A nice play from Chris Smalling prevented another Liverpool chance. Luis Suárez poked a ball through United's defense, finding Kuyt making a run behind Wes Brown. But Smalling did well to track Kuyt, and by the time the Dutcman tried to turn toward goal, the young United defender was there to break-up the chance.
Liverpool Vs. Manchester United: Sides Exchanging Chances Half Way Through First Period
Two minutes later (in the 16th minute), Manchester United finally gave Liverpool a scare. A bouncing ball found Dimitar Berbatov 20 yards from goal. The Bulgarian, even with the right post, hit it first time, the ball just below waist high, putting a shot toward the far post. Berbatov had carried his foot through the right side of the ball, sending the ball curling in to Pepe Reina's far post. The shot hit the upright and went out of a goal kick.
The next chance was Liverpool's. In the 18th minute, Suárez had again dropped back from his striker's position, this time deep on the right flank, at the edge of the attacking third. While he did this, Raul Meireles was looping through midfield, headed toward the far post. Suárez found the Portuguese midfielder, now making a habit of coming from wide to test United's center defense. He met the ball at the edge of the six, but rather than put the ball on goal, Meireles headed down for Dirk Kuyt, just out of the reach of his teammate.
In one of the first tactical changes of the match, we see Meireles and Maxi Rodríguez have switched sides, Maxi now on his natural right. With Liverpool having the slightly better of play, it’s still 0-0, now in the 21st minute.
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