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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits to 'poor' display

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments160

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said his side were "lucky" after a 2-1 win at Liverpool.

Ten-man Liverpool took the lead before Rafael Da Silva and Robin van Persie scored to secure a victory for United.

"We were very poor," said Ferguson. "Liverpool dominated the first half and we were lucky.

"In the second half, we had better statistics in terms of possession but we were playing against 10 men so that was disappointing."

Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was red-carded for a challenge on Jonny Evans after 39 minutes and Ferguson

"That was silly," added Ferguson. "When he looks at himself he may or may not apologise but it was a reckless challenge.

"It might have done damage and it nearly did because Jonny has got a real bruise above the ankle so he is very lucky."

The match was the first at Anfield which cleared Liverpool fans of blame when 96 of their fans died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

The clubs paid tribute to the victims and their families before the game with Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton presenting flowers to former Liverpool striker Ian Rush.

Opposing captains Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs also released 96 red balloons in memory of those who died.

"Liverpool have done a great job in terms of setting the right tone," said Ferguson. "It was not over done - beautiful. It was the right tone and both supporters played their part.

"We'll not stop the rivalry but that goes without saying. What we want is that both sets of supporters don't do the stupid things which over the years have put a stain on both the football clubs.

"Today both sets of supporters honoured each other's clubs."

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160 comments

  • Comment posted by U15319355, at 12:44 24 Sep 2012

    Give it a rest people. At any given football match on any given day there will be a small, brain-dead, drunk minority who look to provoke and cause offence. Did anyone honestly believe that Sundays game was going to pass with both sets of fans holding hands and singing "when I needed a neighbour"? The longer people continue to focus on idiots and not the sport the longer they will remain

  • Comment posted by U15319355, at 11:33 24 Sep 2012

    @37

    Hmmm, you're not in any position to say that Jonjo went in to "do" Evans. Ask Johnny Evans about how he broke Stuart Holden's leg with an identical 2 footer last year - I would never believe that Evans went in to "do" Holden. 2 players steamed in for a 50/50 - both of them off the ground. Shelvey deserved a card, but in such an instance you can't punish just one player. Poor refereeing

  • Comment posted by Dr Heath, at 10:48 24 Sep 2012

    United badly need a ball winner in midfield, Ala Yaya Toure or Dembele if they want to win the league this year. Liverpool had 53% of the possession playing most of the game with 10 men.

  • Comment posted by Kapnag, at 11:06 24 Sep 2012

    Neither Evans or Van persie jumped in at the feet like Shelvey, who landed halfway up Evan's shin studs showing - it is a red card all day long. Evans going for the ball, Shelvey going for Evans

  • Comment posted by torn, at 16:24 24 Sep 2012

    I must of watched a different game, all I saw scholes do after coming on was get booked, AGAIN. :)

    If you look at the shelvey/evans tackle again, see how Shelvey keeps his left leg away from player and ball and only goes for the ball with his right leg, where Evans has BOTH FEET TOGETHER ;)
    Shelvey also gets ball BEFORE man. No way a red !!

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdxYa603O8c

  • Comment posted by torn, at 16:13 24 Sep 2012

    King red -

    Johnson didn't attempt to tackle Valencia, he slid towards where he thought Valencia was going to shoot.
    The truth is, Valencia fluffed it right up, heard or felt Johnson was there and dived to the floor.There was absolutely no contact. Not a pen in a trillion years.

    Wirral 18
    He was that hurt he came back on after 30 seconds ?? If RVP wasn't 2 footed or a lunge why was he booked? ;)

  • Comment posted by OneLeagueTitlePlease, at 12:51 24 Sep 2012

    Ugh can we move on from this. Anyone who wants to sing about any tragedy in which lives were lost should just shipped off to a distant island so the rest of us don't have to listen. Despicable behaviour. This is a game, that is reality. Get a grip

  • Comment posted by monkeybone, at 12:41 24 Sep 2012

    Grow up the lot of you and your whataboutry comments. Poor ref full stop.

  • Comment posted by cpeskett, at 22:32 24 Sep 2012

    Valencia was not hauled down from behind. Johnson was beside him and barely touched him. Valencia overreached for a poor piece of control and fell over.

  • Comment posted by torn, at 21:35 24 Sep 2012

    He was faultless?

    Oh dear lord ......

  • Comment posted by torn, at 21:14 24 Sep 2012

    No, parrranger, no!

    The ref won 2-1 ;)

  • Comment posted by U15394619, at 17:14 24 Sep 2012

    @132

    Yeah we'll know we're in trouble when we are 18th in the table and blaming everybody but ourselves for being there ...

  • Comment posted by torn, at 16:03 24 Sep 2012

    @120

    Oh my !! They should of both been sent off, both booked, etc. They went in the same. Evans just pretended he was hurt and then came back on 30 seconds later. The key is consistency. RVP lunged 2 footed yellow card, Luiz Vs Stoke, yellow card, Rooney elbows Wigan player in head last season, nothing!! Double standards and inconsistency is what riles the fans !

  • Comment posted by Jim, at 15:46 24 Sep 2012

    There was no difference between Shelvey's and Evan's tackles other than the fact that if Evan's two feet were far more dangerous. Sad to hear the abuse that Halsey has suffered - no need for that - but the decision was ridiculous based upon the childlike squeals of a grown man rolling around on the floor. If Shelvey had done the same we wouldn't be discussing this topic.

  • Comment posted by Dr Heath, at 15:41 24 Sep 2012

    Can an United fan tell me what the difference between what evans did in his challenge on Shelvey yesterday and what Kompany did when he was sent off against United in the Cup last season?? both left the ground and both played the ball.

  • Comment posted by U15304840, at 15:05 24 Sep 2012

    Ok first off... It's not even the red card I'm that bothered about. We still dominated the game moreless.... It's the outrageous penalty that he gave to them. Suarez had gone down earlier, the ref waved the claims away. Yet Valencia goes down without even being touched. And he gives a penalty faster than a fat kid can get to the cake !!!.... Disgraceful

  • Comment posted by Stannis Baratheon, at 14:46 24 Sep 2012

    @105 Subliminal messages? He said it loud and clear mate. And it's a fact! In SAF 26 odd years he's only had 1 pen at Anfield. Now 2.

  • Comment posted by U9449979, at 14:39 24 Sep 2012

    The referee was a disgrace and an embaressment to his proffession and something stinks!
    50/50 Ball, both players should have been sent off then, Suarez stone cold penalty, no arguments, and the usual subliminal messages from SAF a few days before the match that they (UTD) never get a penalty decision at Anfield..clever man, his tactics would put the SAS to shame...Liverpool robbed,have a nice day.

  • Comment posted by Bertie Maghoo the bitter blue, at 14:25 24 Sep 2012

    as a united fan have to say fortunate to take all three points.
    on the Suarez penalty claim........ seems a little bit of boy who cried wolf.
    previous dives means unless he`s shot, unlikely to get a penalty.
    Klinsman and Ginola were the same . Welbeck and Young application in the post !

  • Comment posted by U15435671, at 14:21 24 Sep 2012

    Re:98 - Video Replays would ruin the flow of the game... I disagree

    You give each team a set number of reviews, then if either team captain or manager think the ref has made a blunder, they signal they want to use a review and send it upstairs...

    In the meantime the crowd will start chanting etc so I think it would actually add something to the game... just like with Rugby, Tennis and Cricket.

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