Cristiano Will Always Be CR7: Three is the Magic number!! Berba Drowns Pool

THREE is the number of Champions League titles Manchester United have won.
THREE is the number of goals Dimitar Berbatov scored today.
THREE is the number of points we are taking home today.

Manchester United versus Liverpool is the biggest match in all of England. Two storied clubs, who have taken home a vulgar amount of trophies over the years. But these two clubs also have two stories. Manchester, who have been so successful in recent years have eclipsed the once-dominant Reds from Merseyside. Liverpool has struggled to find any form, combined with managerial difficulties, and a boardroom tussle over control of the club.
Pool's one-dimensional strikeforce of Fernando Torres has paralyzed the club in the last three seasons. If Torres is on, then they do well. But the Spaniard's dodgy knees have kept him off the pitch too many times to be effective. When he is out or missing in a match, the Reds have no answer.
Manchester on the other hand has many players who can score. Strikers, wingers, midfielders, and defenders. Take your pick.
Today's match was a lesson in fortitude. United giving up two soft goals in two minutes last week was unforgivable for a team that prides itself on defense. Could they hold the line in a must-win situation?
Yes.
Dimitar Berbatov, whom I've always admired for his technical skills, has been blasted by the media for being lazy, or suffering from a poor workrate. I think there is a big difference between poor workrate and finesse. If a player doesn't have to run around the pitch with his head cut off (like a certain troll who left for the wrong side of Manchester) then why should he? Berbatov has always had the quiet finesse of a ball technician. His sublime flicks, and pitch awareness mean he doesn't have to overcompensate. I would compare him with Wayne Gretzky. The Great One said during his glory years that you shouldn't have to skate around so much if you play the game right. Instead of following the puck, you go to where the puck is going to be.
Berbatov uses the same philosophy as Gretzky...feel the game and do what is needed.
Last year the Bulgarian was second in Premier League assists. I hardly think a person with that many assists could be labeled as lazy, but I don't write the columns!
Today was a great chance for Berbatov to continue his great form this season and he did just that. Rested for the Champions League tie on Tuesday, the Bulgarian seemed to blast out of the blocks at the first whistle.
United was running on all cylinders but were just unlucky not to score. Nani was spirited and paired well with Berba. With Antonio Valencia out until well into next year, the Portuguese national MUST be perfect on the wing.
Back to Berba.
In the 42' he headed home a beauty. In the 59' his bicycle kick kissed off the underside of the bar. In the 82' he headed home the winner, jumping above the aging Jamie Carragher. You would have to go way back to 1946 for the last time a United player scored a hat-trick against Liverpool.
His sparkling outing was more than satisfying to him:

"It's a magical day, special for me of course because I scored a hat-trick and we won against our rivals Liverpool. It is probably one of my best games for United but I don't want it to be my last so I will keep working and hopefully I will improve on the things I try to do. Today, everything was really happening for me. I give thanks to my team-mates who supplied me for the goals."

Sir Alex's belief in Berbatov has never wavered:
Three goals. Three points. That's all that matters.

"This season he's started off in the right fashion. His pre-season training was very good, he was good on the pre-season tour and he's carried that on. But there's never been any doubt here about the quality of the man, never any doubt. We've seen his quality again today."

A FUNNY FOOTNOTE:
I found this on RedCafe.net and had to include it in my blog. The question of how many goals United would score on Liverpool was answered by this forum member:

"It's absolutely 100% guaranteed that we'll smash them. I've never been so confident. I will literally eat my dog if we don't win. And I love Rocky, he's such a cutesy wutesy."

It looks like Rocky will live to fight again. :)