'there was contact'
McManaman has said it about three times now.
“There’s contact in the box, that’s a penalty”. No Steve. No it isn’t
'there was contact'
No referee will send a player off for that. Especially in a game of this magnitude.
And off it goes.
That's enough of that.

Refereeing isn't just about sticking to the rule book. You use your common sense. You show a second yellow for that then you lose the players completely. Your game management goes to **** if you send Xhaka off there.
But every bloody week you whine “that’s the rules” at us.... can’t have it both ways Tom
No. I didn't say that. Technically a yellow card offence but it would be bloody stupid to issue a second yellow there. No need whatsoever.
Oh so you have a crystal ball do you? Lee Mason would have sent Xhaka off. It's nothing to do with the size of the club - it's the standard of the referee. As Oliver is a very good referee, he used his common sense and didn't treat the rule book like the bible.If Hojbjerg had kicked it away like Granit he'd have been sent off.
Its big club bias or leniency to big club. No doubt about it.

Oh so you have a crystal ball do you? Lee Mason would have sent Xhaka off. It's nothing to do with the size of the club - it's the standard of the referee. As Oliver is a very good referee, he used his common sense and didn't treat the rule book like the bible.
TBF there are bigger things to crack down on - kicking the ball away is not a huge problem. Admittedly that's not the point. Technically, kicking the ball away isn't actually a yellow card offence. It's "delaying the restart of play" and to be honest I don't really think he did that much. By the time Oliver had the wall sorted the ball was back in the correct position.Come on Tom, explain why not? The only way to get the players to stop doing it is to crack down on it.
Big team bias and another referee bottling it in a big game.


And there was me thinking that the list of offences for a second yellow card was exactly the same as that for a first yellow. I’ve learnt something today then...No. I didn't say that. Technically a yellow card offence but it would be bloody stupid to issue a second yellow there. No need whatsoever.
TBF there are bigger things to crack down on - kicking the ball away is not a huge problem. Admittedly that's not the point. Technically, kicking the ball away isn't actually a yellow card offence. It's "delaying the restart of play" and to be honest I don't really think he did that much. By the time Oliver had the wall sorted the ball was back in the correct position.
If that was a penalty literally every time there’s a corner or cross into the box it’ll be a penalty. Ridiculous decision by Oliver, expect better from him. Liverpool are bloody good enough without being given penalties every game for nothing.
Just how awful were Arsenal today? Even Fulham were beaten by only 3!! And if Arsenal have improved, then I am the PM´s father!!!!