Updated Feb 12, 2011 3:56 PM ET Wayne Rooney savoured the sensational overhead kick that settled the Manchester derby and hailed it as the best goal of his professional career. Rooney struck in the 77th minute after David Silva's fortunate equaliser had cancelled out Nani's first-half opener for United.
It was a goal fit to win any game and the England striker said it had been an instinctive finish from Nani's cross. "I think so," Rooney told Sky Sports 1 when asked if it was the best goal of his career. "I saw it come into the box and thought 'why not?' Thankfully it finished up in the top corner. "I was trying to get in a good position for when Nani crossed it. Nine time out of 10 they go over the crossbar. Today it ended up in the top corner. "It is instinct. You don't have time to think about it." Asked when he had last scored with an overhead kick, Rooney replied: "In school I think. It's the first one since I started playing professionally." Rooney's strike ensured United bounced back after losing their unbeaten record to Wolves the week before. "It is important for the league after dropping three points last week," he added. "It is also a big game for the whole city. City have been closer to us this year and I thought it was a close game. We just created better chances and deserved to win. "It is three points, we're top of the league and we're grateful for that. "I wasn't too pleased with my overall performance today but I got a chance and thankfully managed to take it."
Updated Feb 12, 2011 6:38 PM ET Kenny Dalglish believes the midweek international action left his Liverpool side tired on Saturday.
The Reds were going for five Premier League victories on the bounce when they welcomed Wigan to Anfield. They were unable to prolong their winning run, though, as the Latics left Merseyside with a 1-1 draw. Liverpool were short of the standards they have set over recent weeks, while they were also without talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard. Dalglish admits going away with their respective countries took its toll on some of his players, preventing them from producing their best. He said: "It was a game where we started well enough, we pushed forward and scored a goal. It was a good goal by Raul [Meireles], again, and Luis [Suarez] hit the post. "You could tell that Wednesday night took a lot out of them. There was just that little bit of an edge missing. If that edge had been there I think the final pass would have been there, and there were three or four occasions in the first half when we would have been in. The sharpness was just missing a wee bit, which is understandable.
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"We are disappointed not to have taken three points, and with a bit of luck we might have done. I think Wigan, though, might have felt a wee bit aggrieved if they had left here without a point. "Luis hit the post twice, their goal is offside, but these things happen. We have to dust ourselves down and get on with it. It's not been that damaging." Dalglish is hoping his walking wounded will be available again for a European encounter with Sparta Prague on Thursday, with Daniel Agger having also missed out against the Latics. He added: "We think it will only be days rather than weeks. We have got Europa League on Thursday, so we will see how they are for that. We will take it from there." Meireles, who was forced off after edging Liverpool in front, should also be okay for continental duty after struggling with a sickness over the weekend. Dalglish said: "It was just a bug. There has been a virus floating around. He has been unfortunate that he was sick. "It was just during the first half that he didn't feel too clever. He tried to play on, but I don't think it was fair to ask him to do that."
Updated Feb 12, 2011 5:31 PM ET Wayne Rooney's sensational second-half scissor kick gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford. For over 10 months now, there have been major question marks over United's talisman, but Rooney answered back in the best possible way on Saturday by scoring a stunning overhead kick 12 minutes from time to give the hosts an eight-point cushion over their big-spending neighbours. It was tough luck on City, who were impressive for long spells, and responded to Nani's 41st-minute opener by levelling through an Edin Dzeko shot which deflected in off David Silva.
But Rooney's moment of genius was worthy of winning any game, and with City surely out of the running now, maybe it will win United the Premier League title too. Attempts from both sides to avoid inflaming what was always going to be a volatile atmosphere, even before City's startling rise up the Premier League, were breached only by a member of the Blues groundstaff, who used a social networking site to post some pretty ugly comments and also the stadium announcer, who repeatedly welcomed supporters to the "greatest football club in the world". A goalless meeting between the sides in November had prompted complaints of negativity towards Blues boss Roberto Mancini, a feeling a similarly tepid encounter with Arsenal last month only reinforced. Faced with a table that showed his team five points in arrears of their neighbours, having played a game more, this was the point of no return for City though - and Mancini went for it. City should have been ahead after only three minutes. Silva started an intricate move that also involved Micah Richards before Carlos Tevez threaded a brilliant pass through to the Spain international, leaving him completely clear deep inside the penalty area. Edwin van der Sar advanced quickly, forcing Silva to make an instant decision, the former Valencia star turning in anguish as his delicate prod rolled just wide of the far post.
Man United 2-1 Man City | Recap
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Even at that early stage, Mancini must have wondered whether another such opportunity would come. Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov both went close as the visitors continued to press. But City could not get a clear sight of the United goal. Not that their hosts were doing much in return. It took them almost 35 minutes to force Hart into a meaningful save, Darren Fletcher climbing to reach Ryan Giggs' curling cross and though the Scot's header was firm enough, it lacked power. Nani had been a peripheral figure up to that point. He did serve notice of his intentions shortly afterwards though as he fired over from the edge of the area. Having done so well, City would have been cursing at the manner in which they were opened up. One long ball from Van der Sar, which Rooney flicked on to Giggs. A neat pass from the Welshman and Nani was in, his first touch taking him away from Pablo Zabaleta before he steadied himself, then beat Hart with clinical ease. City must have spent the interval cursing at the injustice of it all. They were the ones who continued to press after the restart, although it was not until Mancini had called Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dzeko off the bench that they got their equaliser. Even Mancini would admit it took his side a huge slice of luck to drag themselves back into it, with the substitutes combining at the start. Dzeko's shot from Wright-Phillips' cross was going well wide of the goal when it struck Silva on the back, the deflection leaving Van der Sar totally helpless. It looked like City would grab a winner, with Dzeko causing huge problems inside the United area. But the inspirational figure was wearing red. For so long now, there have been questions about Rooney's form. There can be none now, not after he met Nani's cross with a jaw-dropping overhead kick that sent the ball into the far corner, Hart rooted to the spot.
