Fergie: Torres tried to get O’Shea sent off

ALEX FERGUSON last night accused Fernando Torres of simulation in an effort to have Manchester United defender John O’Shea sent off in a pulsating meeting between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.

United recovered after throwing away a two-goal lead and handing Steven Gerrard two set-pieces which the England international converted clinically.

The second Liverpool goal came from a Gerrard free-kick, awarded for a foul by O’Shea on Torres on the edge of the area and Ferguson claimed: “I’ve watched it and definitely Torres made a meal of it, to try and get a player sent off.’’

The controversy came at the end of a pulsating afternoon in which Berbatov had responded superbly to the challenge laid down by his manager.

“This is a big season for him, and it could determine the rest of his career,” Ferguson said of Berbatov. “But he’s accepted the challenge and responded in a way that has made him one of our major successes so far.

“We are probably now beginning to see Dimitar believe in himself. There was a lot of criticism of him last season, but it happens when players sign for United for a lot of money and they aren’t scoring hat-tricks in every game.

“That’s the way of the world with some players who come here, but this season he has started in the right fashion. His training has been good, he was good on the pre-season tour and he has carried it on.’’

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson claimed Torres is heading back to his best after a lacklustre start to the season. “He’s playing better, there’s no doubt about that,” Hodgson said. “I don’t think he’s really firing on all cylinders yet. He needs more time, more games, more training. But we’ll get tremendous use out of him over the course of the year.’’