Manchester United's double dream was wrecked at Anfield, but skipper Gary
Neville insists everything is put into perspective by Alan Smith's terrible
injury.
United travel to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Sunday for the Carling Cup
final against Wigan with boss Sir Alex Ferguson demanding his team win the
trophy 'for Alan'.
Neville, talking to MUTV, hailed Smith's courage after the England
international suffered a fractured leg and dislocated ankle that will rule him
out of the World Cup and could see him sidelined for a year.
Neville said: 'Alan's injury puts it all into perspective. We didn't get the
chance to see him immediately after the game but all our thoughts are with him.
It has made what was already a bad day 10 times worse.
'Sometimes in football, things happen which just stop you in your tracks, no
matter how big the game you are playing in or what is going on around you. That
was one of those moments. It is a bad injury and we are all gutted for him.
'Alan has immense courage and he was showing it when he went to block the
free-kick. It made the whole day doubly disappointing for us.'
Smith, 25, was taken straight to hospital, having suffered some jeers and sick
chants as he lay on the pitch. But once it became obvious how bad the injury
was, the vast majority of Liverpool's 44,000 crowd stood to applaud the former
Leeds man.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez publicly offered his sympathies over the Smith
incident, and Ferguson added: 'Alan's injury is a really bad one, the worst I
have ever seen, it's a long-term injury but he knows he will have our full
support. The best thing we can do is to win the Carling Cup next week.
'I was following the flight of the ball but saw the reaction of the lads so I
knew it was a bad one.'
With no European competition or FA Cup on their schedule, United have just the
Carling Cup and a chase for the runners-up spot in the league to keep them
occupied this term.
And Neville was acutely aware of the fine margins between United and
Liverpool, with three meetings this season producing a 0-0 draw and single-goal
victories for each side on their own ground.
Neville said: The game was the same as the previous two we have had against
them this season. One or two chances created by both teams and they have won it
with a set piece, just as we won it with one at Old Trafford.
'It is desperately disappointing but we have to pick ourselves up, make sure
we finish well in the league and try to win the Carling Cup. We must not falter
like we did last season. There is still plenty for us to play for.
'We know what Liverpool's strengths are. They are a tall team and their lad
has got a header in from a corner. There has been a fine line in all our matches
with them this season.
'No team has created more than two chances and they have just come out on top
this time. We have played three matches, there have been two goals in total and
both of them have come from set pieces - not that it makes us feel any better.'
Ferguson added: 'Liverpool can play for only five minutes and win the game,
that is the way they are. They pump the ball into the box and with good set
piece delivery they keep you under pressure.
'We did not have enough height to cope with that, losing Rio Ferdinand was a
blow. You need a bit of luck in the cup and I think it went against us this
time.
'We dominated the second half, no question, but we should have done better in
the first. They had one shot on goal which was saved by Edwin Van der Sar before
their winner, and as I say they only need to play for five minutes because that
is the way they are because they keep such a tight ship at the back.'
