By Myles Palmer
Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1
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Ruud van Nistelrooy was the classiest player on the Cardiff pitch, even though he stuttered all through the game. He will be tremendous, and soon.
However, yesterday’s Charity Shield proved that Paul Scholes is NOT a good partner for him.I did not predict that Fergie would pair those two, but I did say that this is what I would do if I was the manager.
But Scholes-van Nistelrooy did not work.Cole should play with him.
Ruud is class, a fabulous footballer. He’s so good that it is worrying for Arsenal supporters.Fortunately, the United defence looks shaky these days.
Ruud, as I always suspected, is a better all-round footballer than any of United’s recent strikers. He is as brainy as Sheringham, but has pace.He has a sounder character than Yorke.He is good off the ball as well as on on it.He is much more skilful than Andy Cole.
He doesn’t have a flawless first touch like Bergkamp, and he cannot be a playmaker in the same way, but he can feed runners in ensemble moves, so he was a suitable player for Fergie to buy.And he is a better dribbler than Bergkamp.
I hate to say it but when Ruud van Nistelrocket sharpens up he will score hat-tricks.
I always fancied him at PSV and after seeing the supercool way he stayed onside, and buried that goal to bring it back to 2-1 after 50 minutes, I’m even more impressed.He is quality.
Two early mistakes gave Liverpool two goals in the first 15. Roy Keane tripped Danny Murphy in the box after 50 seconds – a very careless challenge.McAllister converted the penalty.
Then a long ball down the middle, Heskey jumped, got a flick-on according to studio guest George Graham, the ball bounced, Stam slipped, and Owen turned centreback Gary Neville inside out before making it 2-0.
I did not see the game live on Sky. I watched a tape after the BBC car dropped me back home from Marylebone High Street, where I did some pre-publicity for The Professor, my forthcoming book about Arsene Wenger.
It was strangely comforting to be back in the building where I once worked for Radio Times.
Tom Watt, the super-energetic, friendly host on London Live, bowled me a few googlies.
I wound up telling Tom that Arsene would sign next week, and that Vieira would go at the end of next season unless Arsenal won the Champions League, which is easier to win than the Premiership.
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LIVERPOOL(4-4-2): Westerveld; Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise (Carragher, 83);Murphy (Berger, 71), McAllister, Hamann, Barmby (Biscan, 71); Heskey, Owen.
MAN UTD (4-4-1-1): Barthez; Irwin,G Neville, Stam, Silvestre; Beckham,Keane,Butt(Yorke, 65), Giggs; Scholes; Van Nistelrooy.
Referee: A D’Urso (Billericay).
Yellow cards:Murphy, Hamann, Scholes.
12th August 2001.