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Liverpool, in 'gay-er' times
Champions Manchester United crushed 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford in a controversial north-west derby.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with the victory on an important weekend in the title race.
Ferguson felt the decision to send off Mascherano had cost Liverpool but his side were deserved winners.
'I know they had 10 men in the second half, but we played some very good football throughout, particularly in the first period with our attention, to pass and move,' he said.
'We could have been three up in the first half, with a couple of one-v-ones, and then we were deservedly in front.
'Then came the sending-off. The boy had already been booked and dissent is dissent, I feel he should not have got involved.
'He had run from centre midfield to get involved with the referee. And with things that happened in the week with the Ashley Cole incident, there is now a focus on dissent.'
Wes Brown had scored his first goal of the season - and only the third of his career - to give United control at the break, before Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani netted inside the last 11 minutes as Liverpool tired.
But in a week which has seen football infuriated by Chelsea's Ashley Cole's escape from dissent aimed at referee Mike Riley, it was hardly surprising Bennett was having none of the same.
Cole should have been sent off at Tottenham in midweek - and Mascherano felt the backlash.
The midfielder had been snipping away at Bennett throughout the first period, ably assisted by Fernando Torres.
If television viewers could see the dismissal coming, Mascherano could not.
Torres had been booked for arguing seconds earlier, so when the midfielder continued the debate there was going to be only one winner. Mascherano was incensed, and had to be virtually pulled off the pitch.
Ferguson added: 'It was a brave header from Brown for the first one, he doesn't get many but that was excellent. In the end we controlled the match and we were the better team, that is the real key.
'We started to get the breaks, Ronaldo could have had a hat-trick, Wayne Rooney could also have had a hat-trick, they both had one-on-one chances with the goalkeeper.
'In the end we should have finished them off earlier. On the day, once we had the second goal that was it. I feel that 3-0 was not a flattering score, we could have got more.
'It was good to play like that and beat our biggest rivals, we did our job and have three more points and a good goal difference.'
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Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
