Berbatov 3 : 2 Gerrad, Manchester United Edge Out Liverpool In Thriller

It is strange how fast things turn. From a drab cagey match that with every passing minute seemed to be less fun than watching paint dry, the premiership blockbuster between Manchester United and Liverpool exploded quite late on into an exciting encounter. At its culmination, Dimitri Berbatov the 30 million pound plus deadline transfer signing who had withstood much criticism since his big money move from White Hart Lane to rainy Manchester, answered his critics with a a performance that only  a footballer of his genius can pull..

Sir Alex claims that there is a genius about this forgotten man of Old Trafford. It's easy to agree with the Scot man as no other footballer could have made it appear so simple as he perennially does it. From being labeled lazy, slow and sometimes wasteful;  tonight and for the week to come at the very least, Dimitri Berbatov is the most loved man in the red half of  the city of Manchester, in the swathes of Manchester United supporting masses in Shanghai, Seoul and other cities in the orient. Down to the religiously soccer mad faithful in sub- Saharan Africa who followed the match via a public product in some shack at a minimal fee of an equivalent of  a few $US cents.

Berbatov did it three times. Twice with is head and one audacious one over his head. 

Sluggish defending by Torres allowed Berbatov to wrap his head around a Ryan Giggs corner to give Manchester United a lead just before the break.. The Old Trafford faithful had to wait for slightly over 40 nins to get this piece of action  to distract them from the rain was pouring. It was a half dominated by careful marking on the part of Liverpool and a cautious approach from Man United resulting in at best at a host of corners for the home team.

Nani's fierce shot from just outside the six yard box rattled the cross bar before a long ball towards the channel found  him again (Nani) . His outstanding contribution bore fruit having lost his marker Koschensky, a Fulham import brought in by Roy Hodgson, Nani controlled the ball and floated it into the box over Wayne Rooney's head but some how onto the thigh of the huge Bulgarian. Berbatov in his characteristic deft touch allowed him to bring the ball under his control and looped a shot over his head,  past a bemused Pepe Reina with his back all this time facing goal.  This, I might add is contender for the goal of the season.

Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool

At this point Liverpool with a deep playing Steven Gerrad and a largely isolated Torres looked dead and buried.. This season Liverpool's top scorer, 21 yr old David Ngong, came off the bench and out went out a largely anonymous Maxi Rodriguez in an attempt at adding some bite upfront.

However, it was the man Ngong came to support,,  the lethal Fernando Torres,  who proved to be the tormentor when his ball through the legs of the shaky Evans saw the Man United young defender sliding tackle catch his legs in the area. World cup final referee Howard Webb rightly pointed to the spot for the penalty. Gerrard however did not do a " Asamoah Gyan " as Rosicky had on Saturday in Arsenal's game against Sutherland, he coolly dispatched the ball hitting the back net after sending Van der ser the wrong way.

With this kick by Stevie G,  the game came alive again. as Liverpool particularly, Joe Cole,  who was strumming the creative play from the center of the pack found new purpose and it was not long before Torres struck again, this time it was right back John Oshea who caught him as he chased a rather purposeful through ball. Howard Webb flashed a yellow , pointed the spot 12 yards out were the free kick was to be taken from. Steve Gerrard took over a gain the honors of taking the free kick.

Oshea was lucky to get away with a yellow but, a poor wall made by almost the entire bunch of the 11 united out field players allowed Gerrard to sneak in the second for Liverpool..

2-2 it was, a scoreline that Sir Alex Ferguson later during the post match interview described as a travesty considering how tame Liverpool's rather tame demeanor that Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford. Six minutes from time, Berbatov, again rose higher than Carrager in the box, his majestic header giving Man United the winner. Forward to the nineteenth title Manchester United Moved as the rose to tie points with second placed Arsenal one point behind Chelsea who were yet to play their fifth game of the 2010-201 Barclays premiership campaign against the newly promoted whip boys Blackpool.

For Liverpool however it was another unconvincing display, as the slid to 16 the in the table with only one win so far in the neighborhood of the Blackpool's of the a league. Quite a travesty for England's most successful club.. It appears that the Liverpool faithful will have to wait a little longer for that elusive 19th title.

Stat Attack

Berbatov became the first Manchester United player since 1947 years to score a hat trick in this fixture.