JRC

Frustratingly, that penalty was saved (by Karius) to great celebration, and Salah's wonder goal came after, in injury time, making it even more of an 'in your face, ref' moment. I said frustratingly because the equalizing penalty came even later as the smug, self important lino spotted the slightest touch from Virgil giving the Spurs lad (?) an excuse to go down and for himself to get in the news- but did not spot that the Spurs lad had come from an offside position to challenge Virgil. No VAR then of course - it would (should) have turned it over. Despite being, iirc, late in the season, the first penalty was the first time i could recall the 'new' offside interpretation being applied. Lovren's failed attempt to intercept the ball throuh to a massively offside Kane was deemed a deliberate attempt to play the ball and rendered him onside. Almost every pundit was totally flummoxed by it. Previously Kane would have been offside when Ericsson passed the ball, whatever Lovren did. The second pen also meant Spurs had been awarded more pens at Anfield that season than us, a high scoring team with 3 world class forwards who marauded into the opposition area; which tells you all you need to know about refereeing standards pre-VAR.

Lino definitely making a point about VAR. Not seen how bad the Rio call was yet, but it looked bad in real time. But why on earth did it take him that long to put his flag up for the one in the first half? It was pretty obvious, what was any delay for. Got the no⁵⅚VAR rush of an instant decision just by checking the lino, then he gives it when they appealed. Same lino who had a bust up with Robbo apparently.

Just been watching the Bundesliga highlights and surprused - to say the least - to see the new Frankfurt coach is Albert Riera!

BiL has had loads of opportunities for corporate there, taken most and says it was brilliant, great spec behind the dugout etc. Good for him, I'm sure the new facilities are excellent, and with more corporate capacity then before, (as at all clubs, including the Anfield Road extension) - but even so, the comparison with his invites to Goodison corporate (1-2 a season vs 5-6 this season already) suggest that Demand has not necessarily increased in line with Supply.

It was common for pregnant women to be advised to drink a bottle of Mackeson (stout) a day in the 50's for the 'iron' - my mum did when she was having me and my sister. No issue, apart from the raging alcoholism - at least it wasn't any new fangled drug for morning sickness.

Well done, Ox. Made up for him.

Klopp lost 6 consecutive PL games at Anfield as the Champions

I prefer.... Oh sorry, you meant TAW

Clearly it doesn't

Heighway was fantastic for us, but was unplayable the night he demolished England at Wembley for Ireland

Torres introduction to "Underdog" refereeing at Reading won me over. When he realised that they could get away with kicking him whenever they felt like it, instead of whining he went 'f*** it', started kicking them back and scored a hat trick. That and the befuddled Marseille defender appealing for offside as Torres dribbled past him.

Not sure he can really be Dutch reading that paean to the hierarchy.

Probbaly has some residual beef with him. Can't wait for his assessment of the new Real Madrid coach.

Were they starters last year? I don't follow their ins and outs and minutes played that closely, but it seemed to me that a recurring critique was that when they called or relied on these players they were ultimately not good enough, and they are still their go to from the bench or as a replacement. And their current goal contribution numbers don't suggest otherwise. To be fair to them, much as it irks me, their midfield options are clearly a step up from last year, and defensively they no longer look to be only one Centre Half Hamstring Twang (CHHT, officially) away from a leaky defence.

They have got a good squad, but it does my nut in when they bring on players like Trossard or Martinelli, who were deemed not really good enough last year (even by Arsenal fans) and they're lauded as evidence of their strength in depth. And recent goal numbers across their forward line are showing that up.

Lot of people getting Torres Vs Chelsea vibes from the 2nd goal. I get that, but also got Torres Vs Vidic vibes when he hassled and befuddled Burn (and should have scored)

I also thought that while he didn't deliver as clearly and as often as we have come to expect - just the one assist, FFS - he was still making the right choices. He didn't look hapless or out of sorts, he tried a lot of those little passes to get others running in that were a feature last season; most were blocked but that was as much Hall(?) playing well and them doubling up rather than Salah making the wrong choices. And as has been pointed out, them doubling up helps the others have options. Pointless comparing him to the Salah running away from defenders from 2017 or 2020, he has been adapting for a while now. He will be good in these last games, I'm sure

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Playgrounds around Liverpool will be full of kids doing that wobbly celebration dance today, he's really taken off with them. My 5yo grandson loves him, his name is on the back of most of his classmates (overwhelmingly green) shirts. It's probably because he comes over as just a big kid himself, living his dream life and scarcely believing it. We could have a real future superstar on our hands. Can see me supporting France in the WC this summer alongside Robbo's Scotland.

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Can we just let this latest pun phase drop Faraday or two?

Results appear to be going as 'good' for us as we could have wished. Pity that that's about staying in the top 5 rather than challenging, so even Villa getting points and increasing the gap to 3rd is the least worst option.

Smith, seriously, had Berbatov levels of control - could kill a goalie's punt stone dead on his instep without breaking stride Put it down to years of practice against a jigger wall with a tennis ball. (NOT prison slang) Played Inside Left in the 65 final, the really hard men were behind him (Byrne, Moran, Stevenson, Yeats); although he would also have been going head to head with Giles and Bremner, who were hardly soft, to say the least.