Sir Alex Ferguson, a veteran of twenty-four years of clashes between Manchester United and Liverpool likened himself to a parrot during the week when the discussing the upcoming match. He used the time-honoured line of “This is the game”. But even Ferguson with his vast experience could not have expected the rollercoaster that enveloped the game with half an hour to go.
United were cruising. Two up and looking for more when Fernando Torres, anonymous up until this point pulled away from Jonny Evans, shaped to shoot before dragging the ball back forcing the foul from the Northern Ireland man. Steven Gerrard duly dispatched the penalty and suddenly United looked vulnerable. Torres again slipped past the United defensive line before being upended by John O’Shea. Gerrard again stepped up and side-footed the free-kick through a porous United wall. It was a goal reminiscent of Mario Basler’s opener in the European Cup final in 1999 and for a time it looked like United were to suffer a Bayern like meltdown. But with five minutes left a cross by O’Shea was met by Dimitar Berbatov who planted his header beyond Pepe Reina. That the Bulgarian settled the game was apt. He soared over every other player on the pitch, scoring a hat-trick that has embellished his outstanding start to the season.
His first was a poacher’s effort. Minimal movement. A well delivered corner, He arched his body back and directed his header beyond the goalkeeper and the hapless Konchesky. His second may be beyond words. A hopeful cross from Nani fell to Berbatov five yards into the penalty area. He controlled it with his thigh before flipping a bicycle kick into the top left corner of a helpless Pepe Reina’s goal. It was both faintly sublime and ridiculous. An edge-of-seat, to standing on your feet, to blinking bewilderment beauty of a goal. Ferguson again praised his quality after the game. It is a great sign for the Bulgarian that his manager is starting to sound like a parrot when he talks about his number nine.
