“They came for a 1-0 win and they got it, although in fairness we didn’t create enough chances.”Despite that admission, Ferguson insisted there had been little wrong with United’s overall performance. “We played really well, with commitment, drive and determination, and yet we lost the game You just can’t blame the players Sometimes these things happen in football.”. Around the globe last night Manchester United fans were fiddling with their Apple Macs, their Compaqs and their Toshibas, and cursing Bill Gates There must be a glitch in the system they thought Manchester United are losing. As they watched the first Premiership match to be broadcast on the internet in its entirety, the Liverpool virus infected Old Trafford and closed down United’s operating system. Having nullified Ruud van Nistelrooy they achieved their fifth successive victory over the champions with an 82nd-minute goal from Danny Murphy.

Those same supporters who cheered when Murphy was substituted at Anfield on Saturday were last night singing his name.Though Liverpool’s failure to beat Southampton on Saturday highlighted an intrinsic problem when needing to break opponents down, this match confirmed their resilience and reminded us of their quality. Certainly, any team that has Nicolas Anelka on the bench cannot be written off and his arrival, 14 minutes from time, changed the match. United were just building up a head of steam when he came on and, within a minute, forced the first real test of Fabien Barthez. He was also involved in the build-up to Liverpool’s goal, neatly chipped in by Murphy from Gerrard’s pass.

United’s failure to break Liverpool down will, at least, have given succour to one man. The pre-match reception Diego Forlan received will have convinced the Uruguayan he chose the right club. The £7.5m signing from the Argentinian club Independiente may then have wondered, as he saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer relegated to the bench despite 10 goals from 14 starts, how he was to win a place. He discovered that even this team of talents needs something extra every now and again.United’s blank, after 28 goals in nine games, was down to St?ane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia. The pair stuck so doggedly to Van Nistelrooy there was never any chance of the Dutchman making it 10 goalscoring matches in a row. Instead of leaving a mark on the scoresheet he became so frustrated he left one on Jerzy Dudek. Blocked again as he chased a through ball seven minutes into the second period he appeared to kick recklessly at the ball and caught Dudek on the thigh as the goalkeeper gathered.