Hat-trick hero Dirk sinks United

6th Mar 2011 - Latest News

Dirk Kuyt netted a superb hat-trick as a rampant Liverpool defeated Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutch forward became the first Reds player to complete a treble in the fixture since Peter Beardsley back in 1990 as Kenny Dalglish's men put their old rivals to the sword.

Dirk Kuyt

The hosts dominated throughout a fiery clash in L4 and they took the lead on 35 minutes when Kuyt touched home from close range after some sublime approach play by Luis Suarez.

The No.18 was revelling in his role alongside the Uruguayan and doubled his tally just moments later when he took advantage of a Nani error to thump a header beyond Edwin Van der Sar.

The Reds maintained control of the proceedings after the interval and Kuyt capped what will go down as a career highlight when he showed great awareness to follow up Suarez's free-kick and fire in the rebound following a fumble from the United stopper.

The visitors did pull a goal back through substitute Javier Hernandez deep into stoppage time but it was a mere consolation on a day that belonged to the red half of Merseyside.

The victory means Liverpool move back into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League standings, six points adrift of Chelsea.

Ahead of one of English football's most anticipated encounters Dalglish made two changes from the side that lost at West Ham.

In came Fabio Aurelio at left-back while Maxi Rodriguez was tasked with patrolling the wide berth just in front of the Brazilian.

A buzz reverberated around Anfield as the news filtered through that record signing Andy Carroll was on the bench and Kopites would have also been relishing another chance to see Suarez from the start.

In the lead up to the match the Uruguayan had spoken of his desire to score against the Red Devils and he could have realised his dream inside two minutes.

A low ball into the box from Raul Meireles weaved its way into the No.7's path but his first touch failed him and Edwin Van der Sar was able to collect.
The Reds certainly had the edge in the early stages and after Maxi Rodriguez dragged a 20 yarder off target Suarez had another effort on goal - but this time he volleyed high into the

Anfield Road

end.

As the half wore on the visitors began to settle and Dimitar Berbatov came within a whisker of opening the scoring with a curling volley that clipped the outside of Pepe Reina's right-hand post.

It was shaping into an enjoyable contest for the spectator and the hosts continued to ask questions of United's makeshift central defensive partnership of Wes Brown and Chris Smalling.

A searching ball from the right by Maxi Rodriguez found the well-timed run of Raul Meireles who looped a header back across goal that Kuyt came within inches of touching beyond Van der Sar.

Dalglish would have been more than happy by what he had seen from his side in the opening 20 minutes but he was forced to make a change soon after when Fabio Aurelio pulled up with a muscle injury.

It resulted in a defensive reshuffle that saw Glen Johnson move to left-back, with Jamie Carragher on the right and Sotirios Kyrgiakos coming off the bench to partner Martin Skrtel in the centre.

It wasn't the ideal scenario for the Reds and they were almost undone just seconds after the substitution as Meireles hacked a Brown header off the line following a left-wing corner.

The arrival of the Greek did add an extra dimension to Liverpool's set piece threat however, and it was his aerial presence that caused the panic in United's defence that led to a free-kick in a dangerous position on 32 minutes.
Both Suarez and Steven Gerrard sized up the opportunity before the Uruguayan teed his skipper up to guide a cheeky, low effort towards goal that was fortuitously deflected to safety.

The energy and endeavour of Liverpool's new No.7 has made him an instant Kop favourite and he further enhanced his reputation on 35 minutes when he created the opening goal.

The former Ajax man picked the ball up on the left side of the visitors' penalty area and led three United defenders a merry dance with some exquisite close control before slipping a shot across the face of goal that Kuyt was on hand to gleefully smash home.

It was no more than the home team deserved for a spirited first-half showing and within four minutes they had doubled their advantage.
Again Suarez was involved. The forward broke into space on the right side of the area and sent a searching cross to the far post. Nani arrived to try and cut out the danger but inadvertently sent a header back across his own six yard box, allowing Kuyt to stoop and nod home the simplest of goals.
It had been an action-packed first 45 and as it edged to a close the passion and commitment of both sides threatened to boil over.
First, a melee ensued after a Carragher challenge left Nani injured before Rafael escaped with just a caution following a dangerous tackle on Lucas Leiva.

There was certainly more than enough for the sell-out crowd to discuss over the half-time brew and the majority of them would have been delighted to see Liverpool begin the second period in the ascendancy.

The ever-dangerous Suarez was at the forefront of it all, expertly juggling the ball into the feet of Meireles whose cut back was bravely gathered by Van der Sar as Gerrard looked to pounce.

Dalglish and co would have expected the league leaders to pose more of a threat as they pushed for a way back into the game and on 58 minutes they almost reduced the arrears.

A right-wing corner caused problems in the Liverpool area and when the ball was headed back across goal, Meireles was once again forced to clear from underneath his own crossbar from a Berbatov header.
Next, Ryan Giggs had a chance to mark the day he became the away side's all-time record appearance holder but he curled his 25 yard free-kick over the top.

As United pressed there was always a chance the Reds could expose the gaps in their defence and Meireles saw his shot from a tight angle palmed back into the danger area by Van der Sar but there was no-one in support to tap home the rebound.

It was a let-off for the United stopper, but he wasn't so lucky on 65 minutes when Liverpool snatched the all-important third goal of the afternoon.
Suarez fizzed a devilish free-kick towards the right-hand corner and when the ball squirmed from Van der Sar's grasp, Kuyt was on hand to complete a memorable hat-trick in front of the Kop.

It was rapidly turning into the perfect day for the Reds and on 74 minutes it got even better when Andy Carroll replaced Meireles to make his long awaited debut.
The No.9 almost turned instant provider too, nodding a cross back into the path of Kuyt who crashed a long range shot just over.
The Anfield faithful were taking great delight in goading their old rivals and a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' from the Kop would have had Alex Ferguson shifting uncomfortably in his seat, as the home side had reached such a level of comfort that they could treat Dalglish to a belated sing-song in celebration of his 60^th.

It could have been even more emphatic too, but Maxi miskicked from 18 yards while Gerrard's side footer flew inches off target.

The away team had done little to trouble Reina despite some decent spells of possession but they did pull one back deep into stoppage time when Hernandez headed home.
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