Tweet
Sir Alex Ferguson accused Fernando Torres of trying to con referee Howard Webb after Manchester United’s dramatic win over arch rivals Liverpool.
Dimitar Berbatov became the first United player in 64 years to score a hat-trick against Liverpool but Fergie turned on Torres, claiming he tried to get John O’Shea sent off.
Torres went down under a challenge from O’Shea, with Steven Gerrard equalising from the resulting free-kick to draw level with United.
Although Berbatov struck a dramatic winner with six minutes to go, Fergie was incensed with Torres and effectively accused the Liverpool striker of cheating.
I’ve watched it again and I have to say Torres made a meal of it,” said Fergie. “He made an absolute meal of it to get our player sent off.”
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson said: “My first thought was that it was a foul, but I don’t think O’Shea should have been sent off.”
Fergie was relieved after match-winner Berbatov’s hat-trick took his goal tally for the season to six and kept United within touching distance of leaders Chelsea at the top of the table.
Hat-trick hero Berbatov, who took home the match-ball signed by his United team-mates, said: “This was a magical day. It was a special day for me because I scored a hat-trick and we’ve beaten our big rivals.
“I didn’t see my second goal go in the net, but when I heard the crowd cheering I knew what had happened.
“After going 2-0 up, then getting pulled back to 2-2, especially against Liverpool, we knew the boss was going to be furious. But thankfully we won.”
United looked to have squandered victory when Liverpool clawed their way back on level terms with two goals from Steven Gerrard, before Berbatov struck the winner.
“It was a game we absolutely dominated and I was saying to myself it could have been 10,” said Fergie. “It could have been a cricket score, so when it looked like ending 2-2, it would have been a travesty.
“Liverpool had to depend on decisions from the linesman to get back into the game. Edwin van der Sar didn’t a save to make, Paul Scholes was controlling the tempo in midfield and we looked dangerous up front with Dimitar Berbatov and Nani.
“Berbatov was fantastic for us. He has a touch of genius about him. The second goal, an overhead kick, was unexpected, a surprise attempt. Not many of those end up in the net, but fortunately it did today.
“We’re probably now beginning to see Dimitar believe in himself. There was a lot of criticism of him last season, but that happens when players sign for United for a lot of money and aren’t scoring hat-tricks in every game.”
Hodgson said: “Sir Alex is entitled to his opinion but I prefer to talk about things that interest me. I’m not a fan of game-saying.”
Dimitar Berbatov became the first United player in 64 years to score a hat-trick against Liverpool but Fergie turned on Torres, claiming he tried to get John O’Shea sent off.
Torres went down under a challenge from O’Shea, with Steven Gerrard equalising from the resulting free-kick to draw level with United.
Although Berbatov struck a dramatic winner with six minutes to go, Fergie was incensed with Torres and effectively accused the Liverpool striker of cheating.
I’ve watched it again and I have to say Torres made a meal of it,” said Fergie. “He made an absolute meal of it to get our player sent off.”
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson said: “My first thought was that it was a foul, but I don’t think O’Shea should have been sent off.”
Fergie was relieved after match-winner Berbatov’s hat-trick took his goal tally for the season to six and kept United within touching distance of leaders Chelsea at the top of the table.
Hat-trick hero Berbatov, who took home the match-ball signed by his United team-mates, said: “This was a magical day. It was a special day for me because I scored a hat-trick and we’ve beaten our big rivals.
“I didn’t see my second goal go in the net, but when I heard the crowd cheering I knew what had happened.
“After going 2-0 up, then getting pulled back to 2-2, especially against Liverpool, we knew the boss was going to be furious. But thankfully we won.”
United looked to have squandered victory when Liverpool clawed their way back on level terms with two goals from Steven Gerrard, before Berbatov struck the winner.
“It was a game we absolutely dominated and I was saying to myself it could have been 10,” said Fergie. “It could have been a cricket score, so when it looked like ending 2-2, it would have been a travesty.
“Liverpool had to depend on decisions from the linesman to get back into the game. Edwin van der Sar didn’t a save to make, Paul Scholes was controlling the tempo in midfield and we looked dangerous up front with Dimitar Berbatov and Nani.
“Berbatov was fantastic for us. He has a touch of genius about him. The second goal, an overhead kick, was unexpected, a surprise attempt. Not many of those end up in the net, but fortunately it did today.
“We’re probably now beginning to see Dimitar believe in himself. There was a lot of criticism of him last season, but that happens when players sign for United for a lot of money and aren’t scoring hat-tricks in every game.”
Hodgson said: “Sir Alex is entitled to his opinion but I prefer to talk about things that interest me. I’m not a fan of game-saying.”
Comment