Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

I think we can sum up Fergie's thinking ahead of this game as get in and out as quickly as possible, hope to snatch three points but be more than happy with one. I had expected Fergie to leave Nani out, i know some reds were less than thrilled with that decision, but Ronaldo never did anything at Anfield and neither has Nani. I didn't forget Nani's reaction to Carragher's admittedly diabolical challenge on him last season and maybe Fergie couldn't. You need to stand up tall in the heat of the battle at Anfield and that was what Fergie went for.
With our lack of real class in midfield, especially with Cleverley not quite ready, Fergie went for a mix and match engine room, with Jones enjoying a first outing there alongside Flecther and Giggs. For what Fergie was hoping to achieve, i thought it worked to an extent, especially in the first half as we contested the midfield and quietened the crowd. The problem as it was always likely to be, was we were unable to create much up front.
The big suprise of the day was the decision to leave Rooney on the bench and stick Welbeck up front on his own. With the lack of service that Welbeck received, Rooney wasn't really missing much. That said i thought Welbeck did excellently, living off scraps, as he was, he still caused the home sides defence some sticky moments.
It looked like one of those forgettable days where both sides cancel each other out, which of course was Fergie's aim. But then twenty minutes from time United gave away yet another soft goal at Anfield, we can't seem to help gifting them goals in this bad run that we are suffering there. Giggs of all people, the perpertrator as he peeld off the end of the wall to gift Gerrard the gap he needed from the free kick to give De Gea no chance.
It was pity for our young Spanish goalie because he had possibly his best game yet for the reds. He made some crucial saves, one from Suarez at the end of the first half and another excellent near the death from Jordan Henderson especially.
The goal was the cue for United to abandon the containing approach as Nani and Rooney were brought on immediately. Six minutes later Hernadez came on for Jones and Rooney was dropped deeper into midfield. At last for the first and only time in the second half United built up a little head of steam and a corner from Nani saw Welbeck glance the ball onto the incoming Hernandez who buried the header to put us level in the match.
I now expected United to go all out guns blazing in a search for the three points. It wasn't to be, it was the home side that had the chances with Rooney making one great saving header in the six yard box to salvage the point for us.
I had said before the game that i had hoped Smalling would be available for the trip and that his early season form had not been given the recognition it deserved. Well he was back yesterday and he confirmed how much we had missed him putting in a magnificent defensive display that made him our best player in my opinion. If we can get Vidic back for the derby i will feel a lot happier in the state of our defence.
I would have gladly taken the point before the game, even though it would leave City the chance to go top later in the afternoon that they duly took. City still haven't played anybody so i'm not worrying about them too much yet. Of course if they took the three points of us next week that would be a worry.
The one major disappointment for me yesterday was the way we failed to really create any chances to win the game after we had equalised. That must be partly down the lack of real quality in midfield that meant we could never really build any kind of real pressure on the home teams goal.
Ian Ladyman tweeted last night that United fans weren't taking into account that our European game this week was argubaly a bigger game. I don't know about bigger but it is big after the disappointing home draw to Basel, United could really do with taking 6 points from the home and away games to Champions league newbies Otelul Galati.

Fergie wasn't happy with the soft free kick and presumably was as unhappy with the collapse of the wall. I didn't think it was a foul, but i'm afraid you always expect to be on the wrong end of decisions when you travel there. If the wall had done the job it should have done, it wouldn't have cost us.

Henry Winter argues that yesterday's performance showed why Rooney and Welbeck must be aboard the plane bound for Poland next summer. Rooney actually did reasonably well when he dropped into midfield. I still don't see that as the position he will eventually settle into though. It was interesting to see that Fergie left Welbeck on the pitch when he started to bring his subs on and started to reshuffle the team. This shows how highly Fergie must rate him and how versatile he can be and will obviously do his chances of being on that plane any harm.


This New York Times editorial accurately describes the coalition's economic policy as a deliberate ideological choice that has failed and will fail and could well lead to a lost decade of no growth. It argues that if the Republican party has their way the US will suffer the same fate.

As if the global economy wasn't in enough trouble the Telegraph reports that those who forecast a rocky time ahead for Chinese economy may be about to be proved right. China's carefully managed soft landing turns harder by the day, threatening to deflate the torrid credit bubble of the past three years.
This FT article also argues that China might have used up most of it's heavy artillery after the 2008 crunch and as with Europe and the US seems ill equipped to deal with any further economic crisis.
The bail-outs are coming thick and fast in China reports Ambrose Evans-Pritchard as its debt spree returns to haunt the authorities.
The Economist reports on the growing links between China and Germany, the big trade surplus countries of the world economy. Will either see the light and help to rebalance the world economy.
Peter Foster claims that the reasonable aspirations of the Chinese people cannot be denied indefinitely, spending money on it's own people would be one way help internal consumption and help recailbrate the massive trade surplus it runs to the detriment of the global economy.
The Economist reports on how Chine's hallowed "non inteference" policy is coming up against hard reality of the Libyan uprising. They haven't won any friends with the Arab world with their backing for the "Violent" Assad regime in Syria either.

It does seem that Craig Murray's source on the Fox-Werrity affair was definitely onto something as the drip, drip revealtions keep on coming. This Independent on Sunday report links Werrity to Mossad and the Iranian opposition. George Monibot is unimpressed by the accountibilty of free market think tanks masquerading as charities, lobbying and given free reign on the BBC.
Most commentators have been giving Cameron warm plaudits for the way he has handled the affair to insulate himself from blame amongst the Tory right wing. I'm not sure the public will care too much about that, they will though see that they are still the same old dodgy, sleazy tories with links to organisations that won't go down with the electorate come the next election, especially if the economy carries on flat lining or even implodes if the Euro goes down.

Roy Harper interviewed in the Guardian reveals how he fought like hell to stay alive and how he feels vindicated by the new artists who claim him as an inspiration. Stormcock is a magnificent album.