Manchester United 3-0 Liverpool - Liverpool pay for Mascherano’s red mist
For the better part of the last 60 minutes, I’ve tried to make sense of the Mascherano sending off. It is unfortunate that the match will be remembered more for the action of 2 men (Javier Mascherano and Steve Bennett) than for Pepe Reina’s keeping (sublime and shaky in equal measures) or Brown’s goal, or even for the impact the result has on the title race.
I am a Manchester United fan - I say this to get bias out of the way, and hopefully my conscious awareness of my own bias in this matter will not impact my judgment too much.
On to the matter at hand:
Was Javier Mascherano’s second yellow card deserved? Yes. He ran over to the ref for an incident that did not concern him, presumably was warned and continued to pester the ref, who, abiding by the letter of the law (and not, as some people will churlishly suggest, to make a ‘name’ for himself), booked him.
Should Bennett have shown more restraint? Yes. While it’s not the referee’s prerogative to keep 22 players on the pitch (it’s the players’ job to stay there - and thank you to the kind soul who expressed this thought on their blog, I merely borrow your succinct expression of a key concept), I feel that a 2nd yellow for dissent is unfair as a law, and Bennett could have done better in terms of controlling the situation.
Is it Bennett’s fault that Liverpool lost? No. Mascherano knows the rules, and he should know, from experience, that arguing with the ref hardly helps change the ref’s mind. You want to ask the reasoning behind a decision, that’s a different story, but if you go up to a ref and berate him (as Steven Gerrard did as well for a free kick awarded to United outside the Liverpool area in the second half - he got away with it), that’s not on. Right or wrong, it’s against the rules (which need more flexibility) and from experience, Mascherano should know that the ref doesn’t change his mind just because you go up to him and bitch about it.
Can Mascherano be excused for his reaction? No. He is young, yes. Talented, yes. Passionate, yes. None of that exempts him from the rules of the game, just as nothing exempts any other player from the rules. The very fact that he had to be dragged away, that Rafa Benitez himself had to intervene (I feel for Rafa, he was in an extremely difficult situation and handled it well, I respect him more after seeing him today) - right decision or wrong, you’re not helping the game at all, and you’re not helping your teammates either.
In one way, the game (of football, in general) needed such a high-profile situation. I hope the FA learn from this, and amend the rules to:
- Allow only captains to approach referees, especially when contesting or questioning decisions.
- Tell referees explicitly to be more relaxed in dishing out the letter of the law when a 2nd yellow is involved (a challenge worthy of a red card merits an immediate expulsion, no doubt).
Liverpool fans, and Rafa Benitez, you have my sympathies. United may still have won the game, but no team likes to lose like this, and the team should not suffer a 3-0 defeat at the hand of bitter rivals because of the stupidity of one of their own.
Hopefully Mascherano mends his ways, and overall, players learn to focus on what directly benefits their team’s cause as opposed to charging the ref in self-righteous indignation.
I should add though, that Liverpool at Old Trafford looked stronger than Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season.
Wes Brown should stay at United
Forget about how his agent is holding out for an improved contract, or how Brown doesn’t compare to Evra when going forward or Neville when defending.
His passion for the club is unquestionable - for a quiet fellow (expressionless most of the time - even Carrick smiles more and EVDS and Vidic have that glowering look), his selfless effort in scoring the goal (risking injury considering the way he fell) and the sheer joy on his face were poignant, even allowing for the opposition - and Manchester United need people with his character in the squad.
Please Sir Alex, do what you can to keep him at Old Trafford.
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Discussion - 38 Responses
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Manutd have better players by miles.The quality level difference is too much.At home united will win,comfortably.
I disagree. Liverpool are overdue a win at Old Trafford and are in better form at the minute than United. Ronaldo aside, they were very average against Bolton and struggled in the second half at times. I know he made seven changes (but for some reason Ferguson doesn’t get the same criticism as Benitez) but I just feel Liverpool have the edge going into the game. Hopefully Benitez will adopt the same 4-3-2-1 formation that has served him so well in the last month and take the game to United. They will be very wary of Torres and Gerrard in such good form and a sneaky 1-0 win to the visitors (just like what United have got from Anfield in their last 2 games) is on the cards.
I really don’t think it’ll be comfortable, it never is. Maybe we’ll win 2-0, but it won’t be as comfortable as that scoreline would suggest. If Rio is fit I think we’ll keep a clean sheet. If he’s not, I hope we play Pique at centreback, because he played Torres twice last year, so he’ll be better than Brown at dealing with him.
At the moment we’re not taking our chances though, so I expect we’ll batter them but end up winning 2-1. Ronaldo, Tevez and Torres goals. But you’re right Graham, it’s impossible to predict.
Liverpool will win, Uniteds only chance is if Liverpool go gun hoe, which they wont.
