Chelsea defensive wall blunts Liverpool’s attacking edge

There was no surprise that Chelsea came to town with a well marshalled formation happy to give away possession, but the disappointment lay in the fact that in 90 minutes apart from Gerrard’s header and Sakho blazing over in the first-half, we created very little of any consequence inside the box and had to watch while Torres strode away and laid of the final pass for the killer goal which quashed any lingering hopes.

The style of play has been Chelsea’s raison d’etre all season, but we had very little answer.  Yes we had a lot of possession, but time and again we failed to get in behind and deliver enough quality in the final third on too many occasions.    In fact, we were reduced to shooting from distance in desperation and the creative elements of the team over the past few weeks in Coutinho and Sturridge started brightly, but as the game went on seemed hamstrung by the restrictions placed on them by Chelsea’s miserly defence and their five man midfield working in tandem.

Chelsea set out to disrupt our usual dynamic start by slowing down the game with time wasting tactics which Martin Atkinson did very little to stop apart from pointing to his watch.

That being said, Chelsea very rarely threatened and any goal was going to come from a mistake.  Unfortunately, the mistake was from our captain and Ba did well to capitalise, shooting through Mignolet’s legs.

Gerrard seemed hell bent on making up for his mistake firing off a sequence of long range efforts without his usual boy’s own devastation.  The organisation of the Chelsea was causing Liverpool to lose patience with a series of passes failing to find their designated targets. Rodgers sensed his team needed inspiration as for once Suarez lacked his usual spark and without Henderson’s drive from midfield Chelsea were fending off our attacks with ease.  Daniel Sturridge replaced Lucas.

Unfortunately, Sturridge made very little difference as we were still unable to break free of Chelsea’s shackles.    The industrious Joe Allen’s drive volley was well saved by Mark Schwarzer was the closest we came on a disappointing day.

With Liverpool throwing everything barring the kitchen sink forward,  Aspas who had come on for Flanagan, unbelievably in the final throes of the match decided to try to find a colleague outside the box ball from the corner instead of putting the ball in the area with the whole team waiting. Instead he found a Chelsea player and in the blink of an eye the ball nestled in the net behind Mignolet to extinghish any remaining hopes.

Critical eye:  You can’t legislate for mistakes, but unfortunately this was a match where Mourinho out manoervered us in stifling are attacking verve, while making us look one dimensional.

Not having Henderson and a fully fit Daniel Sturridge stretched the squad to its limits in terms of the quality available, but we always knew that we’d been living on the edge.  Brendan could have thrown Agger on upfront for the final ten minutes, but there is no point second guessing because he has got us this far.

Yes, it is disappointing because with a win we knew the promised-land lay so near and with draw it was still within our control to get there.  We know it’s not over, but we still have to believe and take it to the wire.

Teams:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Flanagan (Iago Aspas – 81 mins),  8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 21 Lucas (Sturridge - 58 mins), 24 Allen, 7 Suarez, 31 Sterling, 10 Coutino

Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Toure, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 15 Sturridge, 20 Cissokho

Chelsea: 23 Schwarzer, 28 Azpilicueta, 3 Cole, 12 Mikel, 2 Ivanovic, 33 Kalas, 21 Matic, 8 Lampard, 19 Ba (Torres – 84 mins), 15 Salah (Willian – 60 mins), 14 Schurrle (Cahill 77)

Subs: 9 Torres, 16 Van Ginkel, 22 Willian, 24 Cahill, 27 Ake, 40 Hilario, 47 Baker

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 44, 726

Celebration of the 96: LFC Local Legends v LFC International Legends, 21 April 2014

Written by Kop-post and Jan Thomson

Brendan Rodgers reminded us recently that class is synonymous with Liverpool Football Club. He said in talking about winning in a sporting manner, “... they are the values of this club. It’s a club that has won many trophies in the past but had the humility and the class. One word I always had in my mind when I joined Liverpool is ‘class.’ So that is important to me - that those values are restored.”

The 21^st April 2014, 25 years after the Hillsborough disaster Liverpool supporters old and new came together as one to support and pay homage to the 96 souls, also supporters of Liverpool Football Club in the only we knew how.  Through a football match.

We came together to remember, but also in celebration of their lives to share the moment with players past and present.  Speaking personally it was a day that left an indelible mark on me and presented reminders the effects tragedy can have on survivors.

