Sir Alex Ferguson had not yet started going to school the last time a Manchester United player did what Dimitar Berbatov inflicted on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. Stan Pearson was the last United player to score a hat trick against them 64 years ago at Maine Road. The 84 minute strike by “Berbatop” saved United from throwing away another two points as they have twice already done this season. Liverpool looked to be down and out as Berbatov put United two goals up after an hour but Steven Gerrard somehow dragged his side back to level terms, twice finding a way through a crumbling United defence within six minutes.
The relieved Liverpool support thought that defeat was going to be avoided until Berbatov completed his hat trick to leave Liverpool just one point out of the relegation zone. But it’s far too early for them to be concerned about that – isn’t it? One final thought on Berbatov’s super performance. It leaves one wondering what might have been had he been let loose on the tight knit Rangers defence on Tuesday night. It’s something that we will never know!
And another thing: That offensive ‘Berbaflop’ tag can now surely be confined to the dustbin of history!
Manchester United 3 v Liverpool 2
Daily Telegraph – Dimitar Berbatov scored a stunning hat trick as Manchester United claimed victory in a pulsating clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford. Liverpool had clawed back from 2-0 down with two strikes from Steven Gerrard to seemingly seal a hard fought draw against United. But Berbatov completed a memorable personal performance with a header six minutes from time that secured victory.
With Rio Ferdinand ruled out of the game after falling ill overnight, United started with a centre-half pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans. But Liverpool were so poor in the first-half that Ferdinand could probably have climbed off his sickbed to play and not been unduly troubled. Full Report
Manchester Evening News – 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. 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. Full Report
Liverpool FC Official Website – Dimitar Berbatov smashed home a hat-trick as Manchester United edged a pulsating encounter to beat Liverpool 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. The striker netted either side of half-time to put the Red Devils firmly in the driving seat before a quick-fire Steven Gerrard brace pulled the visitors level.
However, the Bulgarian ensured United would enjoy the bragging rights when he nodded in his third of the game six minutes from the end to leave the away side empty-handed.It means Roy Hodgson’s men have now lost two of their opening five league matches and they remain in the bottom half of the table with just five points. Full Report
Manchester United – Van der Sar, O’Shea, Vidic, Jonny Evans, Evra, Nani (Gibson 88), Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs (Macheda 82), Berbatov (42, 59, 84) (Anderson 88), Rooney.
Liverpool – Reina, Johnson, Konchesky (Agger 82), Carragher, Skrtel, Gerrard (64 pen, 70), Cole, Maxi (Ngog 62), Poulsen, Meireles (Jovanovic 79),Torres
Can anyone name the last United player to score a hat trick against Liverpool AT Old Trafford?