1-1 I think. A 4-2-3-1 formation will be the order of the day for Liverpool on Sunday. Utd are very strong in defence, ONLY 15 goals conceded in the leauge so far this season suggests so. However, Torres will nick a goal I feel. Utd will score however and in the end the spoils will be shared. This will hopefully see an improvement on Liverpool’s showings at Old Trafford since Benitez’ arrival and the win may yet come next season. Who knows??
It would be surprising if this game is nothing else but a ‘tight affair’ and as a result won’t be one for the purists/neutrals. They rarely are in games between the big four. Not only points but too much pride at stake one feels.
It is false logic to say that just because something hasnt happened in a long time, that it is bound to happen this time. The “Liverpool are overdue a win at Old Trafford” statement can not hold.
Going by historical record, Utd should have the upper hand, but this will not be an easy match.
if ferdinand if fit for the game at his 100% liverpool chances of scoring are almost none. so lets hope he is fit.
Man u are going to dominat unless, gerrard and torres work together like in the champions league, it will be an interesting game to watch, a must see and real madrid rule lol
At anfield it was nothing to do with Ferdinand vs torres it was Liverpools lack of game intelliegence. The game was crying out for a Xabi Alonso! Gerrard couldnt get the ball because united put 15 men behind the ball! Mascherano is a great player but he cant build play on his own.
This new 4-2-3-1 formation allows Liverpool to build play and Gerrard will never be pinned back because we will already have alonso and masca there.
I expect to lose 1-0 at old trafford to a set piece (second ball). So i wont be disapointed if we loose but if we win…. Words wont describe the way Liverpool Fans will feel.
Gerrard and Torres will be more involved especially since United will attack but im gonna sit on the fence and say 0-0
3-1 United. 1 Ronaldo , 2Rooney. Gerrard penalty for a stupid Brown tackle
Nothing like a true derby to bring Keano back. Interesting times ahead gentlemen. I’ve got a funny suspition that this is the game that the “Best since Best” finally becomes the BEST! All i can hope for is that Hagreaves is in central midfield and the rest is up to Fergie. And yeah… two strikers please.
The United players know that they’re within touching distance of back-to-back titles.
Liverpool, of course will want to win, but the incentive for United will that greater.
United will want it more. United will win.
Manchester Utd ‘ll be da ultimate winner
Liver 2 ‘ll target 4 win, but i don’t think they would be able 2 pause Ronaldo’s consistent scoring.
This Grand Slam Sunday is too close to call, and that’s why im not going to me making any bold scoreline predictions on who the winner of United v Liverpool will be. All I will say is that both teams are on very good form, and I honestly don’t think that any of the main stars on each team, i.e. Ronaldo and Rooney or Torres and Gerrard, will be able to stamp authority on the game. Expect a close game, with United I think playing with a cautious style of play, meaning Brown and Proberly Evra wills stay back alot.
Liverpool will look for counter attacks but I dont think Man Utd will allow them to play like that, so a more attacking Liverpool will produce a better second half, albeit, Liverpool don’t have to win to stay in 4th, as they can draw and be happy with the result. A draw or a one goal victory i think…
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Man United should and most prob will win. Yeah yeah Bolton this and that. People seem to forget no Rio, Evra, Brown, Van der sar, Giggs, Rooney started and people like Hargreaves were not in their natural position and to win the game 2-0 is a very good result imo. People seem to forget we rested key players and are at home and have the best defensive record in the League atm. Okay maybe Liverpool are due a win at OT but they are also due a loss with their current form.
i predict liverpool to win man united by special grace of GOD
BY SPECIAL GRACE OF GOD LIVERPOOL WILL WIN MAN UNITED TOMORROW MATCH.I WISH GOOD LUCK.BY SAMUEL
‘You can forget Man Utd v Man City & Liverpool v Everton, this is the real derby.’
What a bizarre statement! Try telling that to 80,000 Man City and Everton fans…
Liverpool will probably find this game easier to approach from a psycological point of view. Man Utd can’t lose for obvious reasons, whereas Liverpool probably could afford to play with selection and take a different approach in tactics.
It’s a fascinating fixture.
Ditto!!
All the pressure is on the mancs. To Liverpool this game is just about a weeks braggin rights but to Man U they know that the title could get away from there grasp.
Normally im shitten myself before these matches but I dont feel any pressure right now and if we loose big deal we are still 2 points ahead of Everton and we are playing them next sunday.
If we win I think we can finish above Arsenal (if their current form keeps up)
fuck now monster masch is gonna miss the derby
bring on The crouchinater
for united 1 nil down with ten men only crouch can save us now
looks to me like the ref is spoiling this game
Agreed on all your points Ahmed.
What a stupid stupid way to affect the outcome of a game, and what a shame for both Liverpool fans and neutral observers. It’s fair to say that with 11 men a side, this match would have turned out quite differently.
