Man Utd 1-0 Everton

A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty was enough to secure a victory over sixth place Everton and move the champions five points clear at the top.

The win also re-wrote the record books as they recorded their 12th successive clean sheet in the league, as Van der Sar went 1,122 minutes without conceding a goal, eclipsing Reading keeper Steve Death’s record in 1979.

Ronaldo coolly slotted a penalty at the stroke of half time after Michael Carrick was fouled by Mikel Arteta.

Man Utd were a better side in the first half as they had plenty of chances. Tim Howard denied both Park Ji-Sung and Carlos Tevez before Ronaldo struck the post after his low drive from 20 yards beat Tim Howard.

It took 45 minutes for United to finally break Everton’s resilience after Mikel Arteta fouled Michael Carrick.

After the break, United claimed for another penalty was waved away as Michael Carrick was again fouled this time by Joleon Lescott.

Everton failed to create chances, as Carlos Tevez had chances to increase the lead. His first chance went narrowly wide before he low drive tested Howard. Arteta’s free kick from 30 yards out was held on to by Van der Sar, the Dutchman was largely untested.

As Everton tried to push on, time was running out. The away side were lacking any real cutting edge at Old Trafford today.

It wasn’t the best performance by United, but they will be still be pleased by the win with Aston Villa and Arsenal both dropping points today while Liverpool play Chelsea tomorrow.

Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 31 January Kick-off: 1730 GMT

Manchester United host sixth place Everton who after their draw with Arsenal may see key men Tim Cahill and Marouane Felliani miss out, Cahill rated by manager Moyes as major doubts for the game. The latter scored the equaliser earlier this season but both players have been on great form with Cahill playing as an emergency striker.

Man Utd on the other hand have no new injury worries as Fabio returns while Evra and Nani have a chance, the Portuguese winger the more likely of the two to at least make the bench.

Man Utd Probable Line Up

Van der Sar

Neville – Ferdinand – Vidic – O’Shea

Ronaldo – Carrick – Fletcher – Park

Berbatov – Tevez

Everton Probable Line Up

Howard

Hibbert – Jagielka – Lescott – Baines

Osman – Neville – Arteta – Pienaar

Fellaini

Anichebe

Prediction: Man Utd 1-0 Everton

After Paul Scholes chose his dream Man United XI, ManUtd24 have compiled our own eleven, choosing the best players who have played in the red shirt.

Our Team at a glance:

Schmeichel

G. Neville – Ferdinand – Bruce – Irwin

Beckham – Keane – Giggs – Ronaldo

Cantona – Van Nistelrooy

Goalkeepers:

Peter Schmeichel: Best keeper ever

1. Peter Schmeichel
Obvious choice for the goalkeeper spot. Helped United to the historic treble in 1999, and in his eight glorious years at the club, inspired Man Utd to 10 major trophies, include the Premier League which he won five times.

Defenders:

2. Gary Neville
Current captain at the club, Gary Neville has been with United since he was a schoolboy. The right back has made 375 appearances so far,  as Neville has won seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one European Cup and one League Cup in his United career.

3. Rio Ferdinand
Right now, Rio Ferdinand is one of the best centre backs in the world. After a bad start to his United career which was overshadowed after misssing his drug test, Ferdinand has grew in stature and is now recognised as a world class player. His most defining moment came in May 2008, when he captained Manchester United to their first Champions League trophy in nine years.

4. Steve Bruce
The central defender was an instrumental figure for United during his nine years at the club. In his 414 appearances for the club, he inspired the United to three Premier League titles. His partnership with Gary Pallister was dubbed by Gary Neville as the best in the club’s history. He is currently the manager of Wigan Athletic.

5. Denis Irwin
Probably the best left back to play in Man Utd colours, Denis Irwin is considered as a modern great for the Red Devils. Irwin was a consistent performer and even had an eye for goal.  He made a total of 529 appearances, where he scored 33 goals for the club.

Midfielders:

6. David Beckham
No doubt one of the most decorated footballers to ever play for the champions. Another player that was part of a very successful youth system at the club. The right sided mifielder was the best passer of the ball in the planet, and Beckham was always a threat in set pieces. I his glamorous career at the club he won 6 Premiership titles, 2 FA Cup’s and one European Cup.

