Rooney Strike Seals Derby Victory

By David Hobbs
January 15 2005

Ten-man Manchester United held onto Wayne Rooney's first half strike to defeat arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, breaking a string of 3 consecutive goalless draws. Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand both missed out after failing late fitness tests.

Rooney Strike Seals Derby Victory

Liverpool 0

Manchester United 1
Rooney 21
(Wes Brown Sent Off 65)

Ten-man Manchester United held onto Wayne Rooney's first half strike to defeat arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, breaking a string of 3 consecutive goalless draws.

Jerzy Dudek showed how much he hates playing against United yet again, letting Rooney's 25-yard attempt to glide right past him and drive into an embarrassed Kop.

Defender Wes Brown, standing in for injured Rio Ferdinand, picked up a yellow card in each half that lead to a dismissal by referee Steve Bennett with just under half an hour of play to go. The Red Devils have now beaten their Merseyside foes 3 times in a row.

Roy Carroll, who reportedly forced an ultimatum claiming he'd not sign a new contract if he doesn't start this game, replaced Tim Howard in goals after his cup-run. Duo Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand failed late fitness tests and consequently missed out on the clash.

Spaniards Mauricio Pellegrino and Fernando Morientes made their debuts after completing moves to Anfield earlier in the week. However, £6.3 million signing from Real Madrid Morientes failed to score on his debut, something he is prone to doing.

Liverpool seemed to have settled nicely in-front of the home-crowd, but that al changed as soon as Wayne Rooney was allowed space to run with the ball.

Rafael Benitez's defenders failed to close Rooney down, leading him to unleash a shot that totally evaded Jerzy Dudek from nearly 30-yards out. Rooney joins Diego Forlan and Ryan Giggs in Dudek's list of fumbles against United.

Skipper Roy Keane could have netted his 50th goal in a Manchester United jersey, but the Irishman's powerful attempt collided with the crossbar.

Debutant Fernando Morientes could have equalized just before the break, rising high to met fellow Spaniard Luis Garcia's cross. It didn't bother a solid Roy Carroll though.

After the interval, United were reduced to ten men after Wes Brown collected his 2nd caution of the game after a bad tackle on Norwegian John Arne Riise. That incident prompted Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with John O'Shea.

Liverpool piled on the pressure, making United camp in their own half.

The home side could have stolen a point right at the end when 'Pool were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Steven Gerrard was expected to shoot, but lined up Jamie Carragher. The defender struck the ball sweetly and a deflection would have taken the ball in, but Carroll pumped it away to seal 3 points.

Final Score: Liverpool 0 - 0 Manchester United 1
Att: 44,183

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Pellegrino, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Morientes. Subs: Nunez, Sinama Pongolle, Biscan, Warnock, Harrison.

Manchester United: Carroll, Phil Neville, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, Fletcher, Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Saha. Subs: Howard, Bellion, Miller, O'Shea, Fortune.

Refereed By: S Bennett