Bravo to United nonetheless, even though they should have capitalized way more than they did, given the amount of scoring chances they had.
more dissapointment
well done united i guess the title is yours now
I cant believe im saying this but Andy Gray didnt talk 100% shite today!! Masch did deserve a yellow for getting on the Refs back but… he didnt deserve the first one. In the end the game should have finished with 22 football players on the pitch but didnt.
Im glad the everton game is only a week away so we can put things right there
I dont think we were good today we didnt deserve anything Based on the half an hour with 11 men aside i saw Liverpool beat by the long ball game numerous amounts of times.
In a way this is good. Benitez now knows that this Liverpool side arent just a little inconsistant the fact is we only have 2 world class attacking players and potentially Babel.
As i said before the match im not too bothered by this match. Im more focussed on Everton but hopefully next time we face United will be next season and not in the champions league final because we still need some work done before we can challenge.
Same old,same old.I said it would be comfortable and it was.No red or a red.He was stupid.His first tackle was a yellow.He went in with two feet and was late.He then kept fouling and talking and fouling and he also got giggs.We controlled the game against 11 and could have been 3 or 4 nil up by half time.If rooney fell over it would have been penalty and red card carragher.Ronaldo also hit the post and Rooney was played in several times.Liverpool have little quality and torres for all his hype was poor and pathetic.I hope this talk about ronaldo in big games stops because he played well and could have scored a hat trick.Title #10 on its way.
Ronaldo was poor yet again Drogba rises to a big game and Ronaldo dissapears in my mind i now think Drogba is better than Ronaldo.
His goal was from a set play after he missed a sitter. It wasnt the only sitter he missed either
Ha ha ha liverpool fan?are u being serious?drogba better than Ronaldo 34 goals.ha ha.The amount of sitters he missed proved how shite ur defence is doesnt it?If ur looking for some consolation look towards everton who drew yesterday!By the way…Torres?where was he?and what about mr gerrard.Anderson fucked him again!Title number 10!
Did Mascherano deserve the 2nd yellow….most definitely BUT alot was overlooked. Christiano Ronaldo takes so many dives during a game - all, not just this one - that his venue should probably be a pool rather than a pitch.
”his selfless effort in scoring the goal (risking injury considering the way he fell) ”
are you fucking kidding me. how the fuck is going for a header a selfless act. he may as well quit football now because he may at some point in the future injure himself.
Man Utd outclassed Liverpool, but it only came into further light once Mascherano had been sent off. Obviously. Torres and Gerrard were left isolated as Utd’s central midfield triumvirate of Scholes, Carrick and Anderson dominated from the off.
Liverpool will be back and I expect them to defeat Everton in the Derby this Sunday, despite Mascherno’s suspension (further action may be taken).
What can be ascertained from today’s game? Well…players can no longer question referees whatsoever, that much it does seem. It may end, as the FA have campaigned, with only captains conferring with the referee. Where Torres asked for some protection from the ref against Vidic and Ferdinand, would Gerrard do the same for his fellow player with the new rules in place??? I doubt it. He isn’t the one being fouled after all. Player-referee interaction seems a necessity of the game. However it must be civillised and if not, further controversy will arise.
ummm sorry but little anderson was the worst player on the pitch by far. Every time young Babel got the ball he took it past your defence with ease. I think its clear who the better youngster is.
Gerrard had to sit deep because Mascha got sent off!!! Duh. So torres had no support. And when he got the ball your defence kicked the fuck outa him. Now hes a doubt for the spain game.
You beat our defence with route one which is embarrising for our defence. It just shows how much we need young Agger back.
We our (i think) only four players off from United the two wingers and two full backs.
I hope we dont meet you in the champions league final though because its clear who the better team is but hopefully Rafa will improve that.
BTW Gerrard was up in the 18 yard bow when mascha got sent off. The rules dont say you cant question a Ref so i dont see why he was sent off
Remind me how many Manchester United players got sent off when they surrounded Andy D’Urso and backed him into a corner screaming and shouting. Presumably Ahmed, you think that Keane and about 3 others should have been sent off for that?
arriba el manchester duelale a quien quiera weeeeeeeeeeeeee
As a season ticket holder for Liverpool, I managed to be at the game yesterday and sit with the Liverpool fans.
United outplayed us. Ronaldo could have had about five and so could Rooney. Mascherano let us down. The ref pointed to the tunnel to warn mascherano he would send him of but he still kept on shouting. why oh why.
Babel was poor. Liverpool_fan, he has been great for us this season but yesterday he was rubbish. he went past the united defence ONCE and even then nothing came of it. As for Anderson, I have been impressed with him all season. He looks tired to me but he did make some good passes, including that one to Rooney in the first five minutes.
Reina is a good keeper.i cant believe some fans are blaming him.
i just hate to think what the score would have been had ronaldo and rooney taken their chances
What Can i say UNITED UNITED UNITED……………………..3-0