Topic: PL: Liverpool (4) Salah 20', Mane 46', 52, S v West Ham (0) 12.08.18 KO 13.30pm.

[free_at_last]

I'm sure that any body that thought that people might think their league was bent might think it was a good idea to make sure that no one could have any excuse to think like that.

Not sure if you've ever worked in Manchester, but look up the area in question and look up the stats on who they support. You might find it surprising.

...any normal football fan(as opposed to a paranoid conspiracy theorist) would find it difficult to believe that a man from a rabid manu family who lives
in the vicinity of old trafford would be the only person in the family to conveniently support Altrincham.
 It's not as though he goes out of his way to disprove the theory either. Very quick to book AA and such a scowl on his face as he did it! I'm sure he would have been the family hero as well if his inteception as we were bringing the ball out had lead to a goal...and yes that would have been too obvious but I'm sure he got in the way of Coutinho a few times when he reffed our game against the mancs at Anfield.
As for it not mattering if we win 4-0, if we won 6-0 that may mean the difference to CL football(or even the title) at the end of the season.
It's not a matter of football fans deciding every referee who should take our games...it's about cases like this where you'd think the EPL would want to be shown to be squeaky clean ...it's about us paying customers being able to watch a game without having to keep an eye on the dodgy referee(perceived or otherwise).

[sms1986]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/anthony-taylor/bilanz/schiedsrichter/847 shows that he isn’t that bad for us as some on here think, but I guess that would spoil the whinging. Before one of the usual lot jump on me for supposedly defending him or refs in general (because for some reason they seem to think that anything other than suspicion of refs is defending them), I’m just pointing out stats that suggest Taylor isn’t some scheming villain but just a referee.

[feynman]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/anthony-taylor/bilanz/schiedsrichter/847 shows that he isn’t that bad for us as some on here think, but I guess that would spoil the whinging. Before one of the usual lot jump on me for supposedly defending him or refs in general (because for some reason they seem to think that anything other than suspicion of refs is defending them), I’m just pointing out stats that suggest Taylor isn’t some scheming villain but just a referee.

I can see he is biased to Manchester United compare to us (see the win percentage). He doesn't like City too apparently (10 wins in 18 games).

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[feynman]

The table from transfermarkt shows how bent Taylor to Manchester United. It's the only team with a whopping ~75% win percentage. Comparing it with to the rest of the big 6 (~55%), I could say he's favouring them for whatever reason.

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[Wool]

We won 4-0. Why focus on how good we were when we can focus on the ref who wasn’t great, but wasn’t terrible either. Makes perfect sense.

[Ben87]

...any normal football fan(as opposed to a paranoid conspiracy theorist) would find it difficult to believe that a man from a rabid manu family who lives
in the vicinity of old trafford would be the only person in the family to conveniently support Altrincham.
 It's not as though he goes out of his way to disprove the theory either. Very quick to book AA and such a scowl on his face as he did it! I'm sure he would have been the family hero as well if his inteception as we were bringing the ball out had lead to a goal...and yes that would have been too obvious but I'm sure he got in the way of Coutinho a few times when he reffed our game against the mancs at Anfield.
As for it not mattering if we win 4-0, if we won 6-0 that may mean the difference to CL football(or even the title) at the end of the season.
It's not a matter of football fans deciding every referee who should take our games...it's about cases like this where you'd think the EPL would want to be shown to be squeaky clean ...it's about us paying customers being able to watch a game without having to keep an eye on the dodgy referee(perceived or otherwise).

They won’t change it now though, because it will show they’ve been wrong all this time allowing it

[El Lobo]

We won 4-0. Why focus on how good we were when we can focus on the ref who wasn’t great, but wasn’t terrible either. Makes perfect sense.

Kind of right

But he was terrible

[sms1986]

I can see he is biased to Manchester United compare to us (see the win percentage). He doesn't like City too apparently (10 wins in 18 games).

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He’s still mostly refereeing wins or draws for us, and he’s given us more penalties than he has to United. That’s my whole point here.

[sms1986]

We won 4-0. Why focus on how good we were when we can focus on the ref who wasn’t great, but wasn’t terrible either. Makes perfect sense.

Welcome to RAWK, you must be new here.

[mkingdon]

A tremendous start to the season. Every player was excellent and it was fantastic to see such quality and depth on the bench. I was delighted for Sturridge and I really hope he has a great season and earns a new contract.

Keita is the real deal and will rip the league up this season.

I don't know if the ref is biased but I do know he was shite.

[sms1986]

A tremendous start to the season. Every player was excellent and it was fantastic to see such quality and depth on the bench. I was delighted for Sturridge and I really hope he has a great season and earns a new contract.

I know a lot on here are sure he'll get injured soon enough, but I think he'll stay fit all season and come off the bench to score some important goals for us.

