The Premier League Owl
Blame the referee if you like, but it’s difficult to see how Mark Halsey could have come to an alternative conclusion in either of the game’s key incidents. Jonjo Shelvey leaves the ground, loses control, and plants his studs on Jonny Evan’s shin – it’s a red card, all day. For the penalty that settled the game, just look at Glen Johnson’s reaction…he knows. It’s a penalty.
One of the characteristics of modern day Manchester United is their ability to escape from fixtures in which they haven’t performed with all three points. Southampton two weeks ago last weekend was a good example, and today was even better – completely outplayed for the entire game, yet driving away from Anfield with the win.
Steven Gerrard’s MOTM award was an emotional decision from Alan Smith rather than a rational one – Luis Suarez was comfortably the best player on the pitch, and gave Ferdinand and Evans a very uncomfortable afternoon. Raheem Sterling also deserves a mention; he made Patrice Evra look like a nervy debutant at times. His removal for Jordan Henderson was astonishing, given the comparative influence those two players are capable of having.
Anders Lindegaard, at the moment, looks an assured presence in the United goal. David De Gea is probably the more talented of the two, and more capable of aerial pyrotechnics, but he still seems unsure of his own abilities in this league. One late, great save from Lindegaard low down to his right probably ensures his continued selection for the time being.
After coming on at half-time, Paul Scholes completed 44 of 46 attempted passes. How Ferguson must wish that Scholes was ten years younger, and that he could provide a more permanent solution to United’s ball-retention issues.
Luis Nani was predictably dismal. Yet again. There isn’t a more vivid demonstration of wasted talent in the league.
The problem with playing intricate, pass-based football – as Liverpool do – is that it becomes much harder to break down your opposition when you’re a man light. Today, as much as any game will this season, demonstrated why Andy Carroll should not have been allowed to leave the club. He would have provided an alternate approach, and through his sheer presence would have made the playing field more level.
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Is this a Man Utd site?
Let’s face it.
To win titles you need to buy the right players not the best but the right ones.
There is only a team who consistently bought the right players – Manchester United.
Just look at the players they have bought this season:
Martin Atkinson
Chris Foy
Lee Mason
Michael Oliver
Mike Dean
Kevin Friend
Andre Marriner
Lee Probert
Anthony Taylor
Howard Webb
Mark Clattenburg
Phil Dowd
Roger East
Mark Halsey
Mike Jones
Jonathan Moss
Neil Swarbrick
Manure will win the title this season.
Did you even watch Shelvey’s tackle? What about Evans’s two footed lunge. Referees fault in every book!! He was too busy watching Shelvey to pay any attention to a United player like Evans. What a joke. Don’t even try to contest the penalty based on Johnson’s facial features!! Where is the significant contact? Valencia is a grown man but went down like he was shot in the groin. I bet you my life that if a Liverpool player went down that way (Suarez for example) that penalty would never been given. History has proved itself yet again how United has capitalized on referee’s aid in the most crucial games. I look to Fergies FA to cover this up with a bad call against United in the next game to hush up any conspiracy that United are favoured by referees. Yeah I might sound like a child for saying it, but so does this article for saying that those two goals were NOT gifted by the ref!!!
One thing I would would just like to say straight away is you can look at a blog and straight away work out if they support the team there talking about or not . Funny that. Obviously not a Liverpool fan then ? Lets look at the penalty incident . We got to see it plenty of times in slow motion and all the rest of it and the only thing that convinced you it was a penalty was johnsons reaction ? it was not a penalty but refs do get it wrong abc I’m sure he didn’t get it wrong on purpose . Reds gave a very hard time . They only get to see it once in full motion as we get to see it in slow motion and different angles etc . Liverpool deserved to get at least a draw out of that game but that’s just the way it goes sometimes
The referee was so poor and biased. Please ban him for life.