I mean even if it wasn't a clear goal scoring chance, it's still handball and should have been a freekick to us. They gave a Bmouth freekick, meaning they had **** all clue what they were doing.
In fairness, VAR can't overrule a simple handball, it can only step in for pens and red/yellow card errors. But to back up the decision that it wasn't an intentional handball was utterly ludicrous, and the explanation that it was too far out to be a clear goalscoring opportunity was equally bonkers. But as said, they only appear to have come up with that afterwards - the preposterously overrated Oliver made his initial decision on VAR based upon the belief that it was a 'double hit'. He is an atrocious excuse for a referee. Now let's see how MoTD completely ignores it as well.
Noticed that at the time when watching. Didn’t seem to realise that both full backs were taken off before the goal as made a comment for the 2nd goal that even once both full backs were changed..
One thing that's frequently overlooked about Shearer, and, tbh, some of his co-panellists on the BBC like Murphy, Osman, Cahill, and some others, is not their comical bias to their playing club - you'd expect that - but their ineptness and complete lack of knowledge of the rules of the game. I've lost count of how many times Lineker has had to correct Shearer over the years on both his knowledge of the laws of the game and his awareness of what players had done and what actions during the match he was supposed to be analysing. The Sky commentators - including the loathed (by us) Neville and the much-derided Christiansen always appear better informed, but I guess a lot of that is down to SKY having a better-resourced backroom of researchers at their fingertips. He's the commentating version of Oliver - ludicrously overrated, and overtly biased towards Newcastle.
Shearer is the prime example of a successful player who is a complete failure as a pundit. He's not alone. The belief that someone who had an instinctive knack for playing the game must understand it well as an observer is a fallacy.
Most players have a very narrow view from their own position. The big picture eludes them and that's why he was never a manager. If you can't coach then honestly you cannot be a pundit. I'd rather thry have "bantz" like Richards than someone who think he knows the score.
Spotted this zinger from the BBC sports article about the game. Apparently, Ekitike is a far cry from Nunez, but doing exactly what Nunez did on debut. The calm manner of his finish and smart link play was a far cry from the frenetic approach of the now departed 'Captain Chaos' Darwin Nunez. Indeed, he is only the second player to both score and assist a goal on his Premier League debut for Liverpool - after the Uruguayan against Fulham in August 2022.
The thing is Ekitike could have had a hat trick and probably should really have got 2 goals and the assist rather than the 1. As a young player however he is doing OK and has shown he is well up for a battle. A bit of grit. Bags of pace Bit of skill on the ball. Two calm finishes. 4 poor headers so far. All in all you could not ask much more from a 23 year old on his home lesgue debut. Hopefully it can only improve. The one thing about wirtz is he is well up for a battle too. He did top the running charts this weekend for lfc so if his influence can build up we are sorted. .
Thing with Ekitike is that his link up is so much more controlled. When ball got played into him, the one touch flick, when he got it and broke into space picked the right time and weight to pass out to Salah on the wing. Just all round play looked much more natural to him. Nunez was all 100mph and was all about pace in behind, when he came short to get the ball, even little 10 yard passes back would be hit and miss - remember one in CL when we were 1 goal ahead and he laid it back first time on halfway line and gave it right back to them. Those are the things that so far Ekitike look far more natural doing. Even the assist, wasn’t difficult, but held onto it well and rolled it perfectly into the path of gakpo so could take it on the run rather than having to deviate.
I know it's only 2 games but i really like the looks of Ekitike . Seems to be a well rounded forward rather than just a goal scorer and i already think he is going to be a big hit with the fans
If he is an example of the type of player slot wants (flexible) and i assume the recruitment team under Hughes want then its pretty good sign. Wirtz again, massive work rate even if the delivery was way below expectations on the opening day. Big heart and fight there. It's the people saying you must be as good as salah or you are a failure due to fee thst are hilarious. Same as slaughtering kerkez for a few tackles. You can work on that very quickly. Everyone ignores how he's sitting back allowing the right side to be advanced and then going. Overall it wasn't too mad a debut for any of them, our issues flowed from subs and midfield balance. Palace were hoofing long balls over the head of kerekz all day at Wembley. Seymeno was in a right tussle with him but it wasnt there thst goals came from. It was midfielders all going at once. We had 3 at the back with Robertson vvd and konate and honestly once we lost the ball vvd played them all on. You want a cm to hold and you want a cb to split the ****er wide open and take his yellow to save a goal
The analysis MoTD should have done - but instead decided to give Shearer time for a 10-minute rant about Isak, and to use his actual analysis time about the game focusing upon how our fullbacks were out of position for Bournemouth's goals - even though they'd been substituted before then.
But but LiVARpool though This is where I get irked We have had a disproportionate amount of silly mistakes made against I don’t mean poor decisions I mean ridiculous decisions Wolves same As I have alluded to before there is defo something in which the press pick and choose who they are going to push forward or destroy Seen loads on the amount we have spent - odd one or two post an article explaining how Much we have sold - one on BBC today but again disproportionate yet nothing being being said about how much certain other clubs seem to be spending.
The guy who was arrested (I'd call him certain things personally but maybe we are irresponsible doing so) on Friday has been conditionally bailed with the provison that he is banned from all football grounds in the UK. This then gives lfc the ability to remove him formally and give his spot to someone far more deserving i hope.
Dermot gallagher gets it wrong on sky talking about var. The correct use of var should be: 1. Is there a clear and obvious error? Yes there was the ref missed an obvious handball. 2. Was it a red? Subjective call. Not the var's job to guess what the ref would do. Ask ref to review issue and decide himself if the position is a red card. Why is gallagher wrong. He says he could give a yellow. The ref cannot go do that on var. If the issue is not a red then we play on from where ever the game was stopped for the review. The ref can only give a red and a free or nothing in that position. The pace Ekitike has suggested to me thet might well be a goal.scoring opportunity but the first touch sets it up. Last year I think we had a red given v arsenal on half way and not given when we had an entirely similar situation on half way. That's at best subjective reviews and the only person who should me making subjective views is the ref himself and then explain himself to the stadium and world. As it stands Mr Taylor missed a clear swipe at the ball and Mr Oliver missed it then made up an excuse to cover himself. Complete farce.
Yep, classic bullshit on day 1. There will be many, many more. The reason he does it is pure panic because he knows if he doesn't Ekitike is going straight through. Blatant red that the ref would have seen if sent to review.
Im just looking again at that again on the sky feed. The other Bournemouth defender is 5 yard behind at least and the ball is on Ekitike's good side and the handball deflects thr ball pit of the control of Ekitike. Its almost certain to me that Ekitike can get in one on one there. I dont even see the Bournemouth lad recovering as he stumbled and swiped. For me its as clear a sending off as any awarded last year. Just looking at the other defender, I dont think he can get near it
General comment - The pitch side monitor is there for when the VAR doesn't want to make the decision or be accused of re-refereeing. Throw it back to the onfield ref. if you're not up for doing the job Clear VAR howlers are more bemusing because there's more than one person in the room looking at the monitors. This should counter any bias. Obviously it's not. Regarding the handball, the explanation was deflection from thigh to elbow but why stop the review there. It must surely be looked at in real time before going to slow motion. It couldn't possibly have been missed.
