I write this article outside what would normally be a rather quaint pub in the beautiful Paris suburb of Bercy, some 13 kilometres south of La Stade de France—where England will contest tonight’s Rugby World Cup Final against South Africa.
At the moment, I've just enjoyed the rather surreal experience of watching the Merseyside Derby some 1,000 kilometres away from L4—where Liverpool have walked away with a highly controversial victory.
Four penalties and two red cards—normal service resumed on Derby day!
It's no secret that I've implored Liverpool to win "ugly" in recent weeks—and that's exactly what they did today. The win was essential after the Reds' recent run of disappointing results.
Everton were the busier side in the first half, pushing Liverpool back without necessarily creating any real chances. Liverpool started brightly, but they were unable to maintain any pressure with Dirk Kuyt isolated up front whilst Voronin laboured out of position on the right side.
The home team deservedly led at the break after an own goal by Sami Hyppia.
I mentioned in this space a few weeks ago that the Finn was struggling, and I'm afraid to say today was no different.
You would have expected Benitez to make changes after so tepid a first-half performance, but the second period started off just as the first had ended.
The tone changed, though, when a Liverpool counter-attack from an Everton corner left Steven Gerrard in the clear—where he was pulled down by Tony Hibbert just inside the area.
Referee Mark Clattenberg showed Hibbert the red card with some prompting from the Liverpool captain, this on a day when Liverpool’s back-chat—from Carragher in particular—made a mockery of those Liverpool fans who have been so quick to condemn the behaviour of other clubs.
Kuyt slotted home the ensuing penalty, which should have given Liverpool all the momentum they needed.
But, as is so often the case, Benitez’s conservatism nearly cost his club.
Even against 10 men—in a game the Reds absolutely needed to win—Rafa employed two defensive midfielders. Not exactly the work of a manager intent on winning a championship.
Everton nearly earned a penalty of their own when Steve Finnan seemed to pull the shirt of Joleon Lescott, but Clattenberg waved the protests away. Benitez responded by bringing on Ryan Babel for Yossi Benayoun, who had been Liverpool’s most creative player.
The move was a stunning one—and the Liverpool faithful could only have been more perplexed by the manger's subsequent decision to replace Gerrard with Lucas, the young Brazilian.
In the end, though, the club survived these bizarre substitutions.
In injury time, a shot from Lucas off a Pennant cross was acrobatically saved on the line by left back Phil Neville—an automatic red card and another penalty for Liverpool.
Kuyt converted again to seemingly seal the points for the Reds—but Everton rallied to create the game’s biggest controversy, when Lescott was pulled down by Carragher in the waning seconds.
To the disbelief of the home crowd, Clattenberg again denied the protests...and promptly blew the whistle to end proceedings.
Drama aside, Everton have again been denied by the "Big Four" at home, and Liverpool’s disjointed form continues—albeit with three vital points.
All told, it wasn't a glorious day for Liverpool Football Club. The churlish behaviour of a senior player and the bizarre decisions of their manager were nothing to smile about.
The club won, but it was in spite of—not because of—their best efforts.
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11 months ago
Yes..yes i gotta set my tone against Liverpool. They're playing rubbish and kid's football, where you don't sow as you reap. I was simply outraged when Steve G was called off for Lucas; okay he was tired, but in the state of emergency Liverpool were and are now, his leadership can provide the foremost solution of their problem.
Great read.
11 months ago
Phil Neville is the ultimate utility player, he can even play GK!
from 11 months ago
O'Shea is no different!
11 months ago
I was very disappointed Everton didn't even get a point. They deserved that at the very least.
11 months ago
Steven Gerrard, as Liverpool captain is entitled to speak to the referee. If that is to remind him of the rules then so be it. He himself may have tumbled rather easily, but there is no no getting away from the fact he was fouled, Tony Hibbert was the last defender and it was a goal scoring opportunity. Therefore, Steven Gerrard assisted the referee in making the correct decision.
It is not Steven Gerrard who should be ridiculed. If Mark Clattenburg can not make correct decisions without being influenced by the players then he should not be officiating at premiership standard. Whats more, if Rob Styles can be disciplined for his incorrect awarding of a penalty to Chelsea against Liverpool earlier in the season. Then Mark Clattenburg should be expecting similar for not awarding what was an absolute nailed on Everton penalty in the 93rd minute.
11 months ago
i think that the liverpool's manager is is becoming more and more controversial. Liverpool is not playing a football where they would improve. Let's take Manchester and arsenal .These two clubs have gain their football and they are winning every single match whereas Benitez is back again with his rotation system > I think rotation system stops a player of progressing in his football. Compare Gerrard playing with Liverpool and England. I think that if Benitez continues on this way, he wil be warded up bad luck as Mourinho.
11 months ago
Championships are won by teams who can grind out results despite playing poorly and that is what Liverpool did at Goodison. Given the recent run of results, it was an awesome win for Liverpool even if it was not convincing.
Gerrard, as the captain, talking to the referee was just normal as any ref knows a last defender committing a foul has to go off. Clattenburg simply forgot the rule and Gerrard gently reminded him of it.
