Maybe I'll have to watch a replay as I was sure it was his studs that made contact with the ball. Don't get me wrong I don't think it was in anyway malicious it's the way you have to go for the ball sometimes, unless it's a sort of hooked sliding tackle then it's virtually impossible not to challenge like that when you're on the stretch sliding in. It's funny, I thought Atkinson had a really good game on Saturday because he wasn't afraid to get his cards out. Often you see referees, particularly in big games, reluctant to get their cards out so when they finally do they've already let so much go it just looks stupid. In the City-Chelsea game at the Etihad there was so much cyncial fouling in the first half it was a joke and then the ref decides he's had enough and got ultra strict to compensate. Today it was the same principle just implemented awfully. Sakho and Paulinho's were stonewallers and I thought Eriksen's and Skrtelt's(on first glance, not so much on replays) were a little harsh but fair enough, the rest were ridiculous, including Kane's at the end. Then again this is the pillock that allowed Cahill to kick and then stamp on Kane when the ball was out of play. It's a sad time when Clattenburg is the best ref in the league by a distance.
1 Chelsea............. 24 33 56 2 Man City............ 24 23 49 3 Southampton..... 24 21 45 4 Arsenal.............. 25 19 45 5 Man Utd............ 24 17 44 6 Tottenham......... 25 05 43 7 Liverpool............ 25 07 42 all in all..... making an interesting last 10 games for a lot of clubs. Chelsea have it in the bag but who knows what might happen next. I predicted arsenal 3rd and utd 4th at the outset and after christmas too so i think we will still see it. It'll be interesting to see who get most out of their game in hand i guess. utd in 5th is a rude awakening for them and all. roll on southampton
yeah you are right. sterling woud have missed six or seven and we'd have lost Flanno being out is great cos he'd be muck and ibe would not have played Lucas is lucas... pah. yes rodgers lucked into it again... what a tosser he is
Thought it was strange to give so many yellows as the game didn't seem fiesty in anyway. Just very card happy for no reason.
Oh yes, forgot about that. He clearly looks down before putting the boot in too. Replay shows he lashed out after getting caught in the face.
I did not zee it <wenger> Seriously though I must have missed it fetching a beer. Still can't believe the ref didn't spot Mignolet's handball in the area to stop Lamela's shot, red card and a pen that
You were quite unlucky that Mignolet managed to find a Liverpool player with the kick out for our first, it's the only completed pass he's made in his Liverpool career... I have a suspicion he was trying to kick the ball out of play for a throw in because someone was down injured though...
Enjoyed the game, 2 well matched sides, should be a good battle for the top 4 now. 2 places certain, the other 2 - choose 2 from 5
Well, that was a rollercoaster. My ratings: Migs: 7 Two superb saves: unlucky with the first skidding through his legs, and unlucky with second being two yards offside. Nearly gave a needless pen away though when Kane hade no chance of getting to a ball that was going out anyway. Can: 8 Out MOTM. A rock, and if Gerrard is out he MUST be moved into midfield. Skrtel: 7 Lost his man for their first, but otherwise sound. Sakho: 6 Struggled at times and WAS at fault for his desperate lunge for their first, but wasn't helped again by Moreno. Ibe: 7 (or 7.5, if it gets yous off me back) 19? Never! Sound going forward, defended when needed. Moreno: 6 Excellent going forward but has Johnsonitis in getting back and defending. Hendo: 6 Really ineffective until Gerrard went off. By-passed for large periods of the game by a very mobile Spurs midfield - he won't be the last. Coutinho: 5 poorest game for a long time? Carrying an injury? Needs a rest? Hmmm..... maybe. Gerrard: 5 Never mind missing Lucas - we even miss Allen in that position when compared to Gerrard now. Can and hendo in cm's position till Lucas comes back, eh? Markovic: 6 Good first half, moderate second. Can't afford him and Ford to play for 45 minutes. Studge: 7 Getting there. Movement is back already, but just needs that extra half yard of sharpness. Subs: Lallana: 6 Good movement and set up the goal superbly. Lovren; 6 Dreaded him coming on, but.... dare we try him in a back three to release Can to go into the midfield? Mario: 6 He did his bit by chasing down defenders and the goalkeeper, and for once we got the ball into the six-yard box to play to his strengths. Brod: 7 I thought Spurs were the best team we've faced at Anfield this season in the league, and that includes Chelsea as were playing ****e back then. Our best chance was to score more goals than them, and we did. Gerrard situation needs to be sorted though. Team: 7 We'd have lost this game three months ago and be bemoaning the injustice of an offside goal. I still don't think we'll make top four, but we could well still be in the mix right up until May though.
Can't disagree on this too much. Harsh on Lallana and Balotelli. Mario came on, scored the winner, chased the ball to top them getting possession, closed down the defender in the last minute and the keeper forcing him to scuff his kick and even did his bit in defence at the very end. I honestly can't fault him. I know he was only on for a short while but a 7 or 8 for me. Again with Lallana, came on, set up the goal, made a couple of good runs and kept possession. Couldn't ask for much more from him
Emre fecking Can. BEAST mode. That is all. Salivating for next season when he becomes the midfield TANK we all want Well. No it's not. As has been pointed out, the ref had a shocker and also had a beer belly. Said this before but I do think refs should have to pass fitness tests to work in the professional game, especially at the top level given how quickly the games move. Disgraceful that he is even a PL ref really, clearly can't make the right calls and lacks the fitness. Gerrard is done. Cooked. Someone turn off the timer and take him out. Should be on the bench only from now on. Every game. Ooooooooh Mariooooooooo. If that winner ends up being the difference between 5/6th and 4th for us he'll have justified the fee. Jordan Ibe, this boy is gonna be world class, we're talking best of the best. Think he's got the potential to be a more important player for us than Sterling. Sterling comes across as a bit of a cock at times, especially with the ongoing contract negotiations malarkey, seems moody as well. Ibe has just got his head down. Gone to Derby FFS. Come back and BOOM. New player.
