Sir Alex Ferguson was indebted to the "genius" of Dimitar Berbatov after the Bulgarian's brilliant hat-trick floored Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Every single member of the United side had need to thank Berbatov at the end after they had tossed away a two-goal advantage against Merseyside opposition for the second weekend running, only for the former Tottenham man to net the winner six minutes from time.
In some very perceptive programme notes, Ferguson suggested to lose a winning position once was bad luck, twice is downright careless.
Now Liverpool can be added to Fulham and Everton as teams United have thrown winning positions away against this season.
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They were only spared the sight of Ferguson's fury stripping paint off the home dressing room because of Berbatov, whose header denied Liverpool, who had levelled through Steven Gerrard's double.
The other part of Ferguson's pre-match missive was the declaration that "you must have faith and we are being rewarded this season for our confidence in a player who has a touch of genius about him".
Genius was an apt word to describe Berbatov's contribution, in particular the astonishing overhead kick that had put United two ahead midway through the second-half of a slow burner of a game that eventually turned into a classic.
Ferguson is not the only one in these parts who still feel this is the biggest fixture of the Premier League calendar.
Cracking
Chelsea, Arsenal and even Blackburn may have won the title since Liverpool last did so in 1990. But with their 18 league championships and five European Cups, they remain the most successful English side, even if United have now joined them on the domestic front.
The atmosphere was crackling at kick-off, although the early action failed to match it.
United did create one excellent opportunity, which Nani wasted when he fired wide after Wayne Rooney's shot had bounced kindly for him after striking Gerrard.
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But the game was low on incident until Berbatov broke the deadlock by nodding home Ryan Giggs' corner at the near-post.
TV replays did not show Fernando Torres in a good light.
His performance at Birmingham last week was branded "diabolical" by TV pundit and former Liverpool skipper Jamie Redknapp.
Clearly needing a goal, Torres was again struggling to make an impact.
New United captain Nemanja Vidic, who has suffered more than most at the feet of a man who remains one of the world's best strikers, tidied up one opportunity that had come Torres' way via a fortunate bounce off World Cup final referee Howard Webb.
The Liverpool forward also trundled a disappointing shot way off target after managing to get a quarter of a yard in front of Vidic as the pair turned on the edge of the area.
All this was forgivable. Just allowing Berbatov, who had already got in front of the former Atletico Madrid star as Giggs strode up to take the corner, just to stoop for it unchallenged, would not have impressed Roy Hodgson very much.
Impossible
If defensive questions needed to be asked about that, there was nothing more to do than simply admire Berbatov's brilliance when he doubled his side's lead just before the hour.
It was almost impossible to believe it took just two touches to get Nani's right-wing cross into the net.
But it was precisely that. The first to control with his knee. The second to dispatch an overhead kick which left Pepe Reina rooted to the spot as it bounced in off the crossbar.
In any normal season, the contest would have been over.
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However, there is a fallibility about United just now that clearly refuses to rectify itself no matter how harsh Ferguson's words.
The rashness with which Jonny Evans lunged in on Torres as the striker checked back inside the box gave lie to the theory United can operate effectively without Rio Ferdinand, overlooked for the captaincy and missing with a virus.
On the second occasion, John O'Shea could count himself mightily relieved Webb did not reach for the red card once he decided the Irishman had dragged Torres to the ground just outside the box.
The consequences of Webb's ruling would be felt in the eventual outcome.
With both situations though, Gerrard found the corner of United's goal with precision, racing gleefully to the ecstatic visiting fans the second time around to hail a position he could not have expected his team would be in 10 minutes previously.
It looked like United had blown it. Berbatov had other ideas and rose to meet O'Shea cross to give his side victory.
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If this does not prove what rubbish manager Fergie is nothing will? He did not learn anything from the Everton Game. How could any manager consider playing Evans the worst defender to put on a united shirt on, he can’t pass couldn’t read the game. Is it any wonder after all the good work FERGIES TWO CLOWNS GAVE Liverpool two goals WHAT DISGRACE YEY AGAIN? What happened to the beautiful game? Vidic must wondeer what he is doing playing in the middle of all this –rap!We have the players but Fergie just ignores them.
He has Smalling on the bench he should have played. No Raphel no Fabio no Obertan no Hernandez. Thank god for Berbatov he gets better with the more games he has, nobody will score a better hatrick than that. Amazing brilliant but its only covering up our weakness in midfield and defense
A good team ruined by Fergies self-destruct mentality .Rio must be tired after his one game News has it Carlos is coming back and Fergie is swapping Carrick for Palacios
We have Fergie saying Chelsea have not played anybody Everton are bottom Chelsea already 4 up in first half. Geared for goals Fergie has geared United for negativity.
