Manchester United have not been in such a strong position at this time of the season since Alex Ferguson became manager 11 years ago. A high-scoring run of six victories and a draw in eight league matches has re-established their grip on the Premiership and tomorrow morning, they will fly to Turin to take on Juventus knowing that their place in the Champions' League quarter-finals is already secure.
After Saturday's match against Liverpool, Ferguson was asked if kicking off at 11.15 a.m. made any difference to the players. "I don't know," he shrugged, "I don't have to get them up." The reality is that on their present form, United could be hauled out of bed at two in the morning to win a game of football.
For Liverpool, the match was a waking nightmare. Buoyed by the victory at Arsenal six days earlier which had dimmed grim memories of the defeat by Barnsley in the previous home fixture, Anfield roared its undying optimism. But before the end, Liverpool supporters were silently filing out of the ground having seen the inadequacies of the present team reconfirmed by United's superior passing and organisation.
The contrast in playing resources was stark. At 1-1, manager Roy Evans tried to win the game for Liverpool by bringing on Patrick Berger. When United took a 2-1 lead, he tried to save it through Karlheinz Riedle. Ultimately, Ferguson won the match 3-1 without having to call on Ole Solskjaer, who had scored twice against Blackburn Rovers in United's previous match.
For Manchester United, the win confirmed the rebirth of Andy Cole as a striker of genuine quality, as well as the prolific potential of his partnership with Teddy Sheringham. Cole scored twice to bring his total of goals for the season to 15, 12 of which have come in his last eight games.
From the outset, Liverpool defended uncertainly against the regularity with which Peter Schmeichel's clearances found Sheringham's head while Cole lurked at the centre-backs' shoulders, ready to beat them for pace. It is easy to underrate Schmeichel's influence in setting up attacks, but few goalkeepers can throw a ball beyond the halfway line. In Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, both small, quick and proven goalscorers, Liverpool had the means to disrupt United's defence, but for a long time offered their front pair only distant support. And when McManaman did move clear on to a marvellous overhead return pass from Fowler seven minutes before half-time, he failed to achieve a proper shot. Solskjaer, given a similar though tighter chance against Blackburn, had buried it.
Five minutes into the second half, Bjorn Kvarme meekly allowed Cole to gain possession and score. Fowler's penalty offered Liverpool brief hope after Nicky Butt had brought him down on the hour, but within nine minutes, David Beckham's superbly-struck free kick had beaten David James off the underside of the bar. Five minutes after that, Cole scored again - this time after Sheringham had glanced on a corner from Ryan Giggs.
Liverpool are now 12 points off the lead in the Premier League and with this defeat their title aspirations all but disappeared.
Liverpool: James, Kvarme (Berger 60), McAteer, McManaman, Leonhardsen, Fowler, Redknapp, Owen, Bjornebye (Riedle 72), Matteo, Carragher. Subs Not Used: Babb, Harkness, Nielson. Booked: Carragher, Redknapp. Goals: Fowler pen 60.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Johnsen, Pallister, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Sheringham, Giggs, P Neville, Berg. Subs Not Used: McClair, Poborsky, Van Der Gouw, Solskjaer, Mulryne. Booked: Johnsen, Butt. Goals: Cole 51, Beckham 70, Cole 74.
Referee: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
