JRC

Don't imagine there is anything he can't do

Having for years argued about that Gerrard penalty at Sheffield United, I can't dispute the fact that TAA flying in like that caused Gordon to have to take evasive action, so still a foul

Thought the Ref dealt 'OK' with that. Doucoure's hack on Fabinho was poor, but the way they escalated that quickly to a full scale melee was pretty premeditated (as was, I suspect, the goading of Mane). Felt all the way through that getting someone sent off was part of their plan.

Enjoying the fume, really. Stubbs on Radio Merseyside was peak bitter. A couple of points - firstly, have PGMOL really come out and said what has been claimed? Doesn't sound like their way of working BUT if they did it really isn't the slam dunk being claimed - it's being spun as equivalent to the apology over the City handball, but my take is they saw it in the 'not obvious mistake' category. Despite Blues anger, VAR did look at it and decided there wasn't enough to overturn the Ref's decision; but nor would they have overturned it if he had given it. That is how VAR is meant to work, like it or not. Secondly - apart from the obvious hypocrisy of everyone screaming the Gordon having been booked for diving shouldn't impact the Ref's decision (the hypocrisy being that the same voices will almost certainly have been happy to justify Salah or Mane or Suarez never getting penalty decisions because of their perceived history of simulation) - but what should the Ref think when he makes this decision - was there contact, was it overly physical...*did the other player make a meal of it*.... then of course in that part of the decision-making process, the already sanctioned, serial offender will not get the benefit of the doubt, and that is not in any way unreasonable. (Loved the City fan on BBC last night trying to argue that it was deffo a foul because Gordon is about 7 stone wet through and Matip is about 13 stone...) As to 'not getting them at Anfield, I believe the Penalty ratio at Anfield in the Klopp era is LFC 0 - EFC 2 - both of them soft. Waiting on a tediously detailed (but true) analysis from Tomkins on how few penalties, or fouls even, that Salah gets at all BTW - Gordon is a through and through Red, apparently. We should nick him when they go down, Klopp could make a decent player out of him. Cue Barmby levels of fume.

3:40

Dirk Kuyt

Changing to an AI model for the World Cup aren't they?

The finish is great, but that first touch - especially from the behind the goal view - is pure filth.

Surprised if they really thought that claim was nonsense. City's run in us 'easier' of course, but they tend to drop their points against mid and lower teams

If Leeds get a few points boost - like Brentford have done, and of which they are capable - I can see this quickly getting to be a 3 from 4 going down situation. And given that Burnley and Watford have managers with experience of escaping a relegation scrap (and while I think Norwich are done for, they are not without some quality at times - and of course Smith has also been a last day escapee with Villa), I suspect Everton will get caught up in it with the least quality and capability to get out. Ironically, with Newcastle Rafa had also become one of those managers experienced in escaping in a relegation scrap, and I would have backed him from here in more than Lampard. When those games in hand have gone, the nerves - and boos (Goodison is already flipping from a positive boost to a toxic negative) - will really kick in

The League Cup final in 81 was brutal, although I suspect every firm in London turned up. I think that was the game I saw bricks being lobbed off the top floor of a multi story car park by Wembley, until mounted police rode up the ramps and chased them away. I was certainly saved from a beating on the train in from Stanmore until a senior copper stretched in through the closing doors, grabbed the main man (who was relatively normal in a gang of about 10 psychos) by the throat and told him to f*** Off. At that point I recognised those nutters were just 14 yo wannabe hard men, and they all drifted away sheepishly. The replay at Villa Park was even worse if possible. Very lairy beforehand, simmering. But after, one of the main streams of fans coming away got ambushed from the side roads about 50yds from the ground, and there was absolute carnage for ages until the police waded in. Happy days, eh!

Really encouraged by that. Only 3 regular starters, but we still played clever, controlled and confident football. Some really crisp passing and good energy. Virtually everyone showed some quality - Minamino and Jones most obviously, but no-one was poor; if anything, 2 of the regulars - Jota and Alisson (with his feet) - had less convincing shows. I thought Chamberlain did perfectly well and took on responsibility as the adult in the (Engine) Room when he had the kids club alongside him. (It is also clear now that Klopp rates him and is happy with his contribution, notwithstanding forum and Moan Stand received opinion) Gomez had a couple of passing ricks (suspect pitch level conditions were worse than appeared from on high - as per Alisson) and should have dealt with the goal better, but he also brought out a couple of those 'Rolls-Royce with an afterburner' runs, where he crushes the spirit of any striker who mistakenly believes they have a chance of getting to the ball but end up a yard behind him. Yes we lost a bit of focus, but even the last 15-20 mins after the goal were nowhere as nervy as could have been expected. Didn't panic, took control again, could and should have scored more. As evidence of our new-found 'squad depth', it was pretty convincing and massively encouraging. Of course, it wouldn't be the Moan Stand without some berk pontificating about how rubbish it was, and how you could see why 'they' never got picked for the first team.

It is only in the context of interfering with play when offside, not a foul

Schmeichel tried the same tricks in the quarters - and was allowed to by the Ref. And he still lost as well. Also didn't like the way Kepa was allowed to wait for the next Chelsea pen taker to come up and toss them the ball. Could pass on some technical advice about Kellehers keeping (go low, left etc). Ref was weak.

