Source: Daily_Mail
Ferguson insists Mascherano should have seen red in Old Trafford battle
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Liverpool Javier Mascherano should have been sent off when he hauled down Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford.[LNB]The Argentine player gave away a penalty, from which Wayne Rooney equalised, but Ferguson believes he should have received extra punishment.[LNB]Ferguson said: 'I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I do not see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting.[LNB] Controversial: Javier Mascherano fouls Antonio Valencia to concede a penalty[LNB]'That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned.'[LNB]United won a tense match 2-1, courtesy of Park Ji'sung's second half winner.[LNB]And Ferguson told Sky: 'It was very tight and Liverpool are good at stopping youplaying, we know that because that is your strength.[LNB]'But you have got to be patient and we scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-sung, who played another vital role for us today.'[LNB]Ferguson accepted the match had not been a classic.[LNB]'I am sure it wasn't, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it - there was no-one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure,' he said.[LNB] Heading back to the top: Park Ji-sung dives in to score United's winner[LNB]Torres missed a fine late chance to snatch a point for Liverpool, and Ferguson said: 'Torres has maybe tried to burst the ball, but that was the only break we got in the game really.[LNB]'Vidic was magnificent today. We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches - but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter?[LNB]'It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams.'[LNB]Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez felt that Valencia dived to win the penalty.[LNB]'When you see the replay it is suspicious how he went to the ground,' he said.[LNB]Asked whether he thought Valencia had dived Benitez said: 'From the replay I think so.[LNB]'It is not clear but the way he fell down .... is strange.[LNB]'It made a big difference. We were playing well and had confidence and then one situation changed everything.'[LNB] Delight: Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates at the final whistle[LNB]On the game overall, he said: 'It was very tight, they did not have too many chances, and neither did we.[LNB]'With two top sides, it is always the little things which are the difference, and they were the better in these.[LNB]'After the goal, I always said it is about how you can control the game, and we could not, as we conceded early.[LNB]'In the second half, you could see Manchester United are a good team, but they did not have too many options and with a bit of luck, it could have been a draw.'[LNB]United midfielder Darren Fletcher claimed it was important that the champions dug deep to win three crucial points.[LNB]'It was a difficult game, with not much football played,' he said.[LNB]'You want to win the title with flowing football, but sometimes you have to grind out results and show character - that is what we did.'[LNB] Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1: Park Ji-sung heads champions back to the top as Liverpool suffer 10th defeat Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1: All the action as it happenedMANCHESTER UNITED FC
