The following article is re-posted with permission from the Manchester United forum, Republik of Mancunia:

The following is an analysis of all premiership and champions league games played by Manchester United and Liverpool this season. Liverpool are sure that United are top the table by manipulating the referees. Lets see if the facts support those accusations:

Manchester United

Games Played : 32

Number of Penalties given to United* : 4 League / 0 Champions League

—— Premier League ————-

1. Ronaldo (pen) 57 – Man Utd 5-2 Tottenham

2. Ronaldo (pen) 23 – Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool

3. Ronaldo (pen) 44 – Man Utd 1-0 Everton

4. Ronaldo (pen) 60 – Man Utd 2-0 Bolton

With the exception of Everton, United won every game they were awarded a penalty against by at least 1 additional goal.

Number of Penalties given against against United*: 3 League / 0 Champions League

—— Premier League ————-

1. Murphy (pen) 18 – Fulham 2-0 United

2. Gerrard (pen) 44 – Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool

3. Geovanni (pen) 82 – Man Utd 4-3 Hull

With the exception of Hull which united won by 1 goal, every penalty given against United resulted in the team losing the match.

No Penalties awarded against against United in the Champions League.

Number of United Players Sent Off: 5

—— Premier League ————-

1. Scholes 18 min – Fulham 2-0 United

2. Rooney 89 min – Fulham 2-0 United

3. Vidic 76 min – United 1-4 Liverpool

4. Vidic 90 min – Liverpool 2-1 United

5. Ronaldo 68 min – Man City 0-1 United

With the exception of Man City, United lost every game in which a player was sent off.

Number of Opposing Players Sent Off: 2

—— Premier League ————-

1. Robinson 40 – West Brom 0-5 United

2. Wilkinson 72 – Stoke 0-1 United

Now lets look at how much Liverpool has suffered at the hands of the refs.

Liverpool

League Games Played: 33

Number of Penalties given to the Liverpool*: 8 (4 in the League / 4 in the Champions League)

—— Premier League ————-

1. Gerrard (pen) 39 vs Villa 5-0

2. Gerrard (pen) 65 vs Villa 5-0

3. Gerrard (pen) 44 vs United 1-4 (A)

4. Alonso (pen) 77 vs newcastle 1-5 (A)

—– Champions League ———–

5. Alonso (pen) 28 vs Chelsea 4-4

6. Gerrard (pen) 28 vs Real Madrid 4-0

7. Gerrard (pen) 90+5 vs Atletico Madrid 1-1

8. Gerrard (pen) 32 vs Marseille 1-2 (A)

While not so significant in the league, penalties awarded to liverpool came in very handy in tight games against Marseille and Atletico Madrid. It almost gave them the edge over Chelsea as well.

Number of Penalties given against against Liverpool*: 2

—— Premier League ————-

1. Ronaldo (pen) 23 , Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool

2. Mido (pen) 83, Wigan 1-1 Liverpool (A)

Of the two penalties against Liverpool only Mido’s cost them points.

Number of Liverpool Players Sent Off: 0

That’s right. Zero! Only Lucas has been sent off this season for Liverpool, and that was against Everton in the FA cup. 0 players sent off in the league and the champions League. Now, lets see how many players have been sent off when playing against Liverpool.

Number of Opposing Players Sent Off: 8

1. Hull 1-3 Liverpool ( Sent off Folan)

2. Liverpool 5-0 Vila ( Sent off Friedel )

3. Utd 1-4 Liverpool ( send off Vidic )

4. Liverpool 2-1 Utd ( sent off Vidic)

5. Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (sent off Lampard )

6. Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool ( sent off Adebayor )

7. Man City 2-3 Liverpool (sent off Zabelta )

8. Everton 0-2 Liverpool (sent off Cahill)

8 Players have been sent off playing against Liverpool. Of these 8 games, Liverpool won 7 Matches and drew 1 (playing away). Liverpool have played 33 games this season and almost a aquarter of the time it was against 10 men.

Footnotes

* Only penalties that have been scored have been counted. I have no stats on penalties that were awarded but not converted. If you know where to get these stats feel free to add them in this thread.

Sources for all Stats:

Manchester United – BBC Match Results

Liverpool – BBC Match Results

The above article is re-posted with permission from the Manchester United forum, Republik of Mancunia:

Also See: The Big Decision Webb and the Media Missed and this coverage of the Manchester United – Liverpool rivalry.