Liverpool Run Riot
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| Steven Gerrard celebrates his third goal against Aston Villa |
A fortnight ago Manchester United’s position at the top of the Premier League seemed unassailable.
Now they are just one point ahead of Liverpool after losing their last two games.
And while Manchester United are asking themselves what has happened to their season, Liverpool are enjoying a spell of unbridled success.
Liverpool have been on fireof late, scoring 13 goals in their last three games, culminating in the 5-0 pasting handed to Aston Villa on Sunday.
It seems that the Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez can afford a little understatement given the form his team is in.
"We were scoring goals but didn’t play particularly well," said Benitez, describing Sunday’s 5-0 victory.
"Someone asked me why I was not smiling during the game," Benitez continued, "it was because I wanted more goals."
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who scored his first Premiership hat-trick in the Aston Villa game, was eager to get his third goal in case his manager decided to take him off.
"You always worry if you’ll get the chance to complete the hat-trick when Rafa’s in charge," said Gerrard.
"He might take you off when you’re on two just to keep your feet on the ground," Gerrard added, meaning the manager wants to stop his players from becoming big-headed.
Benitez seemed to be keeping his feet on the ground when he summed up Liverpool’s hopes of overtaking Manchester United and winning the league for the first time since 1990.
"If United do make mistakes, we must be ready, and that means carrying on doing what we are doing and winning points," Benitez said.
And making mistakes is exactly what Manchester United have been doing.
Two United players were sent off during Saturday’s game against Fulham which Manchester United lost 2-0, and three key players are suspended for their next league game.
But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is not throwing in the towel just yet.
"If you lose games in March and April it can cost you. Fortunately we have a slender lead at the moment but not a lot and I'm hoping we come back from the internationals back to our best," said Sir Alex.
Vocabulary
unassailable 攻不破的
unbridled success 大胜/狂胜
on fire 势头强大的
culminating 达到高峰
pasting 击败
understatement 保守的说法
hat-trick 帽子戏法/一人进三球
big-headed 自大的
overtaking 超越
sent off 被罚下场
key players 关键球员
suspended 停赛
throwing in the towel 放弃
slender lead 微弱领先