THE INDIE
A quiet man, but, in matches like these, capable of the most eloquent statements. Paul Scholes' 500th match for Manchester United, and the decisive first goal, may elicit little more than a shrug from a man who keeps his true self hidden deep away, but for the Premiership itself it was an outcome that spoke loud.
Not so much about United whose win, adorned with a fine second goal from Rio Ferdinand, takes them to the top on goal difference, but certainly for Liverpool. They are 11 points adrift of United and Chelsea and hopelessly off the pace barely three months into a season that promised so much. Are they out of title contention? Rafael Benitez seemed to indicate not, but his post-match ramblings betrayed the pressure as another Premiership season threatens to crumple before the leaves on autumn trees.
The most chilling factor for Benitez will be the recognition that United did not have to play exceptionally well to beat their bitter old enemy, although certain individuals thrived. None more so than Scholes, whose afternoon began with a presentation to mark his 500th game for the club, a silver salver handed over by Sir Bobby Charlton that he slipped back on to the table almost as quickly as he has been known to palm off the captain's armband.
That is the way with Scholes, not one for ceremony or grandstanding, which is why they cherish him so much at Old Trafford. Asked later about the significance of the day he struggled to show anything approaching enthusiasm for much beyond the result.
"It was quite special," he said, "but if it's your 500th or your first match for United, it's a big thing. It doesn't make much difference." That might even count as hyperbole in Scholes' world; he certainly needed prising out of the changing rooms to speak about his achievement. "That was a big day for us," he said, "we had to beat Liverpool to stay up with Chelsea."
Scholes may have been surprised at how meekly those three points were handed over. It never became one of those bloodthirsty battles fuelled by hatred in the stands - even Gary Neville would have struggled to find the enthusiasm for a fist-pumping, badge-clutching salute.
Liverpool rarely turn up at Old Trafford just to lie down and die but that was distinctively their mood yesterday. Benitez said later that Scholes' first goal six minutes before the interval had been decisive, that afterwards it had "become difficult to score." He was without Craig Bellamy and there will surely be changes for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday but then he is no stranger to that, this being the 97th consecutive line-up that he has changed from the previous game.
THE TIMES
They presented paul Scholes with a silver salver before kick-off yesterday to mark his 500th appearance for Manchester United, although the midfield player barely noticed. He glanced at it, passed it straight to a club official and probably needed reminding to take it home.
Perhaps it has found use as a frisbee for the kids or a saucer for the family cat because Scholes, as we know, does not exactly revel in personal accolades. "It didn't really make much difference," he said of the milestone occasion, giving no hint of emotion in those flat Oldham vowels.
Scholes's attitude is extreme — particularly when a man-of-the-match display and the opening goal gave him plenty to smile about — but it should, perhaps, have served as an example in restraint for everyone connected with United. Any victory over their Merseyside rivals is to be joyously celebrated (over to you, Gary Neville) but it might be wise to wait until November 26, when Chelsea visit Old Trafford, before we predict with any certainty that Sir Alex Ferguson will still be matching José Mourinho stride for stride in six months' time.
Lest we forget, United's previous test against one of the top four had finished in failure against Arsenal. Yesterday they won comfortably to leapfrog Chelsea and reclaim top spot in the Barclays Premiership, but overcoming Liverpool brings nothing more than the regulation three points given the slowing — some might say reversing — in the Rafa-lution. There is no added kudos for beating a side who sit only two points ahead of Manchester City, where Stuart Pearce clings a little precariously to his job.
THE GUARDIAN
Liverpool's damage-limitation tactics merely ensured that their Premiership hopes were reduced to rubble. As Manchester United eased themselves back to the top of the table it was clear that the visitors, 11 points behind, are no nearer mounting a bid for the title. Despite their summer spending, it proves to be Sir Alex Ferguson's team who are developing a challenge to Chelsea.
As if success over Liverpool were not enough, United could relish an opener by Paul Scholes, on his 500th appearance for the club, and a spectacular clincher by Rio Ferdinand. This kind of command is rejuvenating and the veteran Ryan Giggs was to be seen capering boyishly past opponent after opponent inside the penalty area during one second-half surge.
There are no clues as to where Liverpool will discover revitalisation. Questioning of Rafael Benítez is approached tentatively, in view of achievements at Anfield and the Mestalla that have already made him one of the most prominent coaches of modern times, but you do wonder if tacticians, just like footballers, suffer from loss of form.
Travels in the Premiership keep taking Liverpool down culs-de-sac. Four consecutive away fixtures in the league have now been lost and 380 minutes have passed since they last scored a domestic goal on the road, their penalty equaliser at Sheffield United on opening day.
Dominant as United were, Liverpool kept on catching the eye in this defeat for the resounding wretchedness of their display. It was virtually an aberration that it could have been Benítez's team who opened the scoring, when an unmarked Dirk Kuyt rose to a Mark González cross after half an hour, but he bounced his header softly into the hands of Edwin van der Sar. When United bubbled with initiative it underlined just how inert Liverpool were.
As befitted a landmark occasion for the midfielder, Scholes' goal was absolutely characteristic of him. The fact that it was so familiar must also be treated as an indictment of the opposition. As he glanced a header to Wayne Rooney in the 39th minute, either Sami Hyypia or Momo Sissoko could have stuck with him but did not. When Giggs laid a cross to the edge of the area, Pepe Reina could only half-block his finish and Scholes forced the ball into the net.
Ferdinand's finish was a show-stopper. Giggs crossed from the left and Jamie Carragher's challenge on Louis Saha helped the ball on towards the far post. It was tamed by the centre-half who then cut back inside John Arne Riise before sweeping a left-foot drive across Reina and high into the net. This was a moment of euphoria, particularly since verve like that is supposed to be alien to a defender, but it probably would not have mattered if Ferdinand had perpetrated a terrible scuff.
The attendance of 75,828 was the largest ever to watch United at Old Trafford. The home fans saw a solid win, with the promise of better to come. It can only have been loyalty that stopped Liverpool followers from turning their backs.
THE TELEGRAPH
The man who hates headlines keeps making them. The man who eschews alcohol keeps being given bottles of bubbly. Silent but golden, Paul Scholes, who swept Manchester United to a richly deserved victory at a crowing Old Trafford yesterday, showed all the movement and determination, consistency and finishing lacking in an alarmingly toothless Liverpool
How fitting that on the day the Stretford End saluted the 50th anniversary of Sir Bobby Charlton's debut, United fans should revel in the 500th appearance of an heir to Charlton's rich legacy. Like Charlton in his pomp, Scholes embodies everything that is good about United: adventure, intelligence and endless application of technical excellence. If Michael Carrick is worth £18 million, Scholes must be valued at twice that.
With United's other scorer, Rio Ferdinand, dedicating his goal to his new baby who was present yesterday, the patter of tiny feet reverberated around this famous old arena. Some of Scholes' first-time passing was breathtaking, the ball guided expertly to the flanks, particularly to the left and the excellent pair of Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra.
Sir Alex Ferguson's pace-setters were well-drilled and completely in tune with their 4-4-2 formation, while Benitez's painful fixation with rotating, either personnel or tactics, again produced an 11-man orchestra in search of a conductor and a harmony.
The decision to start in 4-2-3-1 fashion was too cautious and confused, with Dirk Kuyt often too isolated in attack. At times, Kuyt would cross from the right into an empty box as colleagues laboured to support from deep. Benitez's side have too little pace to play this way.
United moved swiftly through their many gears, constantly carrying a threat to a Liverpool defence vulnerable down the flanks. Seven minutes from the break, United's dominance began to be reflected in the scoreline and Liverpool's Premiership hope started to crumble to dust.
When Gary Neville hoisted a cross over from the right, Momo Sissoko headed out but inevitably Scholes was lurking, always eager to turn scraps into a feast. He found the increasingly influential Wayne Rooney, who slipped Giggs down the left. This was vintage United, switching the ball from one flank to another, stretching opponents.
Liverpool resembled an ageing village bobby being given the runaround by a bunch of streetwise kids. Scholes met Giggs' cross, which Jose Reina did well to save but was helpless to prevent Scholes following up to celebrate this impressive landmark in a wonderful career.
In reaching 500 appearances for United, Scholes joined the illustrious company of Charlton himself, Joe Spence, Bill Foulkes, Tony Dunne, Alex Stepney, Denis Irwin, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Twelve years after scoring on his debut, Scholes is still embarrassing keepers.
The game sprinting away from them, Liverpool tried to respond, and Jermaine Pennant arrived to replace the ineffectual Mark Gonzalez. Liverpool now had a good right winger in Pennant on the left and an outstanding central midfielder in Gerrard on the right. Bizarre.