Updated Feb 12, 2011 6:02 AM ET Paul Scholes has admitted Manchester City will have to win something before he automatically thinks of them as Premier League title rivals.
Man United 2-1 Man City | Recap
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Thanks to the huge influx of cash from Sheikh Mansour, City are now scrapping it out at the top of the table, along with United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Yet the bookmakers still make them fourth favourites to claim their first championship since 1968 and for all the improvements made by the Eastlands outfit, Arsenal and Chelsea are the two clubs that spring into Scholes' mind as he assesses the challenge that lies ahead. "They are definitely getting closer," said the former England star. "Whether they are alongside Chelsea and Arsenal yet I am not sure. They would probably have to win something to become main rivals. "But I am sure this year they will be fighting for it and the same will be true in years to come with more improvement." What is also true is derby day has taken on a different meaning. Whilst clashes with City have always been a stepping stone towards a bigger prize for their neighbours, the Blues tended to build the success of their entire season around such matches. That situation no longer remains the same, with both clubs not only anxious to gain local pride, but also to collect points in their quest for ultimate glory.
"It is more than local pride now," he said. "We are both going for trophies and we are both main rivals for trophies. "Years ago, they were in the bottom half of the league, or not even in it, and we were always red-hot favourites. "Even then it didn't necessarily mean we were going to win, as results proved. "And they have better quality players now, which just makes matches against City even more interesting."
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its amazing the straws that city fans will clutch to in order to soothe their anguish and despair..... halnone u can forget silverware this year and those 3 yr might pass sooner than u think
Scholes is correct. City will get some this year Europa league or FA cup. This game should have been a draw. How did Silva miss that first goal. Oh well being by that incredible Rooney goal is bearable.
This table shows the longest time each club in the league has gone without winning something
Liverpool.................24 years
Everton..................24 years
Tottenham..............30 years
Man City.................34 years
Aston Villa...............37 years
Sunderland..............37 years
Man Utd..................37 years
Newcastle...............41 years
Wolves...................41 years
West Brom..............42 years
Arsenal...................44 years
Bolton....................49 years
Chelsea..................50 years
Blackpool................66 years
Blackburn................67 years
West Ham...............69 years
Wigan....................78 years
Birmingham..............88 years
Stoke....................109 years
Fulham...................131 years
devilfan88
How can Manchester be red when there aren't any United fans in Manchester?? If you didn't hear what the city fans were chanting all game, this is what they were saying
"f*ck off back to London, this city is ours!"
Has truth to it.
In 76,
This is true,
A Trophy was won by a team in blue,
It's been a long time, since the day,
So we'll sing a song,
That they f*cking hate,
34 years,
(f*ck all)
34 years,
Updated Feb 12, 2011 11:43 AM ET Carlo Ancelotti has admitted Chelsea are all but out of the Premier League title race as he prepares to field David Luiz at Fulham on Monday. Ancelotti will give a full debut to £25million defender Luiz at Craven Cottage, having blooded £50million striker Fernando Torres last week against former club Liverpool.
Man United 2-1 Man City | Recap
Arsenal 2-0 Wolverhampton | Recap
Liverpool 1-1 Wigan Athletic | Recap
Blackburn 0-0 Newcastle | Recap
West Brom 3-3 West Ham | Recap
Birmingham 1-0 Stoke City | Recap
Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa | Recap
Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham | Recap
But despite boasting such world-class reinforcements, Ancelotti appears to have accepted a Champions League place is the best he can hope for in the Premier League. The Blues failed to sustain a bright start to the season and a series of poor results have left them fourth in the standings and 10 points adrift of Manchester United. "For us it is difficult to think we can come back to fight for the title. It is better for us to think game by game," he said. "We have to reach fourth place in the table, minimum. It is better to think game by game because to close the gap is very difficult. "We must be honest, the most important step is to reach fourth place and we have to fight with other teams (to do that). "The surprise was that the bad moment we experienced was too long." Luiz, meanwhile, is looking forward to being part of the star-studded Chelsea dressing room and believes it will help him grow as a player. Ancelotti already rates the January recruit from Benfica enough to spend heavily on him, but the Brazil defender believes there is plenty to learn from his new team-mates. One of those is, of course, Torres, whose record move from Liverpool somewhat overshadowed the Luiz deal. Luiz is used to strikers getting the lion's share of the publicity and is happy to be sharpening his defensive skills alongside an attacking group that also includes Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda. "Usually it is the strikers who get the spotlight because they bring the joy and the goals to clubs," he said.
"I'm just happy to be here to help Chelsea conquer their aims and be successful. I want to become a better player. "It is certainly easier to play alongside them in training; I had the privilege to play against Torres when I was at Benfica and it was much harder. "I can only learn from the best and it is a great pleasure to play alongside great players." Another Blues icon Luiz is hoping to strike a partnership with is captain John Terry. Luiz is expected to start alongside the England man in central defence on Monday and he is simply pleased to at the same club. He continued: "Football in general admires John Terry, not just me. He is an amazing player who has won a lot. I would like to learn from John Terry and have the same success he has had for many years."