Manchester United beat Birmingham in English Premier League
MANCHESTER: Manchester United kicked off their 2009-10 English Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat of newly promoted Birmingham City whilst likely title rivals Liverpool went down 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.
Rooney claimed the only goal of the game in the 34th minute when his own header hit a post and the ball then fell for him to tap home. Michael Owen, who joined the action as a 74th minute substitute, also had the ball in the net during injury time but found himself ruled offside.
Falling behind to a goal from defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto just a minute before half-time the side from Anfield drew level in the 56th minute when Steven Gerrard scored from the penalty spot after defender Glen Johnson had been fouled as he took the ball in to the Tottenham penalty area.
But the North London side restored their lead just three minutes later when Sébastien Bassong, making his Tottenham debut after joining the club from Newcastle United in early August for a fee of £8m ($13.2m), made his way in to the Liverpool penalty area and headed a Luka Modri#263; free-kick from the right in to the net.
Three players on each side were booked, with Liverpool Assistant Manager Sammy Lee red-carded and banished to the stand with a minute of the game left. Lee had protested too loudly when referee Phil Dowd waved away Liverpool appeals for a second penalty.
On Wednesday August 19 Manchester United travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, another side promoted from the Championship at the end of the 2008-09 season, with Liverpool entertaining Stoke City at Anfield on the same night.