Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1: Rooney rises above toxic atmosphere

By Bill Thornton
Last updated at 10:42 PM on 11th February 2012

Luis Suarez could not have done a better job of helping United to a famous victory even if he had tried. The Uruguayan made his first start following his eight-match ban for racially abusing United's Patrice Evra.
And he set the tone for a massive United performance by refusing Evra's proffered handshake before kick-off.
If ever a gesture was designed to fire up Sir Alex Ferguson's title-chasers for their most keenly contested fixture then this, surely, was it.
Roo beauty: Wayne Rooney proved to be the match winner with a quickfire brace
Roo beauty: Wayne Rooney proved to be the match winner with a quickfire brace

MATCH FACTS

MAN UNITED: De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Welbeck. Subs not used: Amos, Berbatov, Park, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, Cleverley, Pogba.:
Goals: Rooney 47, 50
Booked: Carrick
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 61), Henderson, Kuyt (Adam 75), Gerrard, Downing (Bellamy 61), Suarez. Subs not used: Doni, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.
Goals: Suarez 80
Booked: Downing
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
And, of all the individuals Liverpool do not need to inspire to greater deeds, Wayne Rooney is top of the list.
The England star was making his 500th appearance for club and country, and to do so against United's biggest rivals was incentive enough.
No player takes more abuse at Anfield than Rooney, who first fielded the Liverpool fans' flak as a youngster playing for Everton.
Rooney said in the build-up that this is 'the game you never want to lose'.
The 25-year-old had scored 211 goals in those previous 499 games, but only two against Liverpool.
Ignore his post-match dismissal of Suarez's handshake refusal, when he said: 'That's between the two individuals. We are professionals and we have to do a job on the pitch.'
Snub: Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra before the game
Snub: Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra before the game
You can be sure Rooney's burning desire to improve his scoring stats against the old enemy was only deepened by the snub to his team-mate and captain.
And Liverpool felt the full force of Rooney's - and United's - determination when he doubled his tally against them in the space of three minutes shortly after the start of the second half.
With two devastating strikes, Rooney took his goals record from two to four in his 20th appearance against them.
Despite Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's dismissal of the suggestion that Suarez was culpable in any way, Ferguson was equally adamant that Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Evra 'created a tension … I could not believe it,' said the United manager.

Ugly affair: The first half was largely uneventful in terms of chances
Ugly affair: The first half was largely uneventful in terms of chances
Dalglish and the travelling fans could barely believe it, either, as Rooney, rising to the occasion like a colossus, first volleyed past Pepe Reina after Jordan Henderson deflected a Ryan Giggs corner and then struck the lethal blow, shooting under the keeper after Antonio Valencia robbed Jay Spearing and played in the striker.
Forget the fact that, of all people, Suarez gave Liverpool a chance of salvaging something from the wreckage when he pounced as substitute Charlie Adam's free-kick bounced off Rio Ferdinand and fell for him five yards out.
A nervous final few minutes ensued for United - but this was always their day, from that fateful moment when Suarez made a decision that seemed to baffle even his manager, who later inferred that he expected his player to shake Evra's hand.

Contentious: Suarez was left reeling after Rio Ferdinand escaped punishment for a tackle when the Uruguayan was clean through on goal
Contentious: Suarez was left reeling after Rio Ferdinand escaped punishment for a tackle when the Uruguayan was clean through on goal
Despite his consolation goal - his first since December 10 - Suarez cut an increasingly forlorn figure, chasing shadows and lost causes as Liverpool failed miserably to live up to the standards of their recent Carling Cup and FA Cup victories over Manchester City and United.
In sharp contrast, Rooney, magnificently aided in his efforts by strike partner Danny Welbeck and right-wing raider Valencia, was rampant, revelling in his frequent opportunities to run at the back-pedalling Liverpool defenders.
The Suarez-Evra issue clouded the whole affair but, when football got into focus, it was United who provided the great majority of it.

Angst: Referee Phil Dowd had to step in as the two teams made their way off at the break
Angst: Referee Phil Dowd had to step in as the two teams made their way off at the break
The ageless Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, supported by 30-year-old Carrick - a combined age here of 105 - ran the show in midfield and 33-year-old Rio Ferdinand, bad back and all, smothered Suarez's bid for a triumphant return to 90-minute action.
Glen Johnson curled a shot a yard wide in the 10th minute but that was a false dawn for Liverpool who looked increasingly unlikely to check United's charge towards what they hope will be a 20th league title.