We should be playing with at least two up front with Rooney in midfield. Can’t wait For Scunthorpe our young lads will do well.
Serge, Europe (18/09/2010 at 16:49)
Him and Macheda, those boys have confidence and swagger. I love his stance, and I have to say, contrary to the lurid newspapers that are the Mail and the Mirror, his reserve outing the other night was quite promising, a winger who actually puts the ball in the box quick, and his size will help him in the Prem.
I really hope Fergie gives the younger players some games, Macheda, Obertan, the twins, and, when ready, Bebe. They must wonder what they have to do to get to play a run of games espeially when they watch United these days its like watching a bunch of allsorts we have players of class mixed in with players who are not fit to even put the shirt on.Holding back world class talent of the future.
.usual suspects are at it again(o'shea,fletcher and evans) lucky to get the win after throwing away a two goal lead.
this team lacking in midfield and defence but fergie cant see that.we were dominated in the midfield by a rubbish liverpool team, thats says it all.
but i'm sure some fans here will think all is good now by beating liverpool and the midfield is the best in the world! but for me this victory changes nothing unless fergie opens his eyes and realises whats needed to put us top again.
with the likes o'shea,giggs fletcher,gibson,evans and park we will not win the league or c/league.
good to see macheda coming on then that usless owen. you could see soon as he came on the liverpool defenders were worried by power&strength in the air, and i think it was his introduction that bought the goal.
Great display lads! MOM of course is Berba. Bring in Chelsea, Gooners, City!!!!
Well done to Berbatov on his breathtaking hat trick, he does look as though he is putting himself about the pitch with some intent this season. I am really pleased for him; he looks to be enjoying himself and feeling part of the team at last. Great play from the rest of the forwards and midfield, we had great possession and a goal of the season candidate. That we gave away two suicidal goals when we were under so little pressure from an out of sorts Liverpool team sums up how badly O’Shea and Evans have been playing so far this season. Hopefully, with the defence looking more fragile than a wobbly egg, SAF will make changes. Finally, I do wish Nani would stop the silly diving and playing injured, he and Torres were shamefully competing for the dive or damaged limb acting award of the season. It is wrong from the point of view of sportsmanship but he also, invariably, brings the game to a halt when United are in full flow, giving opponents time to reorganise...
berbatov's best game since he's been here. this what i expect when we spend 32m on a striker. keep up the good work berb.
Berb for that hatrick against the dippers you are now officially a legend. Second goal was amazing! But the defence!!!! Please get Rio back and for goodness sakes anyone but O'Shea! Had my heart in my mouth for the last 10 minutes. Don't think my health can stand the surrender of another 2 goal lead but the best resuly in the end. Berb was very modest in his after match interview. Love him.
An Amazing game!! It had everything. United were sublime at times and plain daft at others. Berbatov was astonishing, Nani was inconsistent and occasionally found wanting in terms of attitude and fight. Berbatov has proved what a great player he is, and I believe we are playing to his strengths. His second goal was an outstanding piece of skill. I loved the way the United players mobbed him after each goal.
Fletcher was a monster in midfield; tireless, effective in breaking up play, pressing the opposition, putting his foot in...... he is a great foil for Scholes. The defence had some squeaky bum moments. What was Evans thinking? A thoroughly enjoyable win, with the usual palpitations. Season ticket holders should all have a pre-season medical!!!
I always knew Berba was a class act. I wonder where all those idiots are now who booed him at Blackburn and also after his missed penalty against Everton are now. Show your faces cowards, you are a disgrace.
Am gonna gloss over the 2 goals thrown away and just concentrate on praising Dimi, finally arrived and finally looking like the player we all knew he could be, brilliant, he's gonna be the big dog this year!
I suspect the Dunce from Witslow will be absent for days now that we have delivered the goods on the field. SAF has been proved right yet again and if it hadn't been for the Muppets in black then the result would have been emphatic.
Even the boo boys on row 8 of the Stretford End had to join in the support of the great Berby, however they have now trained their puerile comments onto Wayne Rooney, pathetic really and just goes to show its not only the lunatics in the Witslow Asylum that need medication.
BELIEVE
Well done Dimitar, that was special. 10/10
As usual Webb & his assistants made the decisions that would allow them back into the game (awarding penalty kicks for accidental collisions after the ball's been played) Nani should take a look at how Torres won his free kick - THATS how you dive son.
