Babel strike helps Reds beat ten-man United
Babel's goal gave Benitez his first league win over United
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By inthenews. |  |
Saturday, 13, Sep 2008 09:28
Substitute Ryan Babel scored the winning goal as Liverpool deservedly beat Manchester United 2-1 at Anfield.
Although the home side fell behind early on they dominated the rest of the game, with man-of-the-match Javier Mascherano orchestrating matters against United's three-man midfield.
There was some luck to the two Liverpool goals, a Wes Brown own-goal in the first half got the Reds back on level terms, while Babel's shot went straight into the turf but bounced high into the net.
As United scrambled to get a late equaliser Nemanja Vidic received a second yellow card and was sent off when he clattered into Xabi Alonso, ending a miserable outing for Alex Ferguson's men.
Carlos Tevez gave United the perfects start inside three minutes when he neatly slotted the ball past Pepe Reina after Berbatov had found him with a pass from the by-line.
Dirk Kuyt almost got Liverpool back in the match only to be foiled by Edwin van der Sar. The Manchester United goalkeeper failed to hold on to a corner and the ball dropped to Kuyt and although the Dutchman produced a good shot van der Sarr was able to make a point-blank save to keep United 1-0 ahead.
However, it was not long before the Reds managed to get the breakthrough their possession and territory had deserved.
Once more van der Sarr panicked but this time he could not atone for his error. Alonso unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which deflected off Patrice Evra and looked to be safely heading to van der Sar.
This time the United stopper chose to punch clear but his attempted clearance hit Brown in the leg and trickled into the unguarded net.
United nearly retook the lead just before half time but Tevez's near-post effort blazed wide.
After the break both sides created chances but van der Sar reacted quickly to deny Yossi Benayoun while Reina back-pedalled well to tip Ryan Giggs' dipping shot over the bar.
The decisive moment came when Mascherano robbed Giggs on his own by-line and fed the ball into Kuyt inside the United box.
He shifted the ball immediately onto Babel who was in space and the Dutchman managed to force the ball home.
As injury-time approached United's frustration was summed-up when Vidic made a clumsy challenge on Alonso and was given his marching orders.
The result means Liverpool are now six points ahead of United, although the Red Devils have a game I hand on their rivals.