Mancs Post Match

[Fredo]

Alan Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

I remember this vividly

[Eric Swindler]

Anyone listen to the Anfield Wrap this week? Massive bit of info re Mark Halsey and Ferguson.

One of the contributors on there was at a Ferguson charity dinner last week and Halsey was sat two chairs away from Ferguson at the top table.

1 week before Liverpool v United.

[Captain Stu]

Anyone listen to the Anfield Wrap this week? Massive bit of info re Mark Halsey and Ferguson.

One of the contributors on there was at a Ferguson charity dinner last week and Halsey was sat two chairs away from Ferguson at the top table.

1 week before Liverpool v United.

*face palm*

How is that not a conflict of interests?

[Shaggy]

Even when he sent Hamman off against Arsenal for absolutely nothing?

That was completely ridiculous.

[Shaggy]

Suarez is no cheat! Gerrard and Johnson leap to the defence of Liverpool team-mate

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 23:18, 24 September 2012 | UPDATED: 23:18, 24 September

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson have sprung to the defence of Luis Suarez and urged referees not to judge the striker on the reputation he has gained for diving.

The Uruguay international, who was booked the previous week at Sunderland for such an offence, could have had a penalty in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United after a tackle by Jonny Evans.

However, his appeals were turned down by referee Mark Halsey and both Gerrard and Johnson believe the 25-year-old is suffering from the label given to him during a difficult period last season.

"I think even when Luis does get blatant penalties now he doesn't get them," said Gerrard.

"It is down to referees to not judge him and give what they see - if it's not a penalty don't give him one but if it's clear give it.

"He was booked at Sunderland but against United it was a penalty."

Johnson echoed the sentiments of his captain by adding: "Everyone has to do their job: they have to forget about who they are looking at and make their decisions and not let anything from the past affect their decision.

"They have to call the shots at the time, regardless of who it is."

Johnson found himself on the receiving end when he conceded the match-winning spot-kick at Anfield after Antonio Valencia went down in the area.

The England right-back was fuming as he claimed he did not touch the Ecuadorian, whom he accused of cheating.

"I've watched it 50 times - not that I needed to - because it wasn't a penalty, I didn't touch him, I have collided with Pepe (Reina)," said the England international.

"Reputations go in front of people at times and because Valencia is not a known diver that is why he got the decision.

"I almost guarantee if it was exactly the same situation and it was Luis and not Valencia then it wouldn't be a penalty.

"It is cheating at the end of the day, that's what people call it. Cheating.

"You can't describe [the feeling] but you don't expect people to do that - they are better than that.

"This is one the best leagues in the world and you've got someone doing that.

"I know it is difficult for the referee when we are sprinting as fast as we can but in the big games they are the differences and we expect the referees to make the right decisions.

"We are working as hard as we can to win the game and to have that taken away like that .... I can't explain it.

"The referee said to me he had to give it so he obviously thought I had touched him. It is frustrating because I've not touched him."

Manager Brendan Rodgers felt referees had to get wiser and not be fooled by acts of simulation, while at the same time recognising that when people go down in the area it is not automatically a penalty or a dive.

"You see it in the modern game, across the board, a number of players go to ground too easily and they get their rewards sometimes," he said.

"Antonio Valencia has gone to ground and got a penalty for it with near-enough no contact.

"If you look at Luis last week away at Sunderland he goes down, there is contact but he gets booked for it then yesterday he didn't get it.

"Every foul or maybe someone going to the floor isn't always a booking."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2208128/Luis-Suarez-cheat-says-Steven-Gerrard-Glen-Johnson.html

[Captain Stu]

Don't agree with Johnson - that was a penalty - if that had been the other way round we'd all have been screaming for it.

Sadly it isn't just Suarez' reputation that costs him - it's his reaction. If he just went down without the theatrical head throw and arm flailing then he'd get far more penalties. Natural reaction when you're going down just isn't to throw your arms up, you put them down to cushion your fall.

[Shaggy]

Huh? Why do you think it was a penalty? Valencia clearly dived.

Only thing Johnson's wrong about is that Valencia isn't ordinarily a diver. He's dived to win a penalty against us before.

[Captain Stu]

He was already halfway down but Johnson goes across him with his right foot instead of his left and catches him.

[Fredo]

I thought Johnson's right arm was on Valencia's back and imo that's why Halsey gave the pen. Whether it was a def peno i'm not sure.

[Reece]

I thought Johnson's right arm was on Valencia's back and imo that's why Halsey gave the pen. Whether it was a def peno i'm not sure.

In that case he should have given one for Agger in the first half as Evans was all bloody over him

[JohnDoe]

Yes, clearly a pen. Johnson uses telekinesis to drag Valencia's right foot out wide.

[Captain Stu]

In that case he should have given one for Agger in the first half as Evans was all bloody over him

Regardless of Johnson/Valencia - that was a clear penalty. I'm more surprised that one wasn't given than the Suarez one as it was as clear as day that Evans had been trying to undress him.

[Captain Stu]

Yes, clearly a pen. Johnson uses telekinesis to drag Valencia's right foot out wide.

1. That's a ****ing useless angle.
2. You can see what appears to be Johnson putting his arm into Valencia's back.
3. His right foot still goes across his path.

Doesn't disprove anything.

[Rich]

No way is that a penalty. Never in a million Sundays.

[Buzzo]

1. That's a ****ing useless angle.
2. You can see what appears to be Johnson putting his arm into Valencia's back.
3. His right foot still goes across his path.

Doesn't disprove anything.

WTF???
That's a great angle... Because you can clearly see it's a dive and therefor not a pen.

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