Manchester United 1-0 Everton – Premiership Live Blog – 31 January 2009

Manchester United will be trying to keep sole possession of first place this evening as they take on Everton at Old Trafford. United, at 50 points will know just before kick off if Aston Villa has equalled them on points. You can follow all the action here at Daily Soccer Blog at kick off, but in the meantime please feel free to leave any comments or predictions below.

Match Preview

This game was originally scheduled for Monday night, but was moved forward because Everton and Liverpool will go at it for the third Merseyside Derby in 10 days this Wednesday. This time it’s the FA Cup fourth round replay.

It looks like Wayne Rooney, Nani, and Patrice Evra are still out injured for United, but Fabio could be back as United are attempting to extend their streak without conceding goal in league play to 12 games. Edwin Van Der Sar hasn’t let a goal in for the last 17 hours and 12 minutes of league action. United have won their last five league games and are unbeaten in the last 11.

Everton will be with top scorer Tim Cahill (6) and Maroune Fellaini after initial doubts. Everton go into the game in sixth spot, 12 points behind Liverpool and Chelsea who are tied for third with 48. Yakubu is out for the season and surprise, surprise, Saha is also injured. Everton have won three and drew two in their last five games and are unbeaten in the last seven.

Mark Halsey will be the referee.

Line Ups

Manchester United: Van Der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Berbatov, Tevez

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown Giggs, Welbeck, Fabio da Silva, Gibson, Eckersley

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Arteta, Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill

Subs: Nash, Yobo, Castillo, Jacobsen, Rodwell, Anichebe, Gosling

Goals

Manchester United: Ronaldo (44′)

Everton:

Live Blog

90+3′ The whistle goes and this game goes into the history books as United’s 12th consecutive league game without letting in a goal. Full Time it’s Manchester United 1-0 Everton.

90+3′ Carrick takes a low, hard shot from the edge of the box that goes wide of the post.

90+2 Anichebe makes a bad tackle on Brown now and again there’s no card shown.

90+1′ Everton’s unbeaten streak is going to end unless they come up with something dramatic in the last minute.

90′ Last minute of normal time now and the ball’s in Everton’s end again. There’s going to be two minutes of added time.

89′ Wes Brown dives in for a tackle, but no yellow card.

87′ Park works his way into the box from the left side and drills a right footed shot that’s low and hard, however Howard comes out well to make the big save.

86′ The game’s still in doubt, but never the less some fans are starting to leave now.

84′ A free kick now for Giggs from the right hand corner flag. It’s whipped in and howard does well to punch it clear.

82′ Free kick for Everton from 35 yards out and it ends up as a scramble in the box. Vidic brings Lescott down for what could easily have been a penalty and Van Der Sar gathers the ball.

81′ Lescott heads it into the box, but the play is called dead for a foul on Everton.

80′ Corner kick from the left side for United. Giggs crosses and Ronaldo rises to meet it and heads it way over the bar.

79′ Berbatov to Tevez in the box and the Arentinean tries to lob it over Howard to no avail as it’s easily caught by the keeper.

78′ Everton just can’t seem to get anything going, but it still doesn’t look like a safe lead for United at the moment.

76′ It’s rumoured that Giggs will extend his contract soon for at least another season with the Red Devils.

75′ Yes, 35-year-old Giggs comes on for Darren Fletcher.

74′ Giggs in now starting to warm up for United and could see some action before this one’s over.

73′ Pienaar takes a long range shot that flies over the goal.

71′ The free kick is taken by Tevez and it bounces off the wall forcing Howard to knock it out for a corner. The corner gives Howard trouble and it’s eventually cleared.

70′ Tevez wins the ball and drives to the box only to have his shot blocked. It’s now a free kick for United right at the edge of the box.

68′ Substitution for Everton as 20-year-old Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe comes on for Fellaini.

67′ It looks like United have taken their foot off of the gas for the last 10 minutes or so, but are now starting to put some passes together.

65′ Tevez slides it in the box smartly for Berbatov, who loses a boot trying to reach it.

64′ Brown smacks the ball off of Pienaar for a corner. Carrick takes it and Everton clear it up the pitch.

63′ Ronaldo sets up Fletcher who proceeds to give the ball away to Baines.

62′ Everton are slowly turning the tide here, at least possession wise. United might need another goal to see this game through.

60′ A free kick by Arteta from about 35-40 yards out. It’s a nice low shot that beats the wall and forces Van Der Sar into a good save. It’s 18 hours and 12 minutes now since the Dutch keeper has let a league goal in.

59′ Hibbert crosses from the right wing only to have it cleared away.

58′ Everton have a bit of possession now and try a patient buildup. They get the ball as far as the edge of the box and that’s it.

56′ United’s skipper Gary Neville is off and Wes Brown makes his way onto the pitch.

55′ Wes Brown is getting ready to come on, perhaps for Neville. Tevez carries the ball into the box and his low right footed shot is covered well by Howard.

54′ Ronaldo makes a nice run to the box, but Osman is in great position to halt the run.

52′ Park crosses low from the right wing to Tevez, who blasts the ball over the bar.

51′ Cahill takes a long distance left footer and it sails wide of the net.

49′  Pienaar takes a long, hard low shot and Van Der Sar covers it well.

48′ Carrick breaks into the box again and is fouled, but no penalty this time.

