Kuyt hat trick gives Liverpool win over Manchester United

Football

Published: 07 Mar. 2011, 20:29

Kuyt hat trick gives Liverpool win over Manchester United

Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt, left, celebrates his third goal against Manchester United with Raul Meireles during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield in Liverpool, northern England, March 6. Liverpool won 3-1. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

LIVERPOOL, England - Dirk Kuyt scored a hat trick as Manchester United’s title challenge was dealt a major setback after a 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Kuyt put Liverpool in control late in the first half with goals in the 34th and 39th minutes before scoring his third in the 65th. The first and last goals were largely due to the outstanding play of Luis Suarez.

Substitute Javier Hernandez scored a consolation goal for the visitors in stoppage time.

With nine games remaining, Manchester United tops the standings with 60 points, but Arsenal, which has a game in hand, is second with 57.

“Dirk got three goals, he’ll get the headlines,’’ Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. “Luis Suarez played fantastically well, but the rest of them weren’t too far behind as well.

“We know it’s a good victory for us. We know Manchester United are a great benchmark but our season is not finished. We want to keep going.’’

Andy Carroll, who Liverpool signed from Newcastle in January for a record 35 million pounds ($56 million), made his debut when he came on as a 74th-minute substitute.

United has now lost back-to-back league games for the first time in two years, after its midweek loss to Chelsea.

United is tied with Liverpool for most English league titles at 18, and Liverpool would relish helping deny its bitter rival a record 19th success.

The visitors were not aided by the absence of their main central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Ferdinand is injured and Vidic suspended.

Stand-in Wes Brown was given a torrid time alongside the inexperienced Chris Smalling as Liverpool showed attacking intent from start to finish.

An injury to Fabio Aurelio forced the hosts into a defensive reshuffle, causing Sotirios Kyrgiakos to make a sooner-than-expected introduction. But the forced change did not hamper Liverpool, which took command in an eventful end to the first half.

Kuyt’s first goal came thanks to the sublime skills of Uruguayan forward Suarez, who twisted and weaved his way past four players and a string of challenges in the penalty area before squaring for the Dutch international to score his fifth Premier League goal of the campaign.

His sixth quickly followed five minutes later when Nani’s misdirected header fell perfectly for Kuyt to double his side’s lead. But both sides were fortunate to finish the half with 11 men.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher escaped with a warning for an ugly challenge on Nani in the 39th minute, which resulted in the United player being carried off on a stretcher.

United right back Rafael was lucky to stay on after a lunging attempted tackle on Lucas Leiva in the 44th minute. Dimitar Berbatov was again unfortunate when his 58th-minute header was chested off the line by Raul Meireles, before Kuyt completed his hat trick seven minutes later.

Suarez was again involved, his curling free kick was beaten away by goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar into Kuyt’s path.

And there was still time for Carroll to come off the bench and make his long-awaited debut in the 74th minute.

ESPN.com’s James Martin wrote of Kuyt: “Can there really be any doubt about Kuyt’s skill? In fairness, he didn’t have to do much on the first goal. Or the second. But the third was classic Kuyt.”

And although Hernandez reduced the deficit with a glancing header following a cross by Ryan Giggs in stoppage time, Liverpool’s victory was thoroughly deserved.

AP

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‘장미의 전쟁’ 리버풀 웃다…맨유 3-1 격파

시즌 내내 흔들리던 리버풀이 맨체스터 유나이티드를 완파하고 모처럼 명가의 저력을 과시했다. 반면 맨유는 시즌 첫 2연패를 당하면서 선두 수성에 빨간 불이 켜졌다.

리버풀은 7일 오전 영국 리버풀 안필드에서 열린 2010~2011 프리미어리그 29라운드 홈 경기에서 디르크 카윗이 해트트릭을 작성하는 원맨쇼를 펼친 데 힘입어 맨유를 3-1로 물리쳤다.

이날 승리로 리버풀은 12승6무11패로 승점 42점이 돼 볼턴(10승10무9패·승점 40)을 7위로 끌어내리고 6위로 한 계단 올라섰다. 두 경기를 덜 치른 5위 토트넘과는 5점차다.

리버풀은 지난해 9월 맨유와 첫 정규리그 맞대결에서 맛본 2-3 분패를 안방에서 통쾌하게 설욕했다.

정규리그 3패째를 안은 맨유는 승점 60(17승9무3패)에서 제자리 걸음을 하며 한 경기를 덜 치른 아스널(승점 57)의 추격권에 놓이게 됐다.

맨유는 부상으로 빠진 박지성과 ‘수비의 핵’ 리오 퍼디난드에 이어 첼시전서 퇴장을 당했던 네마냐 비디치마저 이날 경기에 결장하면서 고비를 넘지 못했다.

초반부터 파상공세로 맨유를 몰아붙이던 리버풀은 전반 34분 수아레스의 그림같은 어시스트에 이은 카윗의 선제골로 앞서 나갔다.

수아레스는 왼쪽 골문 앞에서 골키퍼 에드윈 판데르 사르까지 모두 5명을 제치는 절묘한 드리블을 한 뒤 카윗에게 내줬고 카윗이 가볍게 발을 갖다대 첫 골을 터뜨렸다.

카윗은 2분 뒤 맨유 수비수의 실책을 틈타 헤딩골 추가골을 터뜨렸고, 후반 20분엔 수아레스의 프리킥이 판데르 사르의 몸을 맞고 튀어나오자 골문으로 돌진하며 차 넣어 해트트릭을 완성했다.

맨유는 후반 추가시간 에르난데스의 헤딩골로 간신히 영패를 모면했다.