Liverpool F.C. – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Gameweek 35
Liverpool players struggle to cope, held at bay by a Pope. Player takes things too far, when complaining about controversial VAR. The ruling body is fooled, when tough punishment is overruled. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club, Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Liverpool remain unbeaten at Anfield in the league since April 2017. What’s so good about this? It could easily have been so different in the last match against Burnley. Liverpool came out with a 1-1 draw and despite 23,425,948 shots on target (ok, nine in reality), the Reds were able to register just one goal. The reason, the outstanding form of Burnley and England stopper Nick Pope.
The England international showed just why he is with a string of fine saves in a game that you’d be forgiven for predicting would end with a home win. However, it’s as if Burnley were assisted some divine intervention as Liverpool could now find a way past Pope.
Many outlets have reported that Liverpool’s winning streak at home has come to an end. This may well be true but I prefer to see it from the point of view that Anfield remains a fortress and if a draw is the best opposing teams can hope for, them so be it. Chances are, they’ll not even get that.
Andy Robertson put the Reds ahead with a fantastic header 10 minutes before the interval. It looked at that point as if the millions viewing from their armchairs around the globe were going to witness another Liverpool triumph. How wrong they/we (admittedly) were.
Jay Rodriguez’s 69th minute equaliser was enough to save a point for Sean Dyche’s side. In fact they could even have put an end to the unbeaten run also when Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s shot cannoned off the crossbar.
So look on the bright side. The unbeaten run continues.
WHAT. A. HEADER. 🔥 #LIVBUR pic.twitter.com/5J4iyWrqOC
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 11, 2020
The Bad
Andy Robertson’s verbal attack on the referee David Coote after the Burnley game. The Liverpool full back could be seen and heard swearing that Coote as the players left the field after the game.
Scorer Gudmundsson, collided with Robertson in the area but the referee – supported by VaR upheld his decision not to award a penalty. Whilst I feel his pain, it’s about time the players accepted the decisions. Yes it’s an emotional moment. Yes, words can be said in the heat of the moment.
“I spoke to the referee and the officials in the tunnel after, and he explained what he thought he had seen – I respected that, not all referees do that – so fair play to him”
However, it’s pretty true also that football players take this just a wee bit too far. This behaviour doesn’t exist in other sports – at least not to this degree. Robertson explained that he had further discussed the matter in the tunnel and Coote explained his decision. “…so fair play to him” was the player’s response. There was no mention of an apology from the Scottish team captain, and personally I take exception to that.
To add to that, it transpires that referee Coote, didn’t even mention it in his post-match report. Why not? Did he have something to hide? Did he wish not to have Robertson reported for his behaviour?
Robertson – in my opinion is a thoroughly decent guy. I’ve seen videos of him calling older club staff members and those in the community to lift their spirits during the Corona spell. In that sense I have nothing against him. I just expect more from both him and for that matter the referee. The latter and his peers can’t complain about dissent if they do nothing to highlight it.
The FA confirmed to The Mirror that they had received the referee's report without any reference to Robertson’s outburst, and so he will escape the threat of a fine or ban. 🤬#OptusSport #PL #LIVBUR pic.twitter.com/N0iiMx5y3Z
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) July 13, 2020
The Ugly
Manchester City’s escaping their two-year European football ban. How did that happen? As a Liverpool fan, I’m not bothered if they’re in the competition or not. The Reds have prevailed where they’ve failed on numerous occasion, so it’s hardly through fear. It’s more a matter of principle.
How can UEFA hand out a stark and firm punishment, only for it to be overturned in such an opaque manner? The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision seems to have been made with no explanation, no supporting comment, nothing from what I’ve seen. Only that the principle charge of obstructing the UEFA investigation were “either not established or time-barred” Time-barred means basically, that it was too long ago. Amazing. Incredible. Disgraceful.
In my opinion, the whole thing stinks. The CAS have a “few days” in which to contrive some suitable drivel with which to justify their decision, disguised as “full reasons and explanations”
In essence it says that you can flout the rules, and simply refuse to cooperate in an investigation long enough that it becomes time-barred. Of course it is if the club have failed to assist and taken so much time to do so once they decide to give information. Hello?!
This is a very, very sad day for football.
Here's how Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reacted to Manchester City’s win against UEFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) as their two-season European competition ban was lifted@ManCityhttps://t.co/pYNfVf4EVN
— WION (@WIONews) July 14, 2020
On This Day
In 1987 Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE signed for Liverpool from Newcastle United for the princely sum of £1.9m. The Geordie became a firm favourite with the Reds faithful and struck a legendary playing partnership with John Barnes who also joined in that year. He was part of a formidable team wherein he scored 59 goals in 175 games for the club before leaving to join the blue team across the park.
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