Source: Telegraph
Cristiano Ronaldo magic sends Manchester United four points clear
The Ronaldo renaissance is beginning to flourish. After a relatively subdued first half of the season, the outstanding Portuguese is back to the kind of form that made him the best player in the world last year. It was all here, the ruthless pace, the sense of impending threat whenever the ball came under his control. And, of course, he scored the winner, from the penalty spot. United are now four points clear at the top of the table. Feel the fear.Ronaldo's return to form is ominous for Liverpool and Chelsea, almost as much as United's imperious defensive record. This was a 12th consecutive clean sheet in the league uncharted territory now and Edwin van der Sar has not conceded a goal in 1,205 minutes. This is a powerful and organised Everton team but they never really threatened those records.Alex Ferguson clearly believes your enemy's enemy is your friend. Everton have frustrated Liverpool at Anfield in league and cup over the last few weeks and stunted Arsenal's resurgence with a late goal last week for good measure so there was warm praise for Everton and Moyes in Ferguson's programme notes.There was only one change in the United line-up, the energetic Darren Fletcher allowing Ryan Giggs a deserved rest well, at least until the last 15 minutes. Everton's attacking pair of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini played despite injuries, David Moyes sending out an unchanged team. These two in-form sides Everton had not lost since December 7 were always going to hard, from the moment the brothers Neville barely looked each other in the eye while performing their captaincy duties. This was always going to be about how long Everton's obduracy could last and once United had warmed up, they began to create their openings. The way United had sprayed surface water onto the pitch before kick-off told you they were in the mood for some slick high-speed passing and it took little time for the champions to find their stride. Park Ji-sung had already forced Tim Howard to push his in-swinging cross around the far post when Ronaldo began to hurt Everton, strutting into the danger positions.Michael Carrick, that precise judge of the flighted pass, hit a cross-field sixty-yarder to Ronaldo whose cross was half-cleared by the retreating Joleon Lescott. Park scuffed the ball goalwards and it broke to Tevez whose close-range shot was deflected sharply over by a sprawling Howard. Tevez was bristling with threat, dropping deep and then carrying the ball with menacing directness at the Everton defence. One such run carried him deep into the box and his whipped cross was just in front of Ronaldo. The Portuguese was pulling off his left-wing post and causing all sorts of problems. First his stubbed toe poke trickled past Howard and came back off the inside of the post, then he hit one of his weird dipping shots that Howard, somewhat conservatively, tipped over. The impudence of his improvised scoop, which Carrick chested and volleyed wide, was another sign that Ronaldo is returning to last season's excellence.There was only ever going to be one man taking the penalty when Mikel Arteta caught Carrick with his trailing leg as the England midfield drove into the box. Ronaldo stuttered in his run up and hit it pretty straight, Howard diving beyond it.United should have had a second penalty just after the break.Once again it was Carrick who was fouled, Lescott cutting across the line of his run and easing him over. Mark Halsey, the referee, waved play on, much to Carrick's exasperation. The hyperactive Tevez is in fine fettle right now. His brilliant first touch from Park's cross gave him space in the area, only for the Argentina striker to smash the ball over the bar. Moments later he tried placement but his curling effort was gathered by Howard. Everton's resistance was being expertly organised by Phil Jagielka, a man deserving of Fabio Capello's attention in the forthcoming England friendly with Spain. However, they struggled to make much of an impression going forward, their neat and tidy approach work foundering on the twin rocks of Ferdinand and Vidic. Even their usual set-piece menace was subdued.