Sunday, March 6, 2011

Kuyt hat-trick silences Manchester United and Ferguson


A hat-trick by Dirk Kuyt secured a 3-1 victory for Liverpool over leaders Manchester United on Sunday, increasing the pressure on their bitter rivals' title hopes.

In the later game, Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur shared the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to speak to any media - including his club's website - after watching his side outplayed by a rejuvenated Liverpool side.

Five days after their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, United were second- best again as Liverpool moved back into the top six and at the same time denying United the chance to extend their three-point lead over Arsenal at the top.

Kuyt's goals were scored from a total distance of about three yards but the Dutchman could not care less as he scored the first Liverpool hat-trick in this fixture since 1990, rendering Javier Hernandez's injury-time goal a mere consolation.

"You dream about the hat-trick and to do it against United is the best feeling ever," Kuyt said. "I'm more than happy but I have to thank Luis (Suarez) because he played great and created two of the goals.

"They were quite easy goals, I used to score them in Holland when I played more like a striker but they count and I'm more than happy to take them."

Arsenal have a game in hand over United and with the two sides still to meet at the Emirates before the season is out, the title race remains wide open.

Ferguson left out Darren Fletcher in favour of the experience of Paul Scholes while Wes Brown and Chris Smalling filled the centre of defence in the absence of the injured Nemanja Vidic and injured captain Rio Ferdinand.

Liverpool were able to include new signing Andy Carroll on the bench for the first time since his January move but it was another January signing, Luis Suarez, who created the first goal, though only after Dimitar Berbatov had shaved the post for United.

The Uruguay striker produced a moment of genius on the left, tricking his way into the area and his side-foot effort was destined for the goal but Kuyt made doubly sure to put his side ahead on 34 minutes.

Kuyt then took advantage of a terrible defensive header from Nani to double his side's lead five minutes later but Liverpool were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Jamie Carragher dived in on Nani.

The Portugal winger could not carry on afterwards but Carragher was given only a yellow card while United's Rafael and Liverpool's Martin Skrtel were booked soon afterwards.

United brought on Hernandez at half-time and created a series of promising situations and it took Raul Meireles to stop them scoring when he chested the ball off the line.

But the game was over on 65 minutes when Suarez's free kick was spilled by Edwin van der Sar and Kuyt followed up to score from less than a yard.

Steven Gerrard twice went close to making it 4-0 but Hernandez pulled one back in injury time with a nice glancing header.

Liverpool coach Kenny Dalglish was understandably delighted with his side's efforts.

"The way we played was really important and the lads deserve all the credit you can give them for what they achieved today," he said.

"We deserved to win, no doubt. It always matters who the opposition are, because you're not going to get too many opponents who are as good as Manchester United.

"And it's great for Dirk because everything he gets in his footballing life he's worked really hard for."

If the match at Anfield was entertaining, the one at Molineux was a near-classic as Wolves earned a valuable point in the fight against relegation as they battled out a 3-3 draw with fifth-placed Tottenham.

Kevin Doyle put Wolves ahead but two stunning goals by Jermain Defoe put Spurs in front, before Doyle equalized from the penalty spot after Alan Hutton had fouled Nenad Milijas.

Roman Palvyluchenko restored Tottenham's lead with a brilliant third goal but after a series of near-misses, Wolves snatched a point thanks to a late headed effort from substitute Steven Fletcher.

Tottenham remain fifth, level on points with Chelsea, while Wolves are still second-from-bottom, but only two points from safety.



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