[killer-heels]

That pass by Trent to Keita was amazing.

Trent is just a special footballer. One slight complaint is I would like to see him run at the defence more because he can carry it so well.

He is the most complete footballer we have seen since Gerrard.

[Chig]

That pass by Trent to Keita was amazing.

Trent is just a special footballer. One slight complaint is I would like to see him run at the defence more because he can carry it so well.

He is the most complete footballer we have seen since Gerrard.

Naby Keita says Hi!

[free_at_last]

He’s still mostly refereeing wins or draws for us, and he’s given us more penalties than he has to United. That’s my whole point here.

Shtatistics, smatishtics. Has it occurred to you that we might have won or drawn those games DESPITE him(an example was
the non-existent free kick he gave to Sunderland in the last minute that led to an equaliser last time we were up there).
If it looks like a manc, walks like a manc and acts like a manc it is a manc. You have leapt to his defence before and obviously have your own reasons.  Most Liverpool fans are aware of the irrational loathing for all things Liverpool in that part of the world. I just don't want one of the c*nts refereeing our games because he claims not to be a manu fan against all logic.

[BarryCrocker]

That pass by Trent to Keita was amazing.

Trent is just a special footballer. One slight complaint is I would like to see him run at the defence more because he can carry it so well.

He is the most complete footballer we have seen since Gerrard.

[killer-heels]

Naby Keita says Hi!

Keita is amazing but what is his long passing and shooting like?

Trent is obviously not on Keita’s level yet but he can pass well both short and long, has an amazing cross, can run and dribble well, shoots well, can take a good free kick and is quick.

[sms1986]

Keita is 23, Trent is 19, just imagine what our team will be like with these two at their peak!

[Coolie High]

That pass by Trent to Keita was amazing.

Trent is just a special footballer. One slight complaint is I would like to see him run at the defence more because he can carry it so well.

He is the most complete footballer we have seen since Gerrard.

Certainly up there, Coutinho was pretty complete as well.

[PoetryInMotion]

Keita is amazing but what is his long passing and shooting like?

Trent is obviously not on Keita’s level yet but he can pass well both short and long, has an amazing cross, can run and dribble well, shoots well, can take a good free kick and is quick.

Fantastic. You've obviously not seen him in the Bundesliga it looks like. Keita is as complete a midfielder you're going to get. And we've got Bobby, who's probably the most complete midfielder/forward we may have seen. VVD might be the most complete CB and so on..

Trent is pretty good, but he's not the most complete footballer we've had since Gerrard. He can be fantastic for his age without the absurd superlatives. Let's not place too much burden/expectations on him and let him get on eh?

[Peabee]

Are you sure you mean that? That bias has only to be “perceived” and not actually real. Wouldn’t that make you (and your equivalents at Man United and Everton etc) the arbiters of who was able referee games? I mean you guys perceive bias everywhere.

That’s pretty much why Mike Dean wasn’t allowed to ref Liverpool or Everton games for 10 years. It wasn’t because he would be biased (he supports neither team), but the perception that there could be bias “might lead to comment and debate which could place him under undue additional pressure.”

[sms1986]

Trent is pretty good, but he's not the most complete footballer we've had since Gerrard. He can be fantastic for his age without the absurd superlatives. Let's not place too much burden/expectations on him and let him get on eh?

Whilst I agree, I think he's done well with expectations so far.

[sms1986]

Someone posted this on the Liverpool subreddit about Keita -

88% Pass Success

68 Total Passes

1 Key Pass

81 Touches

2/3 Dribbles Completed

1 Tackle

1 Aerial Duel won

1 Interception

Heatmap - https://imgur.com/a/GkRGZy8

Thoughts:

He looked in cruise control out there to be honest and still was oozing class. His touch was quality, the weight of his passes were perfect and he was very intelligent when on the ball.

It was obvious that once he received the ball with space in front of him, there was little the defense could do. Notably, the first goal where he received the ball in the middle of the pitch with space to drive towards the defense and deliever a inch perfect pass to Robbo for the Salah goal and a chance later in the game when he again drove in space with the ball and delievered a great pass to Mane who in turn found Bobby on the right side with plenty of space to deliever a simple cross to Salah for a tap in which Fabianski unfortunately saved. Another example was in the 2nd half when he made an incisive pass that bypassed the midfield and thus forced two defenders on Salah who back-heeled it to Gini for a good sight on goal but the shot was blocked.

The ability to receive the ball in between the lines and attack defenders or to make an incisive pass that breaks the lines is something we missed since Coutinho. And the thing is this was an average performance from him imo. There were moments in the game where he could've taken on more defenders but opted for the safer pass which I believe because he didnt want to take many risks in his first game esp. with Gini solely as the no 6. There were other moments when he was in a great position in between the lines to receive a pass but no one saw him. But this is something that will take time once his chemistry with the rest of the team improves.

