Monday 14 January 2013 12:36, UK
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on the 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford with satisfaction.
Prior to the game Ferguson had claimed their arch-rivals were so far behind United he did not know where they were in the league but, after extending the gap between themselves and eighth-placed Liverpool to 24 points, he changed his tune slightly. "Winning against Liverpool is important. It doesn't matter where you are in the league," he added. "Manchester United-Liverpool games are fantastic challenges. "They are the two most successful teams in the country. Today hopefully those three points will be very important." Despite the victory Ferguson could not resist a dig at referee Howard Webb for not awarding United a penalty when Shinji Kagawa went down in a challenge with Andre Wisdom in an incident which saw the Japan international collide and injure goalkeeper Jose Reina. "We should have had a penalty when Shinji was brought down. Howard Webb wasn't going to give us that," said the United boss, who was more complimentary about Van Persie's strike. "It was a great build-up, terrific football and a great finish."