The Kop doing it as only The Kop can

Pre-match line-ups

The relaxed atmosphere was I am sure a cathartic experience with fans seeing the current Premiership leaders led by manager Brendan Rodgers and Captain Steven Gerrard on hand to lend support.  The game was a chance to see heroes of yesteryear with the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Steve MacManaman, John Barnes and Ian Rush among those turning out for LFC local legends and Sander Westerveld, Didi Hamann, Sami Hyppia, Jan Molby and crowd favourite Luis Garcia appearing for the LFC International legends.

Old father time may have reduced the players endurance and speed, but there was enough skills on show to make us reminisce of halcyon days past.   

There was Steve MacManaman weaving his magical runs with the galloping Rob Jones with less of the raking stride on the overlap.  The mesmeric Jari Litmanen who fluttered so briefly at Anfield, but left an abundance of memories.  The little Finnish master still revived memories with his superb close control and balance.

MacManaman rolls back the years

Michael Owen, with an athletic leap and header against the bar and Robbie Fowler with his deft football reminded us how injury robbed us of their peak years, but even so they live on in the memory with highlights a plenty in their respective Anfield careers.  There was the joy of seeing Luis Garcia and singing “"Luis García, he drinks Sangria/he came from Barça to bring us joy! He's five-foot seven, he's football heaven, so please don't take our Luis away!"

We saw history.  Champions League winners Alan Kennedy, Ronnie Whelan and Ian Rush.  Local favourites John Aldridge, David Thompson and a plethora of others such as Abel Xavier and Jamie Redknapp who produced an unbelievable Rabona pass from the centre to switch the play out wide.

Fowler and Owen connect up

The local legends were managed by King Kenny, assisted by Roy Evans (with Alan Hansen sitting alongside) and the Internationals by Gerard Houllier, assisted by Phil Thompson and coach Sammy Lee.

That the game ended 2-2 was incidental, it was a magical and uplifting day for a full-house where one felt the positive energy around the stadium and it was an afternoon when for once an occasion involving the remembrance of Hillsborough was not a solemn occasion, but a joyous tribute.  I looked around me and I could see people pay due respect at the appropriate times, but recognising that the game was to honour our fallen supporters with the imminent ajournment of the Hillsborough inquest.  YNWA.

At the end of the game, my friend Jan Thomson and I went to the monument to pay our respects to the 96.  It was an all too brief stay, as so many had the same idea, but we got there.

If I thought my day of thinking about Hillsborough was about to end as my thoughts turned to trying to grab some sleep on the way back to London after seemingly spending most of my Easter weekend on the train to Norwich and then to Liverpool, it was never going to happen.

Dietmar Hamann

Players gather at the end of the game

At the station I called David (dedlfc) and told him about the day as an experience and how brilliant it had been from Margaret Aspinall's end of match summary to the fact that I’d met Howard Gayle and Jamie Redknapp. 

 

On the train back to London I sat down to read my celebration day programme which the couple sharing the table seats with me noticed and that was the start of 3 hour conversation back to London with Stuart and his partner Susan.

They are a lovely couple who emanate warmth and friendliness.  We spoke of what a great occasion it had been and I mentioned how I couldn’t join in the shouts around the ground of “We are going to the League.”  Stuart said, he believed that for many it was a release and therapeutic.  Stuart and Susan had come over from Australia, I’d assumed for a holiday and to see family (Stuart is a Scouser) as they explained they belonged to the LFC Supporters Club Branch in Melbourne.

Stuart explained that he had come over for the inquest and again I assumed wrongly that he came over to offer his support as a fan of the club.   Susan then enlightened me saying “Stuart was in the Lepping’s Lane End.”   Stuart told me that he’d collected a lot of information after Hillsborough, but he became disillusioned with the lack of progress and disposed of it before emigrating to live in Australia in 1992.

The Anfield Memorial

When Stuart spoke of that day 25 years ago, Susan was visibly emotional and while I had seen programmes of families on Liverpool FC TV reliving their nightmares through their testimonies, on the train back to London I heard from a survivor of how important it was to get justice.  He spoke of the mental anguish it caused in other survivors and Susan explained that Stuart was lucky in a way, because unlike most men he could talk out his emotions which at least could make things relatively bearable.  Whereas, there were others who are locked into this tragedy and are emotionally scarred and one feels only justice will give them an assemblance of freedom and start to begin the healing process.