Overall, I know its the first game and it might be rash to get overly excited over one game but we waited a year for this. And now we unfortunately have to wait all the way until Monday to see the boys again. I just cant help it but to be excited about our new no 8

https://www.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/974xm6/discussion_and_analysis_naby_keitas_first_game_as/

[Yorkykopite]

That’s pretty much why Mike Dean wasn’t allowed to ref Liverpool or Everton games for 10 years. It wasn’t because he would be biased (he supports neither team), but the perception that there could be bias “might lead to comment and debate which could place him under undue additional pressure.”

But - unless I’m misunderstanding Andy’s point - the analogy would require Mike Dean to be have been stopped from officiating Man Utd games because he came from the Wirral, not Liverpool and Everton games.

[sms1986]

[PoetryInMotion]

Fabiansky there 

[newterp]

Fabiansky there 

looks a bit like tim sherwood

[S]

He is the most complete footballer we have seen since Gerrard.

Even after a season like the one he had last year, I still think a lot of time is required before making a statement like this. He's 19 after all.

The more excitable side of me wants to agree with you right now though, because the potential is definitely there. He seems at ease in all situations. That goes for both his excellent technical ability and, something I think that goes unmentioned, his maturity. Outside of Liverpool, nobody knew who he was a year ago. Since then he's had a whole season in the first team of a top four side, a Champions League final, a World Cup debut...and he looks completely unaffected by it all.

[SlowRap]

Fabiansky there 

Probably captained Mo in FF

[Wingman]

If you're talking about losing the final & semi, you'd have to be good enough to recognize that this side has reached a European Final twice in 3 years and another Cup Final as well. And this side has become a Top 4 side twice in a row, after failing to finish in the Top 4 in 6/7 previous seasons. It has to be within a context. And it has the potential to achieve so much more.

The context is simple. One poster says this side is better than the one of 88. I say it isn’t, because this side has yet to win anything. Where they came from the previous season(s) was not a point of discussion.

[rob1966]

He’s still mostly refereeing wins or draws for us, and he’s given us more penalties than he has to United. That’s my whole point here.

We're that fucking good, nothing he can do to stop us winning    United don't get as many pens because they don't get in anyones box anymore.

Sunday was a wonderful start to the season, but some are rightly commenting on the ref. In what we all accept is likely to be a very close run title chase, visions of our last run v City are already in my head, we are going to need every point and goal we can get. When we were ruling everyone in the 70's and 80's, we'd still moan like fuck about shit referring displays.

The officials were poor again in this game, as they were in some other games. Not surprised the pundits and commentators are already commenting about VAR and how this that and the other would have been spotted - including our offside goal.

[sms1986]

The context is simple. One poster says this side is better than the one of 88. I say it isn’t, because this side has yet to win anything. Where they came from the previous season(s) was not a point of discussion.

This is Klopp's third season, which is usually a very successful one (compare that to Mourinho's third seasons) and I do think we'll get at least one trophy out of this season, along with a title challenge.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

This is Klopp's third season, which is usually a very successful one (compare that to Mourinho's third seasons) and I do think we'll get at least one trophy out of this season, along with a title challenge.

Hopefully that will be the case, but still a long way to go before we know for sure. one game at a time 

[sms1986]

Hopefully that will be the case, but still a long way to go before we know for sure. one game at a time 

Indeed, that's how Klopp and the players will see it.

[Koparoo]

If it looks like a manc, walks like a manc and acts like a manc ... it is a manc.

ipso factum...

[sms1986]

I think many, if not most, of our wins this season will be like this - a comfortable win where we don't even need to be at 100% to thrash our opponents.

[Ben87]

I think many, if not most, of our wins this season will be like this - a comfortable win where we don't even need to be at 100% to thrash our opponents.

Especially at Anfield. Hopefully, a lot of teams will come to Anfield expecting to lose and make our task a bit easier

[sms1986]

Especially at Anfield. Hopefully, a lot of teams will come to Anfield expecting to lose and make our task a bit easier

Anfield is becoming a fortress again and I think West Ham definitely arrived expecting defeat or at least a very difficult game.

[Ben87]

Anfield is becoming a fortress again and I think West Ham definitely arrived expecting defeat or at least a very difficult game.

Definitely. The game is already half won when teams turn up with that mentality, so the better we are the easier it should become.

I think that was a factor with City dominating so much last season, no one believed they were beatable until we did it. So hopefully we can do the same and City show a bit of weakness this year.

[Oberyn_Martell]

We are a very very good team.

The referee was really bad though. VAR can't come soon enough.

[dptlfc83]

We are a very very good team.

The referee was really bad though. VAR can't come soon enough.

Why VAR?

VAR will ruin footy. It was shite in the WC. Waiting around for it, players surrounding the ref asking for it. The game will end up like nfl. No thanks.