Source: SKY_Sports
Fergie refuses to be downbeat
Sir Alex Ferguson refused to be too downbeat despite watching his Manchester United side lose 4-1 to Liverpool at Old Trafford.[LNB] Liverpool arrived in Manchester trailing the champions by seven points but stole North West bragging rights courtesy of a fine performance on their travels.[LNB]Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty put United in control before defensive mistakes from Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra allowed Liverpool to forge ahead by half-time courtesy of efforts from Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.[LNB]It go no better for a below-par United after the interval as Vidic was sent off and Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena scored further goals for Rafa Benitez's rampant Reds.[LNB]Ferguson, though, believes his team's overall performance was not too bad as he backed his players to show a positive response in their next game.[LNB]Unfair reflection"It is a hard one to take because I thought, really, we were the better team and the score does not reflect that," Ferguson claimed.[LNB]"But of course when you win 4-1 at Old Trafford you deserve all the plaudits and you can't deny them that.[LNB]"If the league was starting today, you would take a four-point start.[LNB]"It was a bad day in terms of the goals we lost but I couldn't argue with the quality of play that much."[LNB]Response neededFerguson was willing to concede some of his players were not at their best but refused to point the finger at individuals.[LNB]"One or two players were a little bit short today in terms of what we expect of them but I do know the football was good, we kept driving on and they showed good energy, even though we only had two and a half days to prepare for the match, he added.[LNB]"Now the thing is to respond. It always is at this club - you lose a game and you respond. We always do."[LNB]
