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Played
February 11, 2012 12:45 PM GMT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: P. Dowd
Attendance: 74844
February 11, 2012 12:45 PM GMT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: P. Dowd
Attendance: 74844
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| Manchester United | 2.00 | 2.20 | 2.00 | 1.08 | 1.91 | 2.00 | 1.01 | 2.09 | 1.80 |
| Draw | 3.30 | 2.40 | 3.40 | 8.50 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 13.00 | 3.35 | 3.50 |
| Liverpool | 4.00 | 4.00 | 3.60 | 46.00 | 4.20 | 4.00 | 50.00 | 3.90 | 4.25 |
Top of the Match
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United
Manchester United
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United
Manchester United
Flop of the Match
Stewart Downing
Liverpool
Liverpool
Luis Suárez
Liverpool
Liverpool
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool: Wayne Rooney double sends hosts top as Luis Suarez scores after snubbing Evra handshake
The England striker struck twice in the second half to hand the home side victory, with the Uruguayan's return not enough to help the Reds make up ground on the top four
By Oliver Platt
Getty Images
Two goals from Wayne Rooney fired Manchester United to victory against Liverpool in a fiery encounter at Old Trafford.
Tensions ran high in Manchester, as Luis Suarez returned to the Liverpool starting XI for the first time since he was suspended for racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra – refusing to shake the Frenchman's hand before kick-off – to poach a late consolation goal for the visitors.
Rooney, though, stole the show, as his two goals early in the second half proved enough to hand United three points and send them top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City still to play on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson made only one change from the side that drew 3-3 with Chelsea, as Ashley Young dropped out of the squad altogether. Paul Scholes replaced him in midfield, with Ryan Giggs shifting to the left-hand side. United were, however, boosted by the return of Tom Cleverley to the bench.
Suarez, as expected, was made to feel decidedly unwelcome at Old Trafford but Kenny Dalglish had no hesitation in throwing the Uruguayan striker back into the Liverpool attack. Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy were among the substitutes, with Jordan Henderson returning to the midfield ahead of Charlie Adam.
All eyes, as has become the custom following player feuds, were on the pre-match handshakes and Suarez did nothing to cool tensions ahead of kick-off by refusing to acknowledge Evra. The 25-year-old was then snubbed himself by Rio Ferdinand.
With the pre-match niceties, or lack of them, out of the way, the game itself began at an encouraging pace. Antonio Valencia immediately began to cause Jose Enrique problems on the United right, but without a genuine left winger to mark, Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson looked the most threatening player on the pitch in the opening exchanges. The English defender cut inside Evra before shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Giggs began the game tucked in alongside Scholes and Michael Carrick, but as he was forced wider to counter Johnson, Liverpool began to get more of a grip on the match in central midfield. Despite Giggs' troubles, he did find the space on the left after a tremendous United move to cross on to the head of the unmarked Scholes, who was denied at point blank range by Pepe Reina.
By the end of the half, Suarez was once more the focus of Old Trafford. After complaining furiously that he was fouled by Ferdinand when through on goal – replays showed the 33-year-old won the ball – the striker, in his frustration, booted the ball towards the stands as Phil Dowd blew his whistle for the break.
That antagonism reportedly spilled over into physical confrontation as the two teams made their way into the dressing room, but the second half started in explosive fashion for footballing reasons.
Giggs' corner from the United right-hand side was inadvertently flicked on at the near post by Jordan Henderson into the path of Rooney, who volleyed beyond Reina from close range to open the scoring.
He wasn't finished there. Jay Spearing was hounded down by Valencia around the edge of his own penalty area and after the Ecuadorian had turned over possession, he was left with the simple task of rolling a pass into the path of Rooney, who passed the ball into the back of the net to leave Liverpool reeling.
Rooney should have had his hat-trick by the hour mark. After Scholes smartly dummied Valencia's pass across the edge of the penalty area, the 26-year-old advanced on to Reina only to poke the ball wide of goal from little more than eight yards out.
Dalglish introduced Carroll and Bellamy in an attempt to revive his side's chances but whereas Johnson had rampaged into space in the first half, Rooney was the man enjoying the freedom of Old Trafford in the second. David de Gea remained largely untested through 75 minutes as Adam joined the fray for the visitors.
United were looking comfortable until an innocuous free-kick into the penalty area was miscontrolled by Ferdinand, allowing Suarez to bring the away team back into the game from inside the six-yard box.
De Gea saved well from Johnson but United were able to hold on to ensure that the Reds continue to trail Chelsea, Newcastle and Arsenal in the race for a place in next season's Champions League.
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Tensions ran high in Manchester, as Luis Suarez returned to the Liverpool starting XI for the first time since he was suspended for racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra – refusing to shake the Frenchman's hand before kick-off – to poach a late consolation goal for the visitors.
| LUIS SUAREZ'S 90 MINUTES |
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| REFUSES TO SHAKE EVRA'S HAND |
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| 0' | "The players are out on the pitch. Luis Suarez prods the flames unnecessarily at Old Trafford further by refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand. The Frenchman tried to shake the Uruguayan's hand but the Liverpool striker was having none of it. Tut tut tut. Anyway, let's get on with the football." |
| RIO & EVRA COLLIDE | |
| 2' | "Rio Ferdinand collides with team-mate Evra almost immediately and is down on the floor receiving treatment. He did a little backflip on the edge of his own area and landed awkwardly on his neck." |
| FERDINAND TAKES THE BALL |
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| 45' | "Big moment at Old Trafford. Ferdinand tackles Suarez as the last man in United's defence and the Liverpool striker goes down to the turf. No foul is given by the referee, much to the fury of the Uruguay international. Replays indicate the England defender's tackle was an excellent one." |
| REPORTED TUNNEL BUST-UP |
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| 45' |
"There was reportedly a tunnel bust-up of sorts. United's Evra apparently tried talking to Suarez but Liverpool team-mate Skrtel got involved and the incident escalated accordingly. If I was a betting man (I'm not, ever since I realised I'm completely rubbish at predicting), I would put it on a red card coming out in the latter 45 minutes."
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| LOSES HIS COOL |
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| 65' | "Suarez is in a foul mood and attempts to boot the ball at Patrice Evra on the left side near the Liverpool goal. United are refusing to sit back and defend their lead and are continuing to attack their Premier League opponents." |
| PULLS A GOAL BACK |
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| 80' |
"Liverpool get a goal back! Luis Suarez, who won the free-kick when Michael Carrick tackled the striker from behind 40-yards out, smashes the ball home from inside the six-yard box. The ball had hit Rio Ferdinand on the knee and the United defender was helpless to stop the Uruguayan getting a goal back for the visitors. Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool."
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| EVRA CELEBRATES VICTORY |
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| 90' | "Evra gets a telling off from the officials for celebrating towards the home fans but in front of Luis Suarez. Naughty, naughty. The Frenchman is prevented from going down the tunnel straight away for understandable reasons." |
Sir Alex Ferguson made only one change from the side that drew 3-3 with Chelsea, as Ashley Young dropped out of the squad altogether. Paul Scholes replaced him in midfield, with Ryan Giggs shifting to the left-hand side. United were, however, boosted by the return of Tom Cleverley to the bench.
Suarez, as expected, was made to feel decidedly unwelcome at Old Trafford but Kenny Dalglish had no hesitation in throwing the Uruguayan striker back into the Liverpool attack. Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy were among the substitutes, with Jordan Henderson returning to the midfield ahead of Charlie Adam.
All eyes, as has become the custom following player feuds, were on the pre-match handshakes and Suarez did nothing to cool tensions ahead of kick-off by refusing to acknowledge Evra. The 25-year-old was then snubbed himself by Rio Ferdinand.
With the pre-match niceties, or lack of them, out of the way, the game itself began at an encouraging pace. Antonio Valencia immediately began to cause Jose Enrique problems on the United right, but without a genuine left winger to mark, Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson looked the most threatening player on the pitch in the opening exchanges. The English defender cut inside Evra before shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Giggs began the game tucked in alongside Scholes and Michael Carrick, but as he was forced wider to counter Johnson, Liverpool began to get more of a grip on the match in central midfield. Despite Giggs' troubles, he did find the space on the left after a tremendous United move to cross on to the head of the unmarked Scholes, who was denied at point blank range by Pepe Reina.
By the end of the half, Suarez was once more the focus of Old Trafford. After complaining furiously that he was fouled by Ferdinand when through on goal – replays showed the 33-year-old won the ball – the striker, in his frustration, booted the ball towards the stands as Phil Dowd blew his whistle for the break.
That antagonism reportedly spilled over into physical confrontation as the two teams made their way into the dressing room, but the second half started in explosive fashion for footballing reasons.
Giggs' corner from the United right-hand side was inadvertently flicked on at the near post by Jordan Henderson into the path of Rooney, who volleyed beyond Reina from close range to open the scoring.
He wasn't finished there. Jay Spearing was hounded down by Valencia around the edge of his own penalty area and after the Ecuadorian had turned over possession, he was left with the simple task of rolling a pass into the path of Rooney, who passed the ball into the back of the net to leave Liverpool reeling.
Rooney should have had his hat-trick by the hour mark. After Scholes smartly dummied Valencia's pass across the edge of the penalty area, the 26-year-old advanced on to Reina only to poke the ball wide of goal from little more than eight yards out.
Dalglish introduced Carroll and Bellamy in an attempt to revive his side's chances but whereas Johnson had rampaged into space in the first half, Rooney was the man enjoying the freedom of Old Trafford in the second. David de Gea remained largely untested through 75 minutes as Adam joined the fray for the visitors.
United were looking comfortable until an innocuous free-kick into the penalty area was miscontrolled by Ferdinand, allowing Suarez to bring the away team back into the game from inside the six-yard box.
De Gea saved well from Johnson but United were able to hold on to ensure that the Reds continue to trail Chelsea, Newcastle and Arsenal in the race for a place in next season's Champions League.
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Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie
Striker Arsenal |
30 | 2 |
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Wayne Rooney
Striker Manchester United |
27 | 6 |
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Kun Agüero
Striker Manchester City |
23 | 3 |
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Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker Blackburn |
17 | 4 |
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Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
17 | 3 |