Blasted: Rooney gave the game its spark with a thunderous volley in the second half
Blasted: Rooney gave the game its spark with a thunderous volley in the second half
Scholes - will the little master be able to refuse the chance to play on for another season after enjoying days such as this? - could not believe he failed to put United in front when, after orchestrating the move, he got his head to a Giggs cross, only to see Reina make a superb reflex save.
But Reina merely delayed the inevitable. In the explosive first few minutes of the second half Rooney stamped his class, authority and utter sense of mission on the proceedings.
And there was no way back for Liverpool, who have now won only once on their last eight visits to Old Trafford.

Double trouble: Moments later Rooney slotted home from Antonio Valencia's pass
Double trouble: Moments later Rooney slotted home from Antonio Valencia's pass
United, top of the league - if only for 24 hours before City play today - should have put the issue beyond all doubt before David de Gea took off to tip over Johnson's screamer in added time.
Rooney fluffed his chance of a hat-trick when he miscued after being put through by a Scholes dummy to Valencia's pass, and Welbeck might have got the goal his display deserved when Scholes sent him racing into the left of the box.

Too little, too late: Suarez gave his side some hope with a smart strike late on
Too little, too late: Suarez gave his side some hope with a smart strike late on


The youngster blazed into the Stretford End. But the lasting impression was of a day of glory and justification for United and one of utter dismay for sorry Liverpool.

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Oh dear Whatever happened to 'Freedom of expression???
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tony, N2403, 11/02/2012 21:50 Did you take your sandwiches
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I wrote the other day that I thought it would go off all peacefully because I just couldn't believe either Evra or Swarez would be dumb enough to refuse to shake hands and not bring the whole matter to a close. Not only would the entire country be watching, but millions around the world. Whoever refused, the player and the club would get slaughtered, I just hoped, being a United supporter that Evra would not be the culprit. I did not see it from where I was sitting (top tier of the Stretford End), but having seen the replay on the Tv, Swarez is an idiot and a disgrace, but the biggest fool was Dalglish in the interview after the match in playing the victim game yet again.
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Is it now the time that, seriously, and for the good of football, that Liverpool FC is shut down permanently. Have we all just about had enough of this despicable club. It will not be missed. Lets start afresh without them and make the Premier League a better place for their absence. . Lets not forget that they wore T-shirts in support of this awful individual. Come on, get rid of them, and do it soon.
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evra and fergusin are a disgrace
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Outside were you tony? For 3/4's of the game the 3000 were the only ones heard - Chancer, Ireland, 11/2/2012-----Hey chancer, hope you are well. How about them 2 old pensioners in the United midfield today eh? Surely they were outthought, outfought, outskilled by your multi-million pound midfield, right? Or did it so happen that Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Spearing, Adam spent 90 mins. chasing 2 golden oldies all day long. It was a dreadful idea to bring Scholsey out of retirement wasn't it? You were right all along, chancer.....not!! hahahahahaha. Off you go and search for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbows, you've got more chance of that than making it as a knowledgeable football analyst!
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Dalglish just isnt the same bloke he use to be,he use to have a laugh and a joke and have banter,but these days he`s so bitter and twisted,on the defensive protecting players that dont deserve itim afraid his day has gone he left LIVERPOOL at the start of there decline and i dont see him getting them out of,he`s been out of the game far too long.
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Dalglish is an even bigger disgrace. His comments after the game showed a lack of integrity and leadership. When you defend the indefensible you shouldn't be in a position where your opinion matters.
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- SUAREZ is innocent, somewhere in the UK, 11/02/2012 20:45 You're right, I did have trouble, apparently 10 posts in 24 hrs on the same story is the limit. Got an email. But that was with one of your fellow Lfc supporters who was not being completely honest. Haven't heard from him since. He had the word " somewhere" in his address too!! Strange that.
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- funny guy, somwhere in the nordics, 11/2/2012 22:10 You certainly are a funny guy if you think Liverpool are better off than Man Utd these days
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