Liverpool 1 – 1 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
28 Nov
This was a test of our character, resilience and fighting spirit and we passed. Our unbeaten run continued thanks to a resourceful team performance and Joe Hart’s brilliance in goal. After a draining midweek Champions League tie in midweek, coupled with Mario Balotelli’s red card towards the end of this game, a draw is a more than acceptable return and it means that, with Manchester United only managing a point at home to Newcastle, we maintain our five point lead at the top of the table.
After Vincent Kompany’s shoulder put us in the lead, Joleon Lescott’s unfortunate deflection meant that we shared the points. Truth be told, I believe it was a fair result as both sides enjoyed periods of dominance without ever displaying a clinical finishing touch. It was an enjoyable game for the neutral and one in which we had to battle. It was a serious test of our capability but we rose to the challenge and can hopefully take belief from this result.
The one standout performance from a City player was Joe Hart’s and having been on the periphery for much of this season as we’ve swept sides apart with scintillating football, it was time for him to showcase his talents. Occasionally this season, he’s been at fault for goals as his tendency to parry shots straight out instead of to the side has cost us, but yesterday he was magnificent. Splendid stops from Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez meant that we departed Anfield with a share of the spoils and as Hart stated after the game, it was just nice for him to contribute.
As per usual, there was one individual who grabbed more headlines for his actions and that was Mario Balotelli, although this time, I have sympathy with him. Replacing Samir Nasri just after the hour mark, he looked determined to make an impression, working hard at conjuring something up in the final third. He received an understandable yellow card for pulling a Liverpool player back but then received a second card minutes later for what Martin Atkinson deemed an elbow on Martin Skrtel.
In fact, replays showed it was nothing of the sort, merely a raised Balotelli arm catching the defender. There was no malice in the challenge, no intent and certainly no elbow, but Atkinson decided it was worthy of sending the Italian off. My view is that he was picked on because of his reputation and that if it had been James Milner committing the challenge, there would have been no card. Atkinson bottled the decision, giving Balotelli only a yellow card when an elbow should receive a red one, but it was enough to mean that we played the last ten minutes with just ten men.
Opposition View: After a shaky start, Liverpool impressed and had Hart not been in such sterling form, they would have been victorious. Lucas Leiva was superb in central midfield, whilst I thought Agger and Skrtel in defence handled the threat of Aguero very well. They played with heart and desire, pressing us high up the pitch and should they retain that level of performance throughout the season, they will undoubtedly challenge for the Champions League places. The one downside for me is the repulsive Luis Suarez, who, despite being a fantastic player, acts horribly on the pitch, constantly diving, moaning and berating the referee.
As for City, we now move on to the Carling Cup, where we face Arsenal on Tuesday at the Emirates. I expect plenty of changes to the side for that game before we resume Premier League action against Norwich next weekend.
Ref described second yellow as clumsy, which it indeed was. I love Balo, but it was worthy of a second yello as it was clumsy and reckless…therefore couldnt disagree more over read card
Clumsy and reckless challenges happen dozens of times in every game. If all leading arms were yellow carded we would have no football to watch anymore.
That challenge was dealt with in an entirely disproportionate way to similar challenges in the same game.
Balotelli again punished for his reputation rather than what he actually did.
Why was his elbow raised at all? He made no attempt to jump to get at the ball and in such a case it is common for a player to shield his body by going up with his arms. He moves to his left towards skrtel and leads with his arms, it was unnecessary, it was clumsy and after his reaction after throwing Agger down was entirely appropriate given his reputation.
I really do not understand where his anger comes from, clearly the lad has gobbles of talent and is an asset in this team, he just needs to mature a wee bit.
I actually agree with the guy above on reflection….dont think ref bottled it in the end – he gave a fair explanation and yes the Lpool players surrounded him, but his explanation justified his actions.
Before the start of season, 7 points out of 9 for 3 games in While Heart lane, Old Trafford and Anefiled might have sounded like an insurmountable task, City has done a great job and what impressed me was to see them press high from the start.
Definitely Joe Hart was our man of match and for Liverpool the honor goes to referee.
Mancini did the absolute right thing to defend super Mario. He is an outstanding player and we should stand behind him 100%.
We need a quality center back and a decent winger to complete the team. Let’s hope we get them in the transfer window.
Who was the man who was awarded the man of the match award when City won their first trophy for over 35 years, was it Carlos Tevez, the man whose goals had brought them to the final, no. Was it Ya Ya Toure the man whose goal won them the cup, No. Was it Vincent Kompany the solid dependble rock that marshalled City’s defence throughout the campaign, No. Was it David Silva the man who many feel will win the Player of the year award this year, No. No it was the man who Jose Mourinho said couldn’t be managed bacause he only had “one Neuron”, it was the man who single handedly caused the demise of City’s Europa league campaign, it was the man who scored the first two goals in United’s old Trafford mauling, it was the man the usually neutral Roberto Mancini said he “loved”. That man is Mario Balotelli and he is loved by the City fans so all you clowns announcing his demise should just shut it!
Well said! SUPER MARIO IS MY HERO
With a name like Bring Bellamy back I assume this post is an attempt at irony!
Seems like a fair review of the match though as a red i’ve got to stick up for suarez. He may be a scoundrel but he’s our scoundrel.
Anyway all the best for the rest of the season
2 mins after coming on as sub on 75 mins at qpr balo was booked for pulling back a player and then blatantly dived just after and could possibly should have been sent off. I love having a player like him but needs to think of the team. I wouldn’t have brought him on for what was our most testing 30 mins of the season so far (bar qpr) most of all yesterday we showed a bit of steel and it will prove to be a very important point.
So, so biased, it’s embarrassing, I just threw-up!. Bunch of as*ho*les!!!.
I think Milner dived more than anyone yesterday but nothing is made of that as he’s English and we don’t do that sort of thing do we?? If Balotelli did that he’d be hounded in the press, much like Suarez is. I like Milner but think he ran himself in the ground and should have been subbed earlier. None of our attacks came through him. He was in Enrique’s pocket. Just because someone runs around doesn’t mean they played well – or Kuyt would win player of the year!!!
Here’s what a Pool fan posted about the match over at The Guardian in the btl comments:
‘As the camera panned around the famous old stadium, from the wonderful Liverpool fans to the great man himself, King Kenny, on this sad day for all lovers of the beautiful game,there was one thing that was abundantly clear and it reverberated round the hallowed turf, You can buy almost anything but what you can’t buy, is true greatness’
Invoking a great tragedy to make a cheap partisan point. Classy.
I’m a Liverpool fan and I have to admit. I love Balotelli as well. He’s a proper character and the game needs them. I think he’s definitely not all there.
This game was more important for Liverpool than Citeh. I expected a mauling and was highly proud that we came out looking so good. Very few Citeh fans will deny that they probably should have been beat but for the brilliance of Hart.
I hope Citeh win the league but I hope now that we’ve shown that we can keep Citeh reasonably quiet it doesn’t inspire or show other teams how it can be done. But very few teams do have players that can do it so I think you’ll be alright.
as a Liverpool fan I think your assessment is very fair. I also hope you win the league as its clear we are not at that level and better you than your neighbours.
I would take issue with your description of the despicable suarez though. on the one hand you defend ballotelli and claim he was the victim of reputation rather than actions. in many ways he’s similar to our own loose cannon Suarez, highly talented but prone to acts of impulse and emotion.
I think its slightly biased to criticise ours and defend yours.
As a red and someone who was stood in the Kop on Sunday, I would like to applaud the city fans for their conduct. The arkles was packed with both sets of fans pre-match and not a hint of trouble. The city fans undoubtedly were shouting loudest in the pub but the Kop took over inside the ground. I also thought the city fans brief applause prior to the minutes silence in respect of brad jones’ son and gary speed was outstanding. I think the article is reasonable here and Balloteli needs to be given a break. The guy is a banter merchant, the cosiest thing to garza since he hug his boots up, and.I can’t help but love him. It was never a red. We should have won the game 3 times over but city showed enough in te first 20 mins for me to prove they’ll walk the league this year. Hope the rivalry says friendly. YNWA
Edit* “closest thing to gazza” – goddamn ipad
Like the sentiment but Balotelli has a loooooooooooong way to go before we can start saying he’s in Gazza’s class – either on the field or off it!!