Topic: Manchester United 1 - 0 Liverpool-FA CUP

[Mad Men]

Robbie96 comments "Still think we'll win this! "

Robbo, I would be quite happy to come away with a draw at this point in time...but anything is possible in football.

I just wonder if this Liverpool side have the maturity and self belief as we did in the first game this season against Arsenal where we went down to 10 men and scored after that.

We still have 50 minutes...anything is very possible.

[Chakan]

Lost his head a bit and jumped in. Worthy of one and a half yellows and we'd be demanding a red the other way round. Stupid challenge.

Even the commentator said it was just a yellow. Webb having a mare.

The Travelling KOP carrying us onwards

YNWA

Been in full voice!! Great to hear!

Didn't the commentators realise?
We've been a man down since kick-off

Hard to beat yernited at greyskull regardless , having the ref in your pocket seems to help though.

This is the man that the powers that be in football have decided is the BEST referee in the Europe and in the world. Again.... THE BEST

Boggles the mind doesn't it?

Both feet off the ground and a lunge? It was a two-legged tackle,clear red.

We'll agree to disagree, think it was no more than a yellow.

[Chakan]

He'll miss the Derby now.  WTF   

Misses 3 games! Blackpool, Everton and 1 other

[Mad Men]

from: DonkeyWan on Today at 02:11:32 PM

Both feet off the ground and a lunge? It was a two-legged tackle,clear red.

Yes, by the letter of the law, that is correct. But he got the ball first. So, make of it how you will.

[Aristotle]

I hate Webb as much as the next man, and the penalty was an absolute joke - but that red was correct I'm afraid. Gerrard dived in with both feet off the ground - the rules have been made clear time and time again - that's a justified red card even if the player does get the ball, and Gerrard didn't even get the ball. Stupid from the captain (especially given who the ref is) at a time when our pressing game (and so nice to say those words again) was putting Utd under real pressure.

You are right. But in these rivalries you don't give a controversial decision unless it's a 100% sure. The penalty was a fucking disgrace and the amount of these types of tackles that have been "let off" in these games is probably into the hundreds by now.

[Chakan]

Both decisions were correct if you just go by the rule book. Berbatov obviously could have stayed up but went down going nowhere. Gerrard's tackle also a red but if Webb used his head he could easily have gave a red and not given a penalty as well.

Anyway I like the set up, much more balanced, we had some good play for brief periods. Still worried about Torres' body language. Lucas and Meireles need to stand firm against the onslaught. Hold out till half time and regroup.

Before all of that we looked good though pressure confidence and we looked like a cohesive unit!

Berbatov was niggled at no more, softest penalty I have ever seen. Gerrard maybe , but webb should have used his head!

[Aristotle]

Just an FYI I'm watching this on a dodgy stream so don't expect any updates, more of a "expert" opinion.

[Chakan]

45 3 minutes of extra time. We need to hold out till first half and then regroup and come out firing in the 2nd!

[Aristotle]

but webb should have used his head!

He did, but it was in Fergie's dressing room

[Mad Men]

Just an FYI I'm watching this on a dodgy stream so don't expect any updates, more of a "expert" opinion.

Roger that.

Good news is, we are not getting over run even with 10 players. Into injury time.

[Chakan]

46 Lucas with a late challenge in Nani, yernited build from the back with flecther , it's cut out and liverpool break with Kuyt, Lucas is caught in possession and we hopefully have 1 last chance before the break but a woeful cross by Kelly gives the ball back to united

[Chakan]

On a positive note, I guess it's flattering that we terrify United  enough once more that they have to arrange a handicap of a goal start and a man off. 

We are still playing well. We may be a man and goal down but this is best i've seen us play for a long time

I meant easily gave a yellow!

Yeah he could have easily done

[Mad Men]

48:00 Johnny Evans header from a corner strikes the Liverpool post....and goes back into play..........

[Chakan]

48 Corner from united and evans gets up over maxi and his header hits the bar! Let off for us! And that's the break

[Chakan]

HT Webb 1 - 0 Liverpool.

Pathetic.

Positives though this looks like a liverpool team with a clear game plan and confidence in possession!

[Mad Men]

Chakan,

to be fair, Man Utd offered very little in the first half.

[Pheeny]

Taken from twiiter and sums the game up...

paul_tomkins Paul Tomkins
Jonny Evans hits the post. Howard Webb just unable to smash in the rebound.

[Chakan]

So this is the same referee that didn't give Nigel De Jong a red card for THAT tackle against Xabi Alonso?

Just some perspective for you.



Yellow card

[Aristotle]

I know it's only 45 minutes (and granted away against the mancs) but you can spot the difference in the team. Players are taking those extra seconds to actually find a teammate instead of Roy's trademark hoof & pray.

One thing I've noticed is Meireles seems only about 80% fit and we're suffering for it. That being said I've had a gut feeling all day that he'll score with a thunderious piledriver.

[Pheeny]

lost for words really.Wonder what the ITV panel will say?

[Pheeny]

Oh yea and if it's a red for Stevie why wasn't it even a foul against Raul?

[Chakan]

I think the biggest problem is that when they show the replays, they always slow it down, which always makes it look worse.  At full speed, first thought was yellow, still think red is harsh.

Again, on the positive side, united aren't playing that well, and it's only 1-0(just), and we're playing pretty well, as others have said, it's the best football we've played, certainly look comfortable.

It was a 50/50 ball, Gerrard shouldn't have gone in like that, but still if Webb used his head he would know it was a yellow.

