MANCHESTER – Dimitar Berbatov’s first Manchester United hat-trick clinched a 3-2 win over Liverpool in the Premier League yesterday after his side threw away a two-goal lead.
The Bulgarian striker headed in the winner in the 84th minute, becoming the first United player in 64 years to score three against rivals Liverpool.
Berbatov nodded United ahead in the 42nd and sent a spectacular overhead kick past goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the 59th. But Liverpool clawed their way back into the game with captain Steven Gerrard scoring twice in a six-minute span, including one from the penalty spot.
“From thinking to myself ‘it’s going to be 10’ we ended up at 2-2,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “It was a travesty of a scoreline then — but a great result at the end.
“They (Liverpool) didn’t offer anything and depended on decisions from the linesman to get back in the game.”
United are third with 11 points after five matches, while Liverpool have five points.
“We’re disappointed but otherwise I thought we made a really good effort in the second half to get back in the game,” Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said. “Had we had a little bit more composure at the end maybe we’d have seen the game out.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea brushed aside Blackpool 4-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points. Salomon Kalou tapped home from a corner in the second minute before Florent Malouda struck from short range.
Didier Drogba’s deflected strike made it 3-0 before Malouda scored his second with a low shot just before the break.
Carlos Tevez also guided Manchester City to a comfortable 2-0 win against Wigan at a rain-soaked DW Stadium.
The Argentine striker scored the opener when he clipped the ball over Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi after Tevez had collected Joe Hart’s long punt.(AP/BBC SPORT)
