher to deny Park Ji-Sung from opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
You’ll
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool Seven points adrift from United with only nine matches to go, anything less than a victory for the Reds would have all but sealed the title for the reigning champions. Chelsea, lying in second place and tied on points with Liverpool, were hoping for a United defeat as well so as to keep their own hopes alive. But that didn’t seem likely during the opening few minutes as Liverpool, having lost full back Alvaro Arbeloa during the warm-up to a pulled hamstring, struggled to settle into the game. Benitez's revamped side
Never
Pre-match predictions of a United victory seemed to be on course in the 23rd minute when Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty gave them the lead after Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina needlessly fouled the lively Park inside the box. Eight minutes later however, Fernando Torres – fresh off his superb performance against Real in midweek – hounded United defender Nemanja Vidic into a mistake and raced through to coolly beat keeper Edwin van der Sar. The hosts came close to regaining the lead when Michael Carrick unleashed a thirtyyard bender which only just
Tuesday March 10, 2009
cleared the Liverpool crossbar. By this time however, Liverpool had settled into the game`s momentum and continued to stifle United`s forays up front. Midfielders Lucas and Javier Mascherano in particular were crucial in suppressing the threat from Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. The game seemed destined to go into the break level at one before Liverpool, on the ascendancy for the closing minutes of the first half, took the lead themselves. Torres turned creator this time with a sublime pass
Walk inside Patrice Evra, who proceeded to trip Steven Gerrard in the box after the Liverpool captain had reached the ball first. Referee Alan Wiley, who had a flawless game throughout, was spot on in awarding the penalty which Gerrard struck home for his eighteenth goal of the season. Inevitably, United penned Liverpool back after the break, but found the visitors, marshalled by the determined Sami Hyypia, difficult to break down. Liverpool were fortunate to escape after 62 minutes when Ronaldo, playing well below his standards, found Rooney at the far post whose header flew across the face of goal with Carlos Tevez unable to apply the finishing touch. With time running out
and United seemingly devoid of creativity up front, Ferguson went for broke with a triple substitution in the 72nd minute, sending on Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes for Anderson, Carrick and Park. Before any of the fresh legs could make an impact however, United found themselves reduced to 10 men. Vidic, who was also sent off in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier this season, found himself caught out with possession just outside the United penalty area, allowing Gerrard a clear run on goal. Vidic chose to haul Gerrard back, leaving referee Wiley with no choice but to show him red, thereby ending the Serbian defender`s wretched afternoon. From the resultant free-kick, Liverpool full back Fabio Aurelio poured salt into United`s wounds with a superb 25-yard curler that left Van der Sar rooted to the spot. Liverpool weren’t quite done however. With seconds to go, substitute Andrea Dossena inflicted one final piece of punishment on United with a perfect twenty-yard lob over the helpless Van der Sar, leaving the Red Devils to suffer their heaviest home defeat since losing 4-1 against QPR on New Year's Day 1992. Despite the defeat, United remain firm favourites to claim the Premier League as they hold a four-point advantage and a game in hand over closest rivals Chelsea (who won 1-0 against Manchester City on Sunday) and Liverpool. Although this landmark triumph for Benitez's side may not have blown the door to the Premier League title wide open, there is little doubt the emphatic manner of the win has pushed it slightly ajar. The elation of Liverpool’s supporters and the barely confined joy of their players suggest they live in real hope of catching the champions, and their renewed optimism is fully justified by the resurgence of the past week.
Alone
Saturday March 14, 2009
Liverpool 4 - 0 Real Madrid
Manchester United 1 - 4 Liverpool
photo/getty images