LFC 20/21 – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Gameweek 6
A Champions League win, and defeating the Blades, while VAR evokes more tirades. Boycotting those obscene Sky deals, and spending cash on providing meals. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
This weeks results. Firstly, the Reds came away from the Johan Cruyff arena with all three points in their opening Champions League match against Ajax. A Nicolas Tagliafico own goal was enough to send Liverpool to second on goal difference in Group D after Atalanta in first.
A man of the match performance from Fabinho proved there is sufficient quality in this Liverpool squad to cover for the absence of Virgil van Dijk. The Brazilian already impressed in the same position against Everton earlier in the season so it really shouldn’t come as a surprise.
FT: Ajax 0-1 #LFC.
Liverpool win in Amsterdam to make the perfect start to Group D. Reaction and analysis to follow. #AJALIV #UCL https://t.co/UyZBukQoCy
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) October 21, 2020
Then of course we had yesterday’s game against Sheffield United in the Premier League. Another in which VAR dominated the headlines instead of football.
Despite going behind to a dubious (see The Bad) decision, Liverpool fought back to win with goals from Roberto Firmino – at last, and Diogo Jota sealing a memorable 2-1 victory against an impressive United side.
“I love these games. You have to work hard. You earn the easier games when it goes your way on nights like this”
The other members of the formidable Reds attack also excelled but weren’t able to get on the scoresheet. Sadio Mané’s saved header providing the scoring opportunity for Firmino and Mo Salah hitting the post late on.
Fabinho again was in commanding form in a game where the hosts really had to show their quality to emerge with even a point, let alone three. But the Brazilian wasn’t the only stand out performer.
Fellow central defender Joe Gomez also stood out and showed why the defensive future of the team is looking bright. Despite rumours today of Jürgen Klopp’s interest in Schalke 04 youngster Ozan Kabak, as additional cover for van Dijk. Throw in the return of Allison between the stocks and you’d be forgiven for getting optimistic.
The Bad
Another dodgy decision from our friendly neighbourhood Video Assisted Referee. This time, a penalty is awarded where there shouldn’t have been. This time, the referee and the Premier League seem to be at odds.
Not only was it incorrectly awarded because the initial contact was outside of the area, the referees claimed to have checked only if it was a penalty (where), and not the actual foul itself (what). Only for their employers to say they checked both.
Upon close inspection it’s clear the foul was outside of the box. There was however, a further contact made inside the box. It’s this (presumably) that drove the VAR decision not the initial contact which obviously, was what referee Mike Dean blew his whistle for. The total opposite approach as put forward last week.
All in all it’s a shambles. A total mess right now. The discussion is not about the quality of the football on display but more about the referees and VAR!
Just seen the replay. That's another horrendous decision from the VAR official. This time it's Andre Marriner.
Fabinho clearly played the ball and looks like the challenge was just outside the box.— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) October 24, 2020
The Ugly
The Spirit of Shankly group raising over £80,000 in support of food banks up and down the UK. What’s so ugly about that? You would be right to ask.
The money has been raised because of the Premier League – as if they’re not receiving enough money from television rights – to charge viewers an additional £14.95 per game ON TOP OF their existing Sky and BT Sport subscriptions to watch selected matches.
The Spirit of Shankly Group has called upon supporters to boycott these games and instead donate the money to the growing requirement for food banks up and down the country. This is the Ugly this week. The amount of money football is taking, literally, from the mouths of those they purport to entertain.
Let’s take a simple example of the math:
Sky subscribers (were not talking BT Sport and other rights holders) watching a game could be between 250,000 and 1.5 million for a single game. If we make a rough estimate and say this 1.5 million is the total of all subscribers across all providers (not unreasonable) that paid £14.95 for yesterday’s game. That’s £21.4m. FOR ONE GAME.
Let’s take this a tad further. When people complain about footballers earning £200,000 per week – which is actually in reality, only a handful of players at the top clubs. Perhaps Mo Salah for example, if the reported numbers are to be believed. Let’s say there are 20 such players across the premiership.
That would total around £200m for the yearly salaries of the players we all complain about. This sum is covered in just 10 games. Remember, we haven’t included the global subscriptions OR the standard monthly subscriptions either. Let alone the other contributors globally. I think this brings the footballers’ salary into perspective.
The fact is that this £14.95, on most people’s moral compass is an obscene and vulgar insult to the paying public. £81,000 we all know will buy a lot of food, for a lot of people, for a long time.
I’m not a socialist, nor a capitalist. My personal belief is only in what is fair. This is the responsibility of us all. The Spirit of Shankly group and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford should be applauded for the efforts they are making to ensure that people in need are looked after in this very difficult time.
Incredible effort – over £93,000 has so far been raised for @SFoodbanks #BoycottPPV #LIVSHU the boycott has been a great success but if people across the world still want to donate the link is still open here https://t.co/xj2O9qE28P pic.twitter.com/fr8vAhvDgk
— Spirit of Shankly (@spiritofshankly) October 24, 2020
Next Up
We have the visit to Anfield of FC Midtjylland for the second Champions League Group D game on Wednesday. Then the Hammers of East London, (ironically) West Ham come to Walton Breck Road on Saturday afternoon for the next league fixture.
While you’re here…
The latest book from the The Good, The Bad and The Ugly weekly is out now. Relive this historic season. Available for purchase on Amazon, or directly from The LFC File. Click here to secure your copy. Either as an eBook (€5) or as a physical paperback (€8).
