Match 17: Liverpool 0 : 1United

If Benitez had thought the Champions League survival victory at Marseille had given him enough confidence to overhaul United at Anfield, he was going to be disappointed. He'd never been able to beat United and it was going to stay that way, the improving quality of his side notwithstanding. United just played the perfect defensive game. And so the credit for the victory must go the defense, particularly the defense offered by the two midfielders - Hargreaves and Anderson.

The match was so frenetic and physical, which I'm told is typical of the United-Liverpool matches played over the years. Liverpool certainly looked like they wanted to finish off United in the first 15 minutes. They just kept attacking all the time with great pace and accurate passing but never looked to create too many useful chances upfront. United looked strong in defense but evidently had problems with Van der Saar's indecisive goal-keeping. He almost gave away two goals, all by himself, in the first half alone. But I guess that could be attributed to the freakish pace of the game.
It was all about Liverpool attacking and United having to defend and wait for counter attacks. But you have to say Anderson and Hargreaves took the sting away most times, specially by keeping Stevie G quiet - takes some effort that! United did come up with a few attacks in the first half, but weren't convincing, specially because Ronaldo was kept quiet as well. And so the goal did come against the run of play, but off great thinking. Giggs passed a corner ball to an unmarket Rooney, who's thumping shot found Tevez to deflect into the roof of the net. I remember the commentator on ESPN going "this is rubbish defending" about Liverpool's marking when the goal was scored!

Liverpool had an entire half to reverse their fortunes and you would have expect them to achieve such feats at Anfield. But United were too clinical to be broken down. And it was familiar story again for the Reds, all attack but with little effect. United could have made the victory even more sweeter had Rooney found the net towards the end of the second half, when he missed a sitter, by his standards. But then who'd care what the score was going to be as long as we were winning! I can't believe it was Sir Alex's 50th match against the Kop. Without doubt he's the master of such big games and this victory was a testimony to that. Lot of people would be lining to write Liverpool off now, which is more or less justified given the intensity of the tittle race between United and Arsenal.

The later match between Arsenal and Chelsea was a beautiful match to watch and the score of 1-0 pretty much reflects the closeness of the encounter. I thought Chelsea were unlucky to lose and that too off a rare Cech mistake! Overall the Grandslam Sunday did live up to it's billing.