47′ Free kick to Everton from about 35 yards out, but dead centre. Arteta takes it and beats the wall, but its way wide of the net.

46′ United kick off the second half and we’ll see if David Moyes brings on Anichebe at some point for some attacking power.

Half Time. United have defintely been the better of the two sides. Everton’s keeper Tim Howard has probably been his side’s best player and if he has to keep it up in the second half then United will win this one. Van Der Sar hasn’t had to make a hard save yet as Everton’s attack has been very weak. United had 56% possession in the half. There have been numerous offsides with United being caught three times and Everton four.

45+2′ The whistle goes to end the half with Man Utd up 1-0 on Ronaldo’s penalty.

45+1′ Carrick takes a long range rocket with his left foot that Howard saves, but has trouble holding on to. He covers the ball just before Berbatov pounces on it.

44′ GOAL- Man Utd 1-0 Everton -Howard makes his move and Ronaldo slams it into the middle of the net for his 14th goal in all competitions this season.

43′ Penalty Michael Carrick is tripped by Arteta in the box.

42′ Park is fouled by Baines just outside of the right side of the box for a free kick. Ronaldo takes it and it’s headed away superbly for a throw in.

41′ Some good football by Everton leads to yet another cross by Baines that’s cleared to safety.

39′ Baines crosses again from the left, but it’s cleared for a throw in.

38′ Everton are slowly getting into the game, but will need to do a lot more if they want to get out of town with any points.

35′ O’Shea’s cross is saved by Howard.

35′ Baines crosses from the left wing straight into the arms of Van Der Sar.

34′ Ronaldo works it into the box and an effort by Carrick just goes wide of the post.

33′ The ball is played into the United box, but goes straight through the legs of Fellaini.

31′ Pienaar and Baines work it into the United end well, but Everton are forced back into their own half.

29′ Park works his way into the box and earns a corner that’s taken short and eventually cleared with no harm done.

28′ Howard looks sharp and has only conceded three goals in his last nine games.

27′ Ronaldo takes a long range shot that Howard has to parry over the bar for a corner from the left side. Howard is then fouled on the corner.

27′ A long shot by Cahill is covered easily by Van Der Sar.

26′ Ronaldo takes a right footed grass cutter that bounces off of the post. As soon as Tevez touches the rebound he’s called offside.

24′ Tevez bursts into the box and crosses, but Hibbert heads it away.

23′ Carrick crosses into the box only to have it esily headed away.

21′ Park fouls Baines and it’s a free kick for Everton from the left corner. Arteta delivers, Osman flicks it on, but Van Der Sar comes out to take the ball.

20′ Baines crosses and it’s knocked out for an Everton corner. Arteta delivers it and United clear soon after.

19′ Ronaldo breaks into the clear and he’s called offside in a very close call.

17′ Tevez is looking dangerous as he sends Fletcher down the right wing, but his cross is caught by Howard.

16′ A corner for Everton from the right side is easily caught by Van Der Sar.

15′ United have the majority of possession and could be ahead already if Howard hadn’t been on his game.

14′ The corner’s taken and cleared out of harm’s way.

13′ A great ball by Ronaldo into the box falls for Tevez and it’s another great save by Howard.

12′ Hibbert makes a great tackle on Ronaldo who was breaking into space with the ball.

10′ Tevez tries to work his way into the box, but Lescott clears it

9′ Everton try another attack, but it’s offside again.

8′ Tevez shoots but it’s blocked by Jagielka.

7′ Park shoots from the right wing and keeper tim Howard does well to palm it away.

6′ Cahill shoots from long range at the edge of the box, but he’s offside. Cahill scored his 100th goal in English football last Wednesday against Arsenal.

5′ Cahill makes a nice run to the edge of the box and a cross is headed away wide for a goalkick.

3′ A free kick to United from about 30 yards out, dead centre. Ronaldo takes it and drills it straight into the wall.

2′ Ronaldo starts on the left today and the pitch looks to be in rough shape.

1′ Everton kick off and we’re on the way. The two teams drew each other in September.

Reaction

Manchester United did enough to win and win they did, even though it was by the slimmest of margins 1-0. This gives them 53 points on the season and a four point lead over second place Aston Villa and five point leads over both Chelsea and Liverpool, who play each other tomorrow. It wasn’t vintage Man United, but they had 55% possession and kept Everton at bay throughout the 90 minutes. Everton could have had a penalty, well should have had a penalty as Vidic pulled Lescott down in the box. United could also have been awarded another spot kick at the start of the second half as Carrick was brought down again. I’d actually like to see a referee have the courage to call every single penalty infraction in a game as it’s going to be the only way to stop all of this grabbing and pulling in the box. If there’s six penalties called in a game then so be it. Put the message out that this garbage won’t be tolerated anymore as it’s ruining the sport.

Everton lose for the first time in eight league games, but they seem to be a mediocre team at best with no power up front. David Moyes isn’t going to have much time to rectify this as the January transfer window is going to close very soon. They end the day still in sixth place with 37 points.

Man of the Match

Carlos Tevez showed a lot of energy as usual for United. However, if it wasn’t for ex-United goalie Tim Howard making some crucial saves for Everton this game could have been about 3-0 at least. United weren’t at their best, but they still kept Howard busy enough and the only shot to beat him was Ronaldo’s penalty.