Liverpool's title chances took a blow against Manchester United at Anfield - but what did Sir Alex and Rafa have to say about the encounter?

Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United

"It was a typical United v Liverpool game. The crowd creates such a noise it is difficult for the referee. It's not about playing flowing football, it's about winning the game. I said before the game that the games between the top sides will be important so it's great for us. It's going to be a long struggle and fight throughout the season but if we get to New Year's Day top or around there we have an outstanding chance of staying there." Sir Alex Ferguson

"We had our chances and didn't take them. They had just one, and that was the difference. In the second half we saw they were compact, working hard in defence, trying to play the counter. In the second half we had two or three chances and for me, that was the difference. When you play United you know you cannot create a lot. We knew we needed to win this game if we wanted to be closer. There is a long way to go in the season - we just have to keep going." Rafael Benitez

Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

"It was very important, the perfect response. If you lose a match and then lose the next match at home, it can undermine your confidence, so I am delighted with the spirit we showed. The first half was a bit locked tactically but the goal from William Gallas changed the game. We had four or five counter-attacks and opportunities to score after that but when you don't do that, it gets harder. But in the end I think we deserved the three points." Arsene Wenger

"We deserved more out of the game. But there is only six points in it and that is nothing at this stage of the season. I think if we carry on playing like this we can pick up the six points. It won't be easy but Arsenal had all their best players back from injury today and we still had players missing, but there wasn't much difference between us." Avram Grant

Wigan Athletic 5-3 Blackburn Rovers

"Last words I said to them yesterday were, 'We can't concede three goals and win a football match - it's impossible'. That's what we've been conceding, unfortunately, and we've done it again today. The first half, apart from the last 10 seconds of the three minutes added on, was the complete performance from us. We were right up for the challenge and certainly blew Blackburn away in the first half." Steve Bruce

"First half wasn't acceptable. Defensively, we were all over the place. We were in a situation 3-0 down where the game looked beyond us. Roque's goal on the stroke of half-time obviously helped. We got them in the dressing room at half-time, addressed a few things and I wanted a response in the second half and that's certainly what I got. We showed great qualities, real determination to get back into a game that really should have been beyond us." Mark Hughes

Manchester City 4-2 Bolton Wanderers

"Rolando [Bianchi] has behaved extremely well. He has not played many games for us but he has always worked hard in training and does what he is supposed to do. He always has a smile on his face and today he scored an important goal. It is more difficult for strikers coming into the Premier League. They are not used to the pace or the strength of the central defenders." Sven-Goran Eriksson

"We have chucked four goals away. Andy O'Brien is not Bobby Moore or Franz Beckenbauer but we certainly miss him. And if we miss him that much, someone either needs to step up to the plate or we need to bring someone in from outside." Gary Megson

Portsmouth 0-1 Tottenham

"We have to recognise it was a success for the whole team, not just one player. We had chances earlier to kill the game and did not take them. Berbatov had one or two. I'm very happy because it is important to win two matches in a row and it is a path we must continue to follow. Michael Dawson had to go to hospital before the game with problems in his head. We think it is a migraine." Juande Ramos

"We just didn't get started today. It's got to be our worst performance of the season. And we got what we deserved - which was nothing. To be fair, I always thought it was a dangerous game. If you look at Tottenham's squad there is a lot of quality there. They are the one team who should be pushing to get into the top four if anyone can." Harry Redknapp

West Ham 0-2 Everton

"We've had two tight games with Everton but they've been closer than the scores suggest. I think Everton's first goal on the stroke of half-time was a blow. But the second half, we gave it our best shot but didn't have the quality to break them down," Alan Curbishley

"You feel [Yakubu] is going to score, he played really well today. He held the ball up well and let people get around him and always looked a threat. It's great for [Andy Johnson]. He is ready to play now, we have got Yak and we have got others and I am looking forward to getting Victor [Anichebe] and [James Vaughan] playing now as well." David Moyes

Derby County 0-1 Middlesbrough

"[Tuncay] gives us incredible enthusiasm and energy. He took on an effort that two weeks ago he probably wouldn't have done because of his confidence. But after scoring two in two coming into this game he has now settled and he has a rapport with the fans who can see the effort he is putting in." Gareth Southgate

"It's tough when you're at the bottom of the League. But in the three games since I have been here, and that's all I can judge the players on, they certainly have not lacked in effort. We are, though, lacking in quality in all areas, and that's not a slight on the players, that's a fact because the League table tells you that." Paul Jewell

Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa

"It's the Sunderland fans I feel sorry for - they deserve better. It sums up [the referee's] day. He was giving everything against us and to say we're disappointed would be an unbelievable understatement. You could sense he was waiting to blow his whistle. It would be nice to see him later." Roy Keane on Danny Collins' disallowed goal

"They may feel aggrieved but I think it was a foul. And if you told me we didn't deserve something from the game then I'd take issue with you. We were terrific. We showed plenty of resilience and character and were full value for the result away from home." Martin O'Neill

Birmingham 1-1 Reading

"It was a decent performance but I think we know that we should have taken the three points. We made a great start but despite how many chances we created we just couldn't get the ball in the net after our first goal. The equaliser was a calamity and the player knows that next time he should put the ball in the stand." Alex McLeish

"The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned. But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye." Steve Coppell

Fulham 0-1 Newcastle

"Not the prettiest of games but dogged and resilient. A few opportunities came along few and far between but good ones. I don't think there was much doubt about the penalty but Joey Barton stepped up and put it in the corner for three valuable points. Joey Barton was the one who wanted it and thought he could score and that's what he did." Sam Allardyce

"The first half wasn't much of a game but we came out and dominated and controlled it. I thought we were by far and away the better team and going into the last 15 minutes Sam Allardyce wanted a draw, but I wanted a win. It's a cruel defeat for us. We're in the bottom three now and we have got to beat Wigan now." Lawrie Sanchez

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