United 3 Everton 0

United are back on Chelsea’s shoulder after midfielders Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia engineered an easy 3-0 win over Everton.

It was the perfect response to two results at Stamford Bridge – the champions’ unjust defeat there a fortnight ago and Chelsea’s comprehensive home win over Wolves earlier in the day. The bonus of Arsenal’s loss at Steve Bruce’s Sunderland enabled the Reds to regain second place in the title race.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s line-up showed several changes to the side which dominated in West London. At the back, Rafael replaced John O’Shea on the right and fit-again Nemanja Vidic returned to the centre in place of the now-injured Jonny Evans. Further forward, the boss deployed an extra forward – Michael Owen, a boyhood Evertonian – at the expense of midfielder Anderson.

The Reds took the game by the scruff of the neck and pitched camp in Everton’s half, albeit without fashioning anything for ex-United goalkeeper Tim Howard to save until Ryan Giggs’ tame strike curled towards the bottom corner in the 15th minute.

Opposing full-backs on the South Stand flank caught the eye early on, with Rafael tucking into his tussles with Louis Saha and Marouane Fellaini and delivering a low ball into Everton’s six-yard box that just failed to find Wayne Rooney. Meanwhile, Toffees left-back Leighton Baines thwarted Antonio Valencia with a sturdy tackle at one end, and a cross at the other that resulted in van der Sar’s first save from Saha.

Source : Man Utd

Chelsea 1 United 0

United were excellent at Stamford Bridge, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s near-perfect game-plan only went unrewarded after the Reds conceded a goal from a highly dubious second-half free-kick, which led to Chelsea skipper John Terry’s winner.

The Reds had bossed possession for large periods of the game and looked the stronger, more confident side – with Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney both outstanding. United at least deserved a draw, but the overriding feeling is of injustice, made worse that the Reds slip to third and Chelsea boast a five-point lead at the top of the league.

Chelsea are formidable at Stamford Bridge, with a 100 per cent home record under Carlo Ancelotti this season and only one goal conceded. United also haven’t won in West London since April 2002, a record Sir Alex was keen to arrest. The opportunity was there to return to the league’s summit, and though most outsiders predicted the Reds would have no joy, Sir Alex had his men fired up to prove any doubters wrong.

But he would have to do it without either first-choice central defender, as troublesome calf problems kept Rio Ferdinand out and Nemanja Vidic on the bench. That meant a centre-half pairing of Wes Brown and Jonny Evans up against the pace and power of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka. They coped admirably with the task.

Source : Man Utd

United 3 CSKA Moscow 3

As expected, United dramatically reached the knockout stages of the Champions League - but not without the mother of all frights.

Goals in the final six minutes from Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia - albeit via a huge deflection - saved United from a first Champions League home defeat since February 2005, after CSKA Moscow had stunned Old Trafford by roaring into a 3-1 lead.

The Russians, who looked a team transformed from the sides' meeting in Moscow a fortnight ago, repeatedly took advantage of defensive generosity from the Reds, striking before the break through Alan Dzagoev and Milos Krasic. Michael Owen had briefly levelled in-between, but Vasili Berezutski struck early in the second half to seemingly put the game beyond United.

Inevitably, the Reds rallied late on, especially after the introduction of substitute Wayne Rooney and, after Scholes had headed home on 84 minutes, Valencia's 20-yard strike took a huge deflection off Georgi Schennikov and flew past the impressive Igor Akinfeev.

From the first whistle, the signs suggested United were in for a tough evening. An unfortunate ricochet threatened to deal the Reds' hopes a blow inside 20 seconds, as Dzagoev led a break of three visitors against two home defenders, but he could only fire over the bar from 20 yards. Two minutes later, Deividas Semberas chanced his arm from similar range, and his low drive skidded just past Edwin van der Sar's post.

Source : Man Utd

Barnsley 0 United 2

United are another step closer to retaining the Carling Cup after seeing off a spirited challenge from Championship side Barnsley.

The Reds made the perfect start at Oakwell, taking a sixth-minute lead when Danny Welbeck buried a free header from Anderson’s right-wing corner. A masterclass in finishing from Michael Owen early in the second half sealed a place in the last eight of the competition, despite Gary Neville's red card then reducing United to ten men.

The night was also notable for Gabriel Obertan's senior debut, more than three months after signing for United. The Frenchman completed a full 90 minutes, switching from one flank to another and showing flashes of promise.

Obertan started on the right and helped to create United's early breakthrough with a jinking run on that flank. The corner he forced was whipped in by Anderson and although he had defenders on either side of him, Welbeck was unchallenged as he nodded the ball past former United goalkeeper Luke Steele.

The cool-as-you-like youngster nearly had a second reason to show us his Usain Bolt style celebration when he killed a ball into the Barnsley box with a sublime first touch and fired in a low strike that Steele did well to save. It was an impressive move, even if Owen was in a position that cried out for a pass rather than a shot from Welbeck. A third chance for Welbeck was more difficult, his header sailing high and wide from Obertan's cross.

Source : Man Utd

Liverpool 2 United 0

Sir Alex’s message prior to Sunday’s clash with Liverpool was simple: form counts for nothing in these matches. Unfortunately, he was right.

At Anfield, the team in the midst of their worst run of results in 22 years beat the side who hadn’t tasted defeat in 11 games. Goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog – the second in the sixth minute of injury time as the Reds threw men forward in search of an equaliser – gave Liverpool all three points in a game United never looked like winning. To make matters worse, Nemanja Vidic was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card in the 89th minute. It’s the third time in a row he’s been sent off in this fixture.

In isolation, defeat isn’t disastrous: the Reds lose top spot but it’s only October and a trip to Stamford Bridge – an opportunity, in all probability, to wrestle back the lead – beckons in a fortnight. No, it’s more a matter of pride and a blow to the momentum Sir Alex’s men had built up over the last two months.

Heading into Sunday’s clash, the boss made four changes to the side that won in Moscow in midweek. John O’Shea and Patrice Evra slotted back into the defensive line and Ryan Giggs took up a position on the left wing. But the pre-match discussion on the terraces and in pubs up and down the country centred on Wayne Rooney’s return. Out of action since the international break with a calf injury, the boyhood Everton fan came through Saturday’s training session unscathed and took his place in Sir Alex’s starting XI.

Source : Man Utd