Manchester United and Liverpool shared the spoils at Old Trafford in today's early morning Premiership battle. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer again showed his worth to United with a typically cool finish to secure a point against their Anfield rivals after 'Pool had taken an early lead in front of the biggest crowd in the history of the Premiership, 61,592. However after 27 minutes, Berger shot 'Pool ahead from a beautifully taken free, just outside the box, threatening a first Liverpool victory at Old Trafford for 10 years. The visitors had Sammy Hyypia off the field with a cut ankle when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equalised in time added on at the end of the first half. The Norwegian boy faced star scored at the end of a move down the left, created by Irwin and Giggs.
However after 27 minutes, Berger shot 'Pool ahead from a beautifully taken free, just outside the box, threatening a first Liverpool victory at Old Trafford for 10 years. The visitors had Sammy Hyypia off the field with a cut ankle when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equalised in time added on at the end of the first half. The Norwegian boy-faced star scored at the end of a move down the left, created by Irwin and Giggs.
Michael Owen came on in the second half, and came close to taking the lead in the final quarter. In injury time, United Substitute Teddy Sheringham shot from close range but his affort was cleared by Carragher. Roy Keane was past fit, but Alex Ferguson made the surprise announcement that both Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham were out of the game leaving Dwight Yorke to partner Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up front.
The big drop occupied the thoughts of most of the other clubs in action today, but the bottom six remained unchanged with only Derby managing a win. The Rams beat Wimbledon for the first time in the Premiership, the 4-0 scoreline the result of Georgi Kinkladze's first goal since his return to English football, an effort from Malcolm Christie and the two substitutes Deon Burton and Dean Sturridge netting in the final minute.
Sheffield Wednesday were a goal down against Everton at Goodison Park when David Weir headed in Nick Barmby's corner after 33 minutes, but Alan Quinn's first senior goal for the Owls after 49 minutes earned a valuable point. Meanwhile, bottom club Watford were soon in trouble when Steve Lomas put West Ham one up after just three minutes, and then Paulo Wanchope robbed a defender to double the lead on 35 minutes. However the Hornets battled back, and Heidar Helguson gave them hope when he pulled one back after 61 minutes. The equaliser would not come, though, and it ended 2-1 to the Hammers.
Steffen Iversen returned from injury to give Tottenham a 14th-minute lead over Bradford when he headed in a Darren Anderton free-kick. The Bantams earned a point, however, when Jamie Lawrence levelled three minutes before the interval with a scuffed shot which bobbled into the net to make it 1-1.
Two goals in a minute brought a 1-1 draw at The Dell. Marian Pahars scored a brilliant solo effort after 44 minutes for Southampton, but Middlesbrough were immediately given a penalty from which Hamilton Ricard netted. Elsewhere, Newcastle's free-scoring forwards were held at St James' Park, where a diving header from Gustavo Poyet after 22 minutes gave Chelsea a 1-0 win.
The top of the Premiership table now sees Manchester United seven points clear tonight while Leeds play Coventry tomorrow. Chelsea are up to third after their victory today with Liverpool a further point back with a game in hand. At the other end of the table Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford are in the relegation zone. Derby are now two points clear with Wimbledon just a point better.
Today's Premiership Results:
Kick-off 11.30am - Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1- Full-Time – Berger(L) :27, Solskjaer(M) :45
Kick-offs 3.00pm
Derby County 4 Wimbledon 0 – Full-Time - Kinkladze(D) :65, Christie(D) :71, Burton(D) :90, Sturridge(D) :90
Everton 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1 – Full-Time – Weir(E) :33, Quinn(S) :49
Newcastle United 0 Chelsea 1- Full-Time – Poyet(C) :22
Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 1 – Full-Time – Pahars(S) :44, Ricard(M) pen :44
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Bradford City 1 – Full-Time – Iversen(T) :14, Lawrence(B) :42
Watford 1 West Ham United 2 – Full-Time – Lomas(WH) :03, Wanchope(WH) :35, Helguson(W) :61
Tomorrow's Premiership fixtures
Kick-offs 3.00pm
Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Leeds United vs Coventry City
Kick-off 4.00pm
Leicester City vs Sunderland
