One for the Future

Defeat at Old Trafford must have been a bitter pill for Liverpool to swallow for several reasons – not least the fact that Manchester United’s late winner by Rio Ferdinand came from a disputed free kick, after Liverpool had seen Djibril Cisse squander the best chance of the game from close range.

It was a game the visitors had approached with justifiable optimism built on the solid foundation of a string of impressive victories and the ease with which they controlled the first half only served to enhance their high hopes of winning. Even a United revival in the final third of the game produced no real alarms. Until that fatal free kick.

Whilst the manner of this defeat offers absolutely no hope of consolation, the performance of Liverpool’s Mohamed Sissoko may nevertheless be regarded as grounds for considerable optimism. He looks like, moves like and is showing signs of beginning to play like one of the best midfield players the premiership has seen. Patrick Vieira. Praise indeed.