Webb will referee the game with Man United on Sunday Brendan Rodgers has called on referee Howard Webb to be strong as Liverpool travel to Man United on Sunday. Webb is deeply unpopular with Liverpool fans after a number of controversial decisions during the FA Cup clash at Old Trafford back in January 2011, including an early penalty and the sending off of skipper, Steven Gerrard. Such was the dismay with Webb, then-Reds' winger, Ryan Babel, tweeted a mocked up picture of Webb in a United shirt. In the game at Anfield this season, Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a challenge on Jonny Evans. Rodgers told Juice FM: "It didn't help us in the last game, we lost a man very quickly, and had a penalty decision that I didn't feel was a penalty, and that ultimately cost us the game. "Howard Webb's an excellent referee, he's got great experience and a good, strong personality on the field. We hope, like I'm sure they do, the game is decided by moments of quality than any sort of decision." http://www.juicefm.com/news/sport/brendan-rodgers-on-howard-webb/
Tikitaka trying to influence the referee even before the match. Not surprised the cheat is well suited to playing for the miserable scousers...
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/91169.html "it should be taken as a warning to all managers in the future that any such breach, even positive comments, are likely to result in a charge by The FA." Praising the ref before the game is contrary to Rule E3. Let's see if the FA will actually follow through on their threats and charge Rodgers for this...
And in the aftermath of SAF being charged the FA made it clear he, Ancelotti and Pulis were being warned purely cos the rule wasn't well known, and any further breaches would be seen more seriously. Rodgers obviously wasn't listening...
Fergie starting the mind games - https://twitter.com/Tony_Scott11/status/289851071130644480/photo/1/large
Manchester United v Liverpool: we are as good as any side in the Premier League, claims Brendan Rodgers Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says his first choice side is as good as Manchester United, arguing it is consistency and lack of squad depth that separates the clubs. By Chris Bascombe 11:00PM GMT 11 Jan 2013 Rodgers believes his team is capable of beating any team in the country when they play to their potential. He puts the current 21 points gap down to Manchester United’s ability to maintain their level on a weekly basis. “We’re as good as any team in the league, but we have to turn consistency into results,” said Rodgers. “It’s no coincidence we’ve won seven of our last nine games since the Europa League stopped. We’ve had one game a week. That’s why I said when I came in for us to succeed it’s about building a competitive squad. The squad has to be stronger. “In a one-off game (earlier in the season) we were better than Manchester United, even with ten men. We should have won the Manchester City game. We deserved to lose to Arsenal, but we fought to a draw at Chelsea. “But it’s about consistency and you get that from depth of squad. Over the course of the season you need to judge it, but it doesn’t take away the magnitude of this game. If we’re going to progress we need to go to our rivals and put in good performances and results. It’s a yardstick for us, but it’s not just about the weekend.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...n-Rodgers.html
Holding his hands up: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard willing to 'do a Suarez' vs United 11 Jan 2013 22:31 Kop skipper admits he won't confess to the ref if he scores via his hand at Old Trafford on Sunday - and says no professional footballer would What would Roy Carroll do? Gerrard insists lucky breaks are part of the game Andrew Powell Steven Gerrard says he will celebrate if he scores a hand-ball winner for Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. And the Reds' skipper has branded hypocritical anyone from Manchester United who claims that his team-mate Luis Suarez was wrong to do just that when his illegal use of his right paw knocked little Mansfield out of the FA Cup last weekend. There was outcry over the incident, with Suarez's integrity once again called into question, but Gerrard believes anyone in football who accuses the Uruguayan must first take a long hard look at themselves. When asked if he would have claimed the goal if the ball had hit his hand, the straight-talking Scouser insisted: “Look, I’m not going to lie to you - of course I celebrate. “I can’t sit here and claim I would run to the linesman or referee and say, 'I’ve hand-balled it' at Old Trafford. "What would Wayne Rooney do? “What did [then-Manchester United keeper] Roy Carroll do years ago when the ball was four yards over the line? "I never saw Alex Ferguson or Carroll run to the referee or linesman and say it was over the line, did you?” Ferguson has had a calculated dig at Suarez ahead of Sunday's big match, but Gerrard is adamant the striker did nothing wrong in that incident at Mansfield and believes the South American is being condemned on his reputation alone. “It’s football. These things happen. You don’t go out to intentionally hand-ball and I don’t think Luis did," added Gerrard. "You could tell by the way he kicked the ball into the net - he was waiting for the referee to blow up. “I’m not saying it’s right, but have Mansfield never had a bit of luck or had a decision that maybe wasn’t right go their way - a goal that was maybe off-side or a handball? "Put it this way, I don’t think as big a deal would’ve been made of it if it had been Daniel Sturridge [rather than Suarez].” Paw show: Luis Suarez was back in the firing line after this incident Clive Mason Ferguson’s words - even though there surely isn’t a player in football who would have owned up to the referee when put in Suarez’s position - have threatened to pour more fuel on an already combustible fixture that has generated massive controversy in recent years. Only the Merseyside Derby has produced more red cards in the Premier League era than Liverpool vs Manchester United, and the racism row involving Suarez and Patrice Evra brought the clash to an all-time low-point. For all that though, Gerrard believes there is still beauty in a match he believes is still the biggest rivalry in football. “It is massive, and still the biggest game for both clubs,” he explained. “They are obviously above us in league titles, but we’ve still got more European Cups than them - so the rivalry is not going anywhere for a long time. “Manchester City have their new owners and stuff, but Alex Ferguson was quoted last year saying Liverpool is still their biggest game - and that’s not changed this side either.” As Gerrard hoped he would be able to celebrate on the pitch on Sunday, his club were doing the same off it after former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett finally dropped their massive claim for damages over the forced sale of Liverpool. The two Americans had claimed a “massive” fraud by British institutions and were claiming billions of pounds in compensation for lost revenue after having to sell the club for around £200million. But after failing to find the funds to place security into court to allow the case to proceed in April, their action has now effectively been kicked out with all allegations against the three directors who arranged the sale - Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre - dropped. A statement was issued explaining that a confidential out-of-court settlement has been reached, but the Mirror understands no damages have been paid, with the High Court ruling there the case can not proceed without securities provided by Hicks and Gillett. Read (lots) more on Manchester United vs Liverpool here - news, previews, nostalgia, photos and video, we've got it all. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-united-vs-liverpool-steven-1529907
Rooney is definitely out. May be available for the west ham replay. I wouldn't be worried about our performance against the miserable scousers. Their only attacking threat is the cheat. Otherwise I cannot see them posing any problems for us. Gerrard's ability and stamina are in decline and Lucas and downing have not been very good either. If we do not thrash this hopeless shower at home then we are not as good as we think.
Ronny Johnsen ‏@JRonnyJohnsen Fantastic morning! Overlooked training at Carrington. They look really up for the game tomorrow. Giggsy scored the best goal ever!
Just wondering if Shwan posts with a fake french accent - a la Joey Barton on here like he does on the Arsenal board ?