Even more, Thiago, as befits a '2 passes ahead' visionary, made a point of congratulating Tsimikas. His covering challenge on Gilmour(?) was outstanding full back play and was why he didn't get a potentially dangerous shot away, allowing Allison to pick the ball up and set Mo off.

Like Jones a lot, as Klopp seems to, and don't really see why some here have decided he won't make it (OK, all caveated, nothing nasty). Thought he struggled last night, but we've all spoken about how difficult the midfield roles are in this team, and he had a debutant in front of him and a determined to be aggressive Robbo behind him, so fair dos - podibly felt the need to think more about what he was doing, as he is more naturally a forward looking player. (FWIW, I also thought Bobby was excellent until he tired, which he is now more won't to do)

Of course you can give a penalty - they just never do. There was an argument under less flexible advantage interpretations that you'd used your advantage when shooting, so the foul can't be given retrospectively, but that's no longer the case.

Looked on top of his game last night. Rarely stretched, but imperiously magnificent at all times.

That's as much re-inventing him - or his contribution - as the postings you're responding to. In the first instance, being picked mainly in the Cups means he will be playing 's***e' teams - that's just the nature of his squad role. And Leicester was hardly 'already-won' He is a second-stringer, of course he is - and I think given the nature of that role, he is pretty well doing at least what can be expected, probably more given the numbers being quoted. (Not you, but the revisionism elsewhere re his performance against us for Salzburg is massive - he was excellent that night, as was the lad now at Wolves. He's never looked as good for us, tbf)

Won't that return be tight in case of ET?

Got 2 of 2 - applied for together (which, tbh, I thought was pretty clearly explained in the ballot process) - suited me as neither me nor my lad would be going on our own, and getting only 1 of 2 for Kiev was painful. So - away day travel plans. Can't wait. Used to have all sorts of hacks for Wembley - park at Stanmore, Ickenham (got back home about 9:30 after the Sunderland final), Watford etc., but just can't be arsed messing about any more, so have booked to park at Wembley itself last 4 times; only a nightmare once, but that was getting away after the City game, the last one, so hope its better this time.

Been pointed out that City have noone above 7th left to play away - but a lot of their few dropped points in recent years have been quite unexpected - Norwich away, Wolves at home, Palace etc. Not giving up yet, we dropped 7 points in 3 games, not impossible they could have a blip yet - and I still fancy us to finish strongly. Unlikely, I know.

Really comfortable with that today, bar a freaky 10 minutes first half when we went crazy. We didn't have the searing pace we normally display, for obvious reasons, but were generally professional and patient. Brentford are clearly well coached and got even more blocks and last tackles in tha Arsenal, yet we still scored 3, hit the post and forced 3 excellent saves. Wouldn't call it scrappy or hard grafting - we did what we had to, and did it, for the most part, OK. Much better than Thursday. Thought Henderson was more dynamic than in a while, Robbo really effective and Jones tricky and creative (also realised who his build and quick footed style and control reminded me of - Peter Cormack, for any arlarses?). Rather enjoyed it, tbh, and rarely unduly concerned, and enjoyed some of what we did. Twitter Reds, and no doubt some match threaders here, probably disagree. Oh and Joel Matip was the best player on the pitch, magnificent in everything he did. He will score a goal for the ages soon.

My worry with Robertson is that he always now seems to position his body to receive the ball to take a touch and look/pass inside - rarely does he look to push it in front of himself and bomb at the defender or space behind them; probably a confidence thing, maybe related to how poor his crossing has been, or was last night at least. Re Minamino - I thought he was the least bad of the 3 forwards, and the 2 crosses/cross-shots he had were our most dangerous moments other than his miss (and at least he was in the right place to miss it, yada, yada...). But not a high bar, agreed Trent gets a post-Covid free pass - he took a while to get his form back last time he had it - but Neco Williams offered more in his 20 minutes, which is not the way the world is supposed to work.

That was rubbish last night, for sure, but feel some takes on here are overreaching. Of course we missed Salah and Mane - who wouldn't - but when we lost 2 of the 3 against Barcelona, the replacements were Origi and Shaqiri, so not clear we were in a better position then in terms of squad depth. As often with 10 men, the opposition can focus on low-block, resilient defence. Their commitment to that is no indicator of them 'wanting it more'. They had one job, and did it well. Whilst the 3 at Afcon would have given us better options for breaking them down, the 3 we had up front didn't shine by any means, but it was incredibly packed in their area and we didn't create anything for them. FWIW, I though Minamino did best of them, but that miss put a top hat on the evening. Yes the midfield was too ponderouis - Jones improved it, Ox as well to a lesser extent - but they are not really the engine of creativity in this team,and tbf, Robertson and Trent had the worst combined performance I've seen from our FB - plus an attempt at a World Record sequence (succersful, sadly) of genuinely terrible corners and free kicks. Matip was excellent btw. Anyway, Half Time, they still need to score and so come at us, we wont be as bad again. Up the Mighty Reds.