Concerning Hyypia, at this age you cannot expect him to have a continuous run in the side and perform admirably well. But having no cover in this position due to Agger`s injury, Rafa has to pick Hyypia till the Dane is back in the side.
Thus despite all what is said, 3 points from Goodison and no more ground lost on the leaders can be classified as a good day for Liverpool. Awaiting the return from injuries of first-choice team players Torres, Agger and Alonso can only bode well for Liverpool both in terms of results and style of play.
11 months ago
liverpool is going no where with our controversial and conservative manager. it's a pity that we are gaining points, as a liverpool fan, i sometime feel that we need probablly a run of losses for this man to change his ill-tactics. champions league will be a big test for him and his flops. evertonians sorry! I really feel you deserved something yesterday...thus a game of football isn't it?
11 months ago
"Steven Gerrard, as Liverpool captain is entitled to speak to the referee. If that is to remind him of the rules then so be it. He himself may have tumbled rather easily, but there is no no getting away from the fact he was fouled, Tony Hibbert was the last defender and it was a goal scoring opportunity. Therefore, Steven Gerrard assisted the referee in making the correct decision".
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I feel I have to take umbrage in this statement. You are suggesting that Gerrard asked, or rather told the referee to send the player off (which was the correct decision), and that is wrong. No player should be allowed or be able to tell a referee how to do his job, or "assist" as you put it, in the game-changing decisions.
If Clattenburg was going for a yellow card, then he should have given a yellow card, and that is the end of that - to say that a captain of a football team should have a say in how the game is officiated, or what decision is made, WHILE playing the said game is ridiculous. Every week we would have captains "reminding" the referee to send a player off - I thought we wanted to kick the lack of respect for referees out of the game, not encourage it.
We already get players like John Terry yelling abuse at referees, why don't we let the players officiate themselves now too? Players calling for other players to be sent off, quite openly, free-kicks given randomly and argued over. Result: utter chaos, stupid decision making, and, as of yesterday, suspicions that the EPL and its refereeing body may be corrupt. Is that what you want?
Yes, the decision to send Hibbert off was correct - however, there is a big difference between giving the red card for the correct reasons, reached solely and logically by the referee, and giving a red card, because a player told you to. The end result is NOT the same: and anyone who says that it is, is wrong. A player is sent off in both instances, but in the second instance the stability of the game, and its officiating body is called into question.
from 11 months ago
Simon
I couldn't agree more. As a Liverpool fan, I have long been amongst those who used to criticise the likes of Roy Keane and John Terry for constantly intimidating referees.
I was more concerned at Jamie Carragher's constant chat and arguing yesterday, but I certainly would not want to think that Gerrard influenced Mr Clattenberg's decision.
11 months ago
Fans constantly moan and whinge when referees get things wrong, Mark Clattenburg was about to make a wrong decision, we do not know what Steven Gerrard said to him or if he influenced him in any way. However, the referee changed his mind and sent the player off which was the correct action under that particular set of circumstances.
11 months ago
Maybe the Referee was always going to send of Hibbert without any "prompting". I think he went to his pocket as a natural reaction, as he pulled the yellow out with his notebook he probably just realised that his Red was in his chest pocket and then just took that out. I'd rather see Refs take a bit of time to make a decision as often they come straight in with cards without thinking about the situation. Gerrard is quite entitled to make the ref aware he was in with a goal scoring opportunity and the ref knew this anyway.
11 months ago
personally i think some of your views on this game are bizarre to say the least.
hyypia struggled during the game? at what point exactly did anichebe, the attacker he was marking, trouble him? aside from the own goal when did he make a mistake? he was solid as he ever is. everton led 1-0 at half time without having a shot on target, does that not give some indication of hyypia and carraghers' performance?
benitez's conservatism? bringing on babel for benayoun who had been ineffective in the first half to stretch their defence with his pace isn't exactly conservative. and why, just because gerrard is captain, is it "in spite" of rafa's choices that liverpool won the game when lucas performed really well when he came on, started several attacks and had the shot which WOULD have won the game anyway had it not been handballed on the line, resulting in our winning penalty?
benitez made the decision and it paid off, we won because of his changes. to say we won in spite of them is frankly ridiculous, had lucas been ineffective and given the ball away, not attacked etc, then fair enough you would have a point, but you have ignored what actually happened completely in my opinion.
from 11 months ago
Karl
In hindsight, I take on board your comments and always appreciate constructive criticism.
From my perspective, I did not for a minute think that Benayoun was ineffective. Furthermore, I can see no argument for deploying 2 holding midfielders against 10 men. As for Sami, I love the guy, but there were several occasions when both Anichebe and Yakubu beat him not only in the air, but constantly for pace on Saturday.
I was delighted and relieved with the 3 points but simply call it as I see it.
11 months ago
reds go to Athens,Istanbul and Rome. Blues go to tesco to get stuff for home! The city's all our the citys all ours, f off to kirkby the city's all ours!
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