Its funny because we all know the ppl who slate Berbatov week in week out...JUST BECAUSE HE DOES'NT RUN UP AND DOWN LIKE A MAD MAN (some say lazy yeah) well let me tell you folks as i have time after time..."A PLAYER OF HIS CLASS/QUALITY DOES'NT NEED TO RUN AND RUN".............T&C.ive a question for you babyboy.......Did The White Pele (as you call him) test the keeper today???? but it does'nt matter eh...coz he does run up and down and work hard eh hahahahaha....Our Main Forward didnt work Reina once today, not ONCE,...thats not good enough im afraid
How many times do I have to write this Johnny Evans is costing United dearly. Evans Has had long enough to prove himself at this level and let's face it he has not. Still cannot figure out why Rafael does not play. Does anyone know? Scholes in the second half was dead on his feet. Good to see Anderson back but these are worrying times at OT. I take the victory over Liverpool anyday.
Danny : This ALMOST the only thing I agree with you about . EVANS and OSHEA are RUGBY players . Berbatov proved my points about him . He was jus lacking confidence IN him .
Berbatov was absolutely brilliant. When finds his form there will be no living with us. He will do that sooner than later. Yeah you could make the argument that Liverpool deserved nothing from this match if Evans hadn't given them a sniff. And O'Shea, while a great servant for United is NOT a starter. The position demands so much more especially going forward. However I prefer to savor a great,great win under, unnecessarily, incredible pressure, given the Fulham and Everton results, And Berba's 2nd goal was one of the greatest I have ever seen, never mind goal of the season. Incredible!!! Chelski had better keep piling up the points against the minnows(4-0 v Blackpool last time I looked) because we're coming and there will be no holding us back. ON UNITED!!! BEAT SCUNTHORPE!!!
I hope someone will remind Fletcher that when lined up in a defensive wall, he's not supposed to move out of the way if the ball comes straight at him at chest height. If he'd stayed put, he'd have blocked Gerrard's free kick.
brilliant hatrick by 10/10 berbatov sublime 2nd goal just watched in awe as he took it then hammered it home,sheer quality.
The penalty wasnt one the ball was played and the player acted like a sniper had shot him torres,then the free-kick torres again cheating spanish dipper,gerrard kissing the camera hope berbs goal wiped that away lol.
Howard webb is a dipper fan and was handing yellow cards like it was some ones wedding tossing confetti at nearly every tackle.....webb get a life and in future do consult the linesmen..plank.that should have been 3-4/-0 today.
joint 2nd place still nothing lost,but fergie the older players can only keep up with so much....you must use and blood other young guns.
Poor give away of the goals yet again !!
come on Evans and O shea why dont u guys retire yourselves !
but a big
WELL done to Dimitar Berbatov .
great goals all three
Some element of justice and decency restored to the Premiership as United overcome Liverpool 3-2 despite the best efforts of officials whose decisions are so awesomely eccentric as to raise serious questions about the possibility of spot-bet fixing in English football. Berbatov absolutely brilliant.
Berbatov 3
Webb 2
GC Northstand (19/09/2010 at 17:50)
How wrong can this Muppet be, never attends a game, parades as an expert yet cannot post one comment without showing his lack of education through incoherent ranting complimented by shocking grammar and a dyslexic inability to spell even simple words. The nurse needs to put him to sleep for good
And you call this the writings of a sane man nobody with any education would talk so much rubbishIn case you have no been taking your medicine we are talking about football our disgrace of a manager and football has nothing to do with spelling or Grammar.
I think the nurse should give you back your TEDDY bear.
Si 4 kop honest and unbiased opinion - thought Berbatov had a great game, thought the penalty was an accidental collision, thought Torres knew he was going to ground as soon as he felt contact. (A clever player)
Unlike Nani who was sooo obvious. (if Skirtel had a grip of my arm I'd have stamped his foot into the undersoil heating)
It seems that even in victory Ferguson can't conduct a interview with Sky without being nasty. Says United 'could have had 10' and officials allowed Liverpool back into the game. Well I disagree with him but I'm pleased Roy Hodgson shown some dignity when he did his 10mins later. Perhaps it was abit early after the game for Alex and the emotions were high but you would think he had a axe to grind.
I thought Berbatov was outstanding today. 100% efficent in what he did and was the difference.
Its been a mega tough start to the season so far for Liverpool with games against Arsenal(H) City(A) Utd(A) and Brum(A) but I'm sure nobody will see that, just see us in 16th place and make it look like a crisis.
the ref had a poor day today no bottle at the swamp once again
3 points is all that mattered! said before the game,we had to play for the points rather than whoever we played,job done lads. got to cut out the stupid amateurish mistakes though, you all know what i mean. how rubbish were scummerpool? and they still couldve spoiled the points! wake up boys!