Keep it simple, lads

Manchester United 3, Liverpool 2

Berbatov calls on team-mates to make most of superiority

Hat–trick hero Dimitar Berbatov has pleaded with his Manchester United team–mates to stop making things so complicated.

Berbatov came to United's rescue at Old Trafford yesterday, scoring the dramatic late winner – and becoming the first man to score a hat–trick against their old rivals since 1946 – to seal a 3–2 win over Liverpool.

Yet the heroics would not have been necessary if United had retained the two–goal cushion Berbatov had given them. Instead, Steven Gerrard scored twice – the first from the penalty spot after Fernando Torres was felled by Jonny Evans – to pull the Merseyside outfit level.

Given United threw away a two–goal advantage at Everton in injury–time the previous week and contrived to draw a game they thought was won at Fulham last month, Berbatov believes it is time his team–mates started to learn a few lessons.

"Let us hope in the future we won't complicate it so much," he said. "We have to keep working and improving on that.

"There is a long way ahead of us, but hopefully in the end we will be on top."