We look much better though

[Chakan]

Soooo a very positive first half of football, style wise. Clearly Kenny want's Reina releasing the ball short, wants his team pressing high up the pitch. Torres looks well up for this as well.... I think Torres needs to believe in his manager and Kenny is someone he believes in.

Commentator on my stream "1-0 Manchester United, a penalty by Giggs after Berbatov was touched by Agger, certainly nothing more.... Gerrard later sent of for a reckless tackle which maybe warranted just a yellow card"

Watching Al JazeeraSport 3.

Everyone thinks it's a shocking decision, assuming you aren't a manc

[Chakan]

All the crap about the players not being of a high enough standard has been well and truly buried by that first half display.

A player down and a ref giving everything to them and we're still just one down.

This is retrievable  but better than that it shows that the conductor IS the difference

We're not out of this by any stretch of the imagination. We have been the better team!

[Chakan]

Btw Kuyt has the armband.

[Mad Men]

Question is:

1) How will we set up in the first?

2) Will Webb "make amends" for his first half error/s?

3) Can we take advantage of a very average Man U team in the second half?

[Aristotle]

You're bang on in your response aristotle - if that tackle happens the other way round then Webb probably bottles it and gives a yellow, and agreed they are let off many times in these kinds of games - but we all know, as should Gerrard, that OT, with Webb, there's a chance of him inventing cards and penalties - let alone when you commit what is a genuine red card offence. Real shame because I felt we were starting to gain control of the game somewhat.

Thanks, that's all I'm saying. I mean if you take into account how many "red card" yellows Carragher, Gerrard, Mascherano (I know there are more, but I remember a clear incident with each of them) have gotten away with against Everton in the last few years that are let off you don't think "Fucking hell, the FA have to put a stop to this!" you go "this is what derbies are all about!". And you could even say that the rest of the game is irrelevant. Yernited could play their socks off and give the performance of a lifetime and this game will still end Webb vs. Liverpool

[Mad Men]

The main issue here is CONSISTENCY and Referee's being fair to all teams and players and not just applying the letter of the law to some people/teams whilst letting others off the hook.

Howard Webb has been incredibly inconsistent in his career as a referee.

If you don't have a solid view of a player getting taken out in the box, how can you give a penalty just because a player goes down? He will regret his decision when he watch's it on the telly.

[Aristotle]

Bizarrely I've had the same gut feeling about Meireles all day... due a goal and has real venom in his shots. Think I said as much to Chakan. Meireles is going to bail us out.... Anfield replay?

I'm thinking a midfield saving with Meireles and Lucas getting a goal each and Jacko scoring a Lampard-esque deflection for an Anfield replay.

[Chakan]

The main issue here is CONSISTENCY and Referee's being fair to all teams and players and not just applying the letter of the law to some people/teams whilst letting others off the hook.

Howard Webb has been incredibly inconsistent in his career as a referee.

If you don't have a solid view of a player getting taken out in the box, how can you give a penalty just because a player goes down? He will regret his decision when he watch's it on the telly.

Nah one phone call from Fergie with a "good job son" and his fears and regret will be replaced with pride and satisfaction.

[Mad Men]

Kelly of all people could end up actually scoring. Don't be surprised lol

[Chakan]

Teams coming back onto the pitch. Kenny looks non-plussed but takes time out to clap the traveling Kop.

[Chakan]

United kick off from left to right.

[Aristotle]

Question is:

1) How will we set up in the first?

2) Will Webb "make amends" for his first half error/s?

3) Can we take advantage of a very average Man U team in the second half?

1)

Reina
Kelly-Skrtel-Agger-Aurelio
Meireles-----Lucas------Maxi
<-----Kuyt----->
Torres

2) I expect the occasional throw in/corner in our favour but we'll get carded for not using the correct toothpaste or something as trivial.

3) Yes we can. I'm thinking 2-2 draw

[Mad Men]

Twelfth man comments

"We don't really have much on the bench to change it. Perhaps Babel's pace can come in useful as we get penned back. Otherwise Cole for Maxi which would be pretty much like for like.

I liked Agger coming forward on that little run. I guess if we are still in it with 20 mins to go he can do that a bit more when allowed. Lucas and Raul really need to run their socks of, while Maxi and Kuyt as ever need to do the same. Would be nice of Torres could also close down a lot more now that we are down to 10."

[Chakan]

45 Giggs with a mazy run, goes past Kelly who recovers well to concede a corner. Giggs to take. Dangerous ball in is cleared out

[Chakan]

I dont know how it works, as I'm not too familiar with the process, but heres my input on this:

We can't control the ref, but our play up until the red card was much more like the Liverpool I watched a couple of years ago. We were crisp and quick with the movement, and pressed so well that they didn't have a look in. It will be interesting to see if we play like this against Blackpool in a few days time

Interesting that the assistant did not flag for the penalty. He comfortably had the best view.

I think Kelly has been solid so far, and has attacked with promise. His final ball could be better, and we need it to be.

Just remember fellas, we took the bitters down with 10 men, we gotta believe we can nab a goal or two against this mob, and anything could happen

Good summary.

[Mad Men]

Baby Yaga comments:

"Does he seem like the type of referee that regrets these decisions? He could be regretting a few howlers he had against us in the past and giving us a hand here.... but nope, he's burying us with any oppertunity he gets. Full on wanker."

[Aristotle]

Can I just add how orgasmic it is watching the team rush forward and continuing to press instead of holding some imaginary line like we have all season.

[Chakan]

Enough whingeing already. WE'RE LIVERPOOL AND THE KING IS BACK.

TIME TO MAKE YOURSELVES HEROES YOU RED MEN.

Need a positive start!