Manchester United implode for the second time in succession whilst Liverpool scent blood in the Premiership title race

SOMEBODY is cracking up in the Premier League and it is not Rafael Benitez. For the second Saturday in succession, Manchester United imploded, this time losing 2-0 at Fulham, to leave Liverpool scenting blood in the title race. Also for a successive weekend Sir Alex Ferguson’s team lost on-field discipline and finished a match without 11 men. At opposite ends of a remarkable match Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were shown red cards by Phil Dowd, the referee, with Rooney’s sending-off causing his manager to complain furiously.

Chelsea suffered a surprise defeat by Tottenham to pass up the chance to close ground on United but Liverpool will move to within a single point of the champions should they beat Aston Villa at Anfield this afternoon. United’s lead was seven points just eight days ago but yesterday’s defeat, after last Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Liverpool, has put them under pressure. It is the first time in almost four years that Ferguson’s side have suffered consecutive league defeats and arguably United’s most seismic loss of form since losing 5-1 and 6-3 in successive games against Newcastle and Southampton in 1996-97.

Scholes was ordered off for deliberately handling a header from Bobby Zamora on the goalline and Danny Murphy put Fulham ahead from the spot. Then, after Zoltan Gera made it 2-0 in the 85th minute, Rooney, already cautioned, was booked again for dissent after Dowd ordered a quickly-worked free kick to be retaken. Rooney, right, threw the ball back towards the official. After protesting against his red card furiously Rooney showed even further dissent when he punched a corner flag on his way off.

Ferguson prevented his players from surrounding Dowd at full-time but attacked the referee in his post-match interview. Of Scholes’ red card he said. “It was close to him and he could have easily got out of it but it’s Phil Dowd so what do you expect?” Regarding Rooney, Ferguson said: “The first thing I’d say is, ‘Did he throw the ball at the ref? The ball was thrown directly to where the kick was to be taken. Did it hit the ref? No. Did he throw the ball in anger? Yes, because he wanted the game hurried up.”

Ferguson did not excuse his side’s performance, admitting: “We didn’t play well enough in the first half to win.” Even if Liverpool win today, United will have a game in hand. “Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment. We hope to go away on the international break and come back, back to our best,” Ferguson said.

- Times Online