Talking to Stuart and Susan it’s easy to see that Susan lives Hillsborough just as much as Stuart if not more so and it’s easy not to recognise the trauma that survivors go through as understandably we hear less of their struggles and what they have gone through having watched fellow supporters die in front of them and in Stuart's case come close to death himself, then being dismissed as being at fault by the authorities and having their humanity called into question must have been difficult to live with.

Twenty-five years on Stuart travelled from Melbourne to be part of the fight for justice for the 96 and for the survivors of Hillsborough.    By the time the inquest resumes Stuart and Susan will be back in Australia, Stuart having at least seen the opening testimonies given by the families and the survivors and himself painting a picture of just what it was like to be in the Leppings Lane End in his interview with ITN.

It was a privilege to meet Stuart and Susan because until you talk to someone like Stuart and listen to his experience it really brings home the reality of Hillsborough when one meets a survivor.  Someone that has seen with their own eyes something terrible unfolding, which makes it all the more poignant.  They spoke with dignity and refuse to be browbeaten by the contempt they and others were treated with and that’s why we as Liverpool supporters have so much respect for Margaret Aspinall and the families of the 96 and the survivors who have to live on and through the trauma.  YNWA

Programme from the Memorial Service at Anfield

 

Jen and friend after the Carling Cup Final 2012

 

Jen after the Carling Cup in 2012

Norwich 2 Liverpool 3 - Sterling super show moves our dream one step closer

By dedlfc

With Jordan Henderson's enforced suspension for three games and Sturridges's small muscle strain meaning he missed a game for the first time in three months, we went into the game looking to extend our Premiership lead after the unexpected helping hand of Sunderland (midweek drawing 2-2 away to City and yesterday shock win at Chelsea - with our loan spy Fabio Borini scoring the all important winner 2-1-how inspired has that loan move turned out!)

Sturridge's injury gave Raheem Sterling the chance to form his own bond with the unstoppable Suarez. In the opening stages, it was Sterling shone brightly, scoring a rasping unstoppable right foot shot within the first four minutes.

Sterling after his stunning strike

Then the new SAS bond struck after nine minutes and it was Sterling who put the chancel on a sixpence after a sweeping move for Suárez to finish with typical aplomb. 

Suárez has a history of haunting Norwich and that did not stop today. The 30-goal hit man was spraying passes at will but his usual hat-trick alluded him. 

For the 25th consecutive time this season we had scored in the first half of a Premier League game which is a fantastic record!

At 2-0 up so early in the game the Norwich manager altered his tactics and aborted their diamond formation which we're ripping teams to shreds with and instead went with a more conventional 4-4-2 this enabled Norwich to get a better grip on the game and it was also clear that we took our foot off the pedal.

Our crisp passing and intelligent movement then went astray partly through complacency in having a two goal lead and partly through the nerves of knowing we were really close to achieving our goal of winning the next game in our title run-in and moving on to the next one five points clear.

Throughout Norwich's improved possession they did not look like penetrating our determined defence in the first half apart from long range efforts from Redmond.

We almost killed the game as a contest early in the second half when a tremendous crossfield ball by Suarez found Coutinho driving at the Norwich defence laying the ball back for Sterling to hit a shot just over.

With the chance going astray Norwich capitalised on poor keeping by Mignolet and lifted themselves back into the game with a lofted cross from the right which saw Bradley Johnson challenge Simon Mignolet and the Belgian was singularly unimpressive.  He failed ignaminiously to collect the ball, and Johnson directed his header into the path of Gary Hooper to prod home.

The title run-in pressure had now been turned up - could we again step up our game or be found wanting?

The answer was answered emphatically by young Sterling who through his pace and direct play ran at the Norwich defence and scored our third goal with the aid of a deflection.

Norwich through their determination to survive the dreaded relegation never gave up and forced a fine save from Mignolet from Snodgrass low shot from just over 20 yards. Their constant pressure was admirable and they caused further panic in our defence when Redmond's shot from distance smacked the brave Skrtel in the head and deflected wide for a corner.

Norwich finally broke through with a second goal with Olsson's cross into the centre saw Robert Snodgrass outjump Jon Flanagan to head home into the corner to give the game a nervy finish which would again test our resolve and character.

Yet again, apart from a late header from Van Wolfswinkel saved well by Mignