FOOTBALL NEWS

23/12/2007 13:08, Report by Gemma Thompson

MUTV Online: Everton action

You can watch highlights of United's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton on your PC by signing up to MUTV Online.*

Go to Match Highlights on MUTV Online to see the action from midnight GMT on Sunday.

Alternatively, supporters in the UK and Ireland can see the match in full on MUTV. You can also see what Sir Alex and his players said in their post-match interviews.

MUTV Online

Sign-up today and you'll be able to watch hundreds of United video clips on your PC whenever you like. News, interviews, highlights, reserves, academy... there's a wealth of content to select from, with new clips added every weekday and after every match.

Monthly subscriptions are also available, by credit card or (UK only) direct debit. To find out more, go to manutd.com/video or click on MUTV Online in our menu.

*Match highlights are published at midnight UK on matchdays.

FOOTBALL NEWS

Barclays Premier League
Old Trafford, 23 December 2007

MANCHESTER UNITED 2
Ronaldo 22, 88 (pen)

EVERTON 1
Cahill 27

23/12/2007 13:04

Summary: United 2 Everton 1

Cristiano Ronaldo kept his nerve to nudge United within a point of leaders Arsenal when he stepped up to score a late winner from the penalty spot.

It was Ronaldo's sixteenth goal of the season and his second of the game. He fired the Reds in front midway through the first half when he cut inside to unleash a left-foot rocket past Everton goalkeeper and his former team-mate Tim Howard.

United's lead lasted just five minutes however - Tim Cahill equalising for Everton with a header from Steven Pienaar's left-wing cross.

Pienaar turned from hero to villain for Everton in the dying moments of the match, conceding the crucial penalty with a foul on Ryan Giggs.

Full report to follow...

United: Kuszczak, Simpson (O'Shea, 45), Brown, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick (Saha, 71), Anderson (Fletcher, 86), Giggs; Rooney, Tevez. Subs not used: Heaton, Nani.

Bookings: Rooney, Evra, Anderson.

Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Carsley, Cahill (Anichebe, 85), P Neville, Pienaar; Yakubu (Gravesen, 76), Johnson. Subs not used: Wessels, McFadden, Nuno Valente.

Bookings: Cahill, Hibbert, Pienaar.

16/12/2007 13:00, Report by Steve Bartram

Anfield star man

Carlos Tevez struck United's priceless winner, but who was the Reds' outstanding performer at Anfield in your opinion?

The Argentine's goal capped another busy performance, while strike partner Wayne Rooney gave another fine example of hold-up play as United looked to counter-attack their hosts.

Despite a booking, Patrice Evra gave another summary of his defensive tenacity and attacking prowess, patrolling the left flank with great success all afternoon.

Just as he did at Anfield, Anderson excelled against one of the Premier League's top midfielders, with Steven Gerrard's influence greatly reduced by the fine displays from the Brazilian and midfield partner Owen Hargreaves, who provided vital needle in the centre of midfield.

As ever, Rio Ferdinand shone in the Anfield cauldron, forming an impenetrable barrier with central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic.

So, who gets your vote? Have your say at www.manutd.com/polls.

16/12/2007 12:35, Report by Steve Bartram

PAGE: 3

Report: Liverpool 0 United 1

Ferdinand or Vidic always equal to their efforts.

The hosts' need to bombard forward saw gaps begin to open up, and Rooney could easily have doubled the Reds' lead with 12 minutes remaining, but he could only divert the ball wide from Ronaldo's left-wing cross.

While he may well have done better, Rooney continued to give an outstanding display of hold-up play as United ran down the clock. The game's dying embers passed without major incident, allowing Sir Alex to savour a relatively comfortable victory in his 50th match against Liverpool.

Crucially too, in this season's title race, the result saw United move nine points clear of their hosts. From three games against their predicted titles rivals so far this season, only an injury time equaliser from Arsenal's William Gallas have prevented United taking nine points.

Liverpool: Reina; Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise (Aurelio, 80); Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Babel, 66); Kuyt (Crouch, 73), Torres.
Subs not used: Itandje, Lucas.

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson (O'Shea, 90), Giggs; Rooney, Tevez (Carrick, 83).
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Saha.