Roy Keane along with Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo

7. Roy Keane
One of the most colourful football players in history, Roy Keane’s United career was full of both major achievements and controversy. Was there a better central midfielder than him? The former United captain was a highly aggresive player, but during his twelve years at the club, has won seven Premier League titles. During his Man Utd career he established himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.

8. Ryan Giggs
The Welshman broke the record for acheiving the most appearances for the club. The clubs most successful player, Giggs became the first footballer to collect 10 top division English league title medals. Those titles are just some of his career honours. He has even passed the 100 goal mark, which for a midfielder it is a rather rare feat. Giggs’ now plays deeper in central midfield instead of on the left wing as he is nearing retirement.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo
Just 23 years of age, Ronaldo has become one of United’s greatest players. He is packed with incredible enthusiasm along with great skill. The Portugese winger has become a threat to all defences worldwide, after scoring an amazing 43 goals for the club in the 2007/2008 season.

Forwards:

10. Eric Cantona
The Frenchman was superb for United during his five years at the club and despite controversy on the pitch he was still a Old Trafford great. To this day he is referred as ‘King Eric’ by United fans across the globe. He won four Premier League titles at the club, scoring 64 goals in his 144 games for the club.

11. Ruud Van Nistelrooy
He spent five years at the club, where he scored a total of 95 goals. He is considered as one of Man United’s best ever strikers, the Dutchman inspired United to three major trophies. An alleged rift with Cristiano Ronaldo ended his career in 2006.

West Brom 0-5 Man Utd

Manchester United thrashed ten men West Brom 5-0 which meant that the champions are now three points clear at the top.

The win also meant that United have broken a new record in which they went 11 games without conceding.

After the game was delayed by 30 minutes, Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after exchanging passes with Michael Carrick.

West Brom were giving a fight until Paul Robinson was sent off after a challenge on Park Ji-Sung. Carlos Tevez then took advantage of a Scott Carson mistake, after the Baggies keeper spilled the ball into the path of the Argentinian.

With a 2-0 lead, United were in control of the game. Nemanja Vidic easily heading home the third. Giggs then released Ronaldo to make it 4-0, before the Portugese winger got his second and Man United’s fifth when he converted Berbatov’s pass.

Man Utd will now play Everton at the weekend, while Chelsea and Liverpool play on Wednesday night before they face against each other on Sunday. 

Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Tuesday, 27 January Kick-off: 1945 GMT

Despite Manchester United’s injury crisis, a win will be the only thing on the Red Devils agenda.

Fabio and Welbeck are the latest names on United’s injury list, which has now moved to 12 first team players. Fletcher will play at right back, while Neville and Vidic will play in central defence. If both defenders succeed in not conceding a goal, Man Utd would break the record for going 11 games without letting in a goal.

West Brom Probable Line Up

Carson

Zuiverloon – Barnett – Pele – Robinson

Simpson – Teixeira – Valero  – Koren – Brunt

Bednar

Man Utd Probable Line Up

Van der Sar

Fletcher – Neville – Vidic – O’Shea

Ronaldo – Carrick – Scholes – Giggs

Berbatov – Tevez

Prediction: West Brom 0-1 Man Utd

1. Paul Scholes has chosen his dream Man United XI which he has made out of players he has played alongside. Even though it includes the likes of David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy, but there was no place for Cristiano Ronaldo in his eleven.

“Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be happy to hear it but he’s a substitute,” said Scholes.

Cantona also misses out, with Sheringham preferred ahead of the United legend. The team includes four current United players, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs.

The midfielder chose the following in his XI:

Schmeichel, G Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Robson, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy, Sheringham.

2. With the increasing number of names on Man Utd’s injury list with already 12 first team players out, the crisis has not been helped with the news that United’s game against Everton has been rescheduled to Saturday evening.

The match has been brought more than 48 hours forward because Everton will have to play their FA Cup replay that same week. That will now mean less time for the Red Devils injured players to recover. Rio Ferdinand and Park Ji-sung now seem unlikley to play against the Toffees as they might not get fit in time.

3. Some good news for United’s reserves, as they will be in action for the first time in a month. Two fixtures have been postponed in the past, but it unlikely todays match will be called off. Watch out for Ritchie De Laet, our latest signing making his debut, and Davide Petrucci who scored two goals for the U18′s last week. They will play Blackburn tonight at 7pm.

4. Fancy a laugh? I came across this Youtube video, and I just wanted to share it with you. Man Utd players are asked random questions…it’s sure to make laugh. Click here to see the video.