Quite when Nani will turn up is not clear. There is stardust in his feet, for sure. He just needs to connect them with his brain consistently. Time is running out. It might never happen. Only at Tottenham have
United looked a class apart. The five they tucked past Wigan must be discounted since it had more to do with the opposition than them.
Progress in the Champions League, where United top their group, also tells us little. The standard in the group stages points to a two-tier Europe. Only Wolfsburg would raise a smile in the Premier League and United laboured past
them. golden bot>>>
Offensively the champions were dormant until the first goal went in. Liverpool deserved the win because the endeavour was theirs when the game was in the balance. Until Fernando Torres struck, United appeared content not to lose.
The rush to judge either team should be resisted. Points are being shed liberally by the contenders, each of whom have had their dog days. For United this was arguably worse than Burnley, where they at least had multiple shots at goal. Neither of United's outstanding contributors here saw the final whistle. Paul Scholes was sacrificed in the late push for parity. Nemanja Vidic saw red for the third successive Liverpool fixture for one illegal lunge too many as he sought to bind a stretched rearguard.
Vidic had learned one thing from past experience, choosing to leave the marking of Torres to Rio Ferdinand, who was smoked by the Spaniard for the opening goal. United knees knocked whenever Torres touched the ball. He was, said Rafa BenÃtez, no more than 80 per cent fit and his selection was confirmed shortly before kick-off on the bus to the match. You can put that account down to delirium. Torres was always playing in this match.
