Liverpool had enough opportunities to win, but not for the first time in Premiership games of this stature, lacked the cutting edge to turn dominance into a deserved victory. Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch are very good strikers, able to embarrass most defences in the league. But questions remain as to whether Liverpool’s attack has enough to transform them from a team consolidating its position in the top four, to one which can topple United and Chelsea. On the evidence of this season, only a negative conclusion can be reached. Bellamy took Nemanja Vidic to the cleaners on several occasions during the first half, but his overall performance summed up his game. On the pitch, he possesses many of the attributes Liverpool require, but ruthlessness isn’t one of them. This was shown when he over-hit a cross to Kuyt which could have led to a tap-in. Then, early in the second half, his first touch let him down when the Dutchman’s defence splitting pass sent him clear. The eventual, scuffed shot was comfortably saved by Van der Sar. Kuyt, too, can look a class above 90 per cent of the Premiership, but against some defences he needs more than mere diligence to have an impact. He’s enjoyed a successful introduction to English football and, at 25, will certainly get stronger. But it’s clear he’ll need to be part of a broader range of artillery next season rather than the main attacking weapon. Sometimes the Dutchman drifts so deep he requires a snorkel. There were times Liverpool broke without the numbers to make United pay. Sub Crouch had the best chance of all three minutes from the end. Those who felt he should head instead of control and shoot haven’t seen as many tame headers this season as the rest of us. For all the pressure they were under, Rio Ferdinand and Vidic were never inflicted with anything more than minor scars. Spells of pressure came in tantalisingly brief pockets rather than with sustained momentum, although there were numerous points in the game when you felt a goal was imminent. Such promise tended to end in a weak shot, a tame cross or a split-second delay where it mattered, allowing frantic United defenders to make a tackle. | 
