United holds on to beat Liverpool
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail Shanghai Daily, January 14, 2013
 |
|
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel (right) challenges Manchester United striker Robin van Persie during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford yesterday. Van Persie scored the opener. |
Manchester United weathered a late fightback from Liverpool to secure a 2-1 win over its great rival yesterday, tightening the grip at the top of the Premier League.
Robin van Persie's league-high 17th goal of the campaign gave United a 19th-minute lead, and the hosts looked likely to coast to victory at Old Trafford when captain Nemanja Vidic bundled the ball in to make it 2-0 in the 54th.
Daniel Sturridge, who came on as a halftime substitute, halved the deficit three minutes later but Liverpool couldn't find the equalizer to cap its improved second-half display. United is now 10 points clear of second-place Manchester City.
The game between England's two most successful clubs, which share 37 league titles between them, was billed as a duel between Van Persie and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez - the league's most prolific marksmen. Van Persie came out on top.
While Suarez was kept quiet - much to the delight of home fans who jeered his every touch - his rival continued his sensational scoring run that is keeping City at arm's length in the title race.
The Netherlands striker beat marker Daniel Agger to Patrice Evra's driven cross and calmly slotted the ball home from 12 yards for his ninth goal in his last nine games. Van Persie has also scored at least one goal in nine of his last 10 games.
On Saturday, Chelsea leapfrogged Tottenham into third place in the Premier League, profiting from two own goals by the same player to thrash Stoke 4-0 and dismantle English football's only remaining unbeaten home record.
Stoke forward Jonathan Walters endured a disastrous day, twice heading the ball into his own net - in the 45th and 62nd minutes - to set Chelsea on its way before crashing a wild penalty over the crossbar in stoppage time.
Frank Lampard, who converted a penalty, and Eden Hazard, with a thumping 30-yard strike, were the other goal scorers for the visitors to give interim manager Rafa Benitez some respite.
Fifth-place Everton was held to 0-0 by Swansea. West Brom, meanwhile, stayed seventh after conceding three goals in the final eight minutes to lose 2-3 at Reading.
Struggling Aston Villa slipped into the bottom three, losing 0-1 at home to Southampton. Wigan moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 1-1 draw at Fulham.
Newcastle drew 0-0 at Norwich and Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)