United leave it late

Manchester United appear to have taken Brad Gilbert's book Winning Ugly literally in their attempt to lift their third successive Premiership title.

The outspoken American tennis player, now a world-renowned coach, never cared about what was said about him in terms of aesthetics as long as he won his matches. Saturday's game against Sunderland was won in similar fashion with another late goal from wonderkid Federico Macheda.

This was the second successive winner from the 17-year-old United poached from Lazio and he is already the darling of the Stretford End let alone his manager. Ferguson's team are finding it difficult to win games easily but with a one point lead and a game in hand the title is still theirs to lose.

Earlier in the day Liverpool had gone back to the top of the table following a 4-0 win over Blackburn. In what was an emotional affair, after remembering the Hillsborough tragedy when 96 fans died 20 years ago, the reds never looked in danger from the moment Torres opened the scoring with a spectacular volley.

This left United in second place and after Scholes headed them in front in the first half it appeared a routine victory was likely. However, this is currently not the Manchester United way and a tired looking set of players allowed a relegation-threatened Sunderland back into the game.

It has not been an electrifying season for Ferguson's team as they have ground out plenty of one and two-nil victories relying on a solid defence to secure the points. With Ferdinand's absence though, things look different and the once reliable back five is looking vulnerable to any team with some attacking intent.

Last week's game against Porto was a perfect case in point and they were lucky to survive with just a 2-2 scoreline. The return game against Porto is followed by the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday with Everton who are themselves in a good vein of form and if both results go the wrong way, then only the Premiership will be left.

Ferguson may well have won two European Cups but on both occasions his side won without dominating - one in injury time and the other on penalties.

However, it is not easy to knock a team that has won a League Cup and World Club Championship already and is in the semi-final of the FA Cup, quarter-final of the Champions League and is in pole position of their domestic competition ... all in the same season. Time will tell if they can come through it with flying colours but it will, as ever, be an exciting ride.