LFC 20/21 – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Gameweek 5
The Reds record a respectable draw following the last week’s nightmare score. VAR still remains the sinner, chalking off a certain winner. Two players are sent for scans after tackles that should be banned. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, another week reviewed at the world’s favourite football club Liverpool F.C.
The Good
Earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the noisy neighbours yesterday. Despite the fact that the game should have finished with a win for Liverpool (see The Bad), the Reds restored some faith following the shambolic display in their last outing.
Goals from Sadio Mané and Mo Salah put Liverpool ahead twice before being pegged back by Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. This was in truth, a typical derby affair and arguably the most fiercely fought meeting between these two teams in some years, it has to be said.
Carlo Ancelotti has assembled an Everton side with more bite than in recent times. So much so that on occasion, a dogged display would be an understatement in this game. Vicious is a more appropriate descriptive.
Liverpool – now being the team to beat, will certainly face more of the same this season as teams look to knock them off the perch they’ve only recently just climbed back onto.
The Goodison Park visitors were made to look much less than their previously impervious selves. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah were both shackled for much of the game, with Alexander-Arnold looking particularly jaded it has to be said.
It ends level in the derby.#EVELIV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 17, 2020
Overall, the team can be forgiven for feeling hard done by when Jordan Henderson’s injury-time “winner” was ruled out for offside. And thus…
The Bad
Henderson’s 93rd minute goal being disallowed for offside. It looked for sure that the captain had secured the three points when he converted Mané’s centre in stoppage time, only for the Video Assisted Referee to rule against it.
Look, I’m a real supporter of VAR but you would expect that, especially with offside, you then do the right decision…
Jürgen Klopp could only laugh in incredulity as the decision was conveyed by referee Michael Oliver. “… you would expect that, especially with offside, you then do the right decision…”
So, Liverpool have been denied three points by a ridiculous decision. A look at the picture would show clearly, Mané was at worst level. His body was shaped forward as you’d expect for an attacker whilst the defenders are looking to step out.
We’ve seen this so many times, yet these clowns purporting to be “experts” can’t distinguish between a natural movement and a genuine indiscretion. Usually I’d describe these events as unbelievable. Sadly nowadays, they are quite frankly, almost expected.
Still no absolute proof from VAR or PL on why that deemed offside. Seems insane that the whole world can look at those pictures and see Mane level, but a bloke in a cupboard can't.
Simple really, unless it's visible it's onside. This farce could undermine VAR forever #EVELIV
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) October 17, 2020
There was a time when video was called for when deciding goal-line decisions, handballs or of course, offsides. However, we should be careful what we wish for. The implementation of this idea has been done more with officialdom in mind than helping the flow and integrity of the game. Now we’re left with a suboptimal and misused process that causes more problems that it solves. Well done FIFA et al.
The Ugly
The challenge on Virgil van Dijk in yesterday’s game. I fail to see how this wasn’t a red card offence. The only justification for Jordan Pickford remaining on the pitch is that the whistle had already gone for offside… WHAT?!
It’s seems to me that modern day football is fast becoming a joke. From that explanation, I presume had van Dijk got up and lumped Pickford one on the chin, that would have been fine also? While we’re at it, why don’t we have a 22-man brawl – well, 21 given one down already – the whistle has gone for offside anyway… At times, I struggle to take the game seriously.
If there aren’t clueless referees doling out clueless decisions, then it’s another with a video (in front of his very eyes) who is unable to decide a simple offside situation.
As things stand, the crucial central defender is set to miss the next seven or eight months from this. And there is no sanction whatsoever against Pickford. I’m not saying he done it deliberately, but a bad tackle is a bad tackle. Point.
The VAR did review Jordan Pickford's tackle on Virgil Van Dijk but decided it was not a red card, The Athletic has been told. #EVELIVhttps://t.co/GCCtYY5KHT
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) October 17, 2020
With goalie Alisson also out injured, Liverpool face a tough time staying in the title race this season. That much was clear when Everton equalised shortly after from a corner. A situation you would normally have expected the big Dutchman to have dealt with comfortably.
Joe Gomez and the injury-prone Joel “Glass” Matip won’t be up to the task in my opinion. Oh… and the only back-up Klopp has for these two is Fabinho. Interesting times ahead, I’m sure.
Up Next
A trip to that city of interesting culture and cultivation, Amsterdam on Wednesday, to take on Ajax in the first of this season’s Champions League fixtures. Then Liverpool host Sheffield United in an empty Anfield on Saturday evening. Two tricky fixtures coming up then, thus week.
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).
