Sir Alex Demands A Response

Sir Alex Ferguson rued defensive errors against Liverpool, but refused to castigate Nemanja Vidic and says his side will now do one thing: respond.

United have become accustomed to having things their own way at Old Trafford this season, so defeat – and 4-1 to our fiercest rivals – sticks in the throat. “It’s difficult to defend a 4-1 defeat. We got in front and then threw the game away. It’s a hard one to take,” admitted the boss. “But at this club it’s always about how you respond. When you lose a game: respond. And that is what we will do.”

Vidic made an error for Liverpool’s first goal, and his second-half sending off for a foul on Steven Gerrard led to their third goal on the way to an embarrassing scoreline. But Sir Alex didn't stick the boot in. “Nemanja has been unbelievably consistent for us this season. Players do have off days, and he’s made a mistake. He’s a human being, all players make mistakes. It’s just a costly one for us.”

The United boss didn’t have any complaints about the Serbian’s sending off. “It looked as if he [Gerrard] was clear to have a shot at goal. Whether Rio could have got across, I don’t know. I couldn't really argue with the decision. We’d have been looking for a red card if it was against us.

“It was one of those days, we made uncharacteristic mistakes. In big games you don’t want to do that. If you see the consistency of our defending over the last two years, you don’t expect it. If you win 4-1 at Old Trafford you deserve the plaudits, you can’t deny Liverpool that.

“But if the league was starting today, you’d take a four-point advantage with a game in hand. The goal difference is narrowed, it’s only five goals now. It was a bad day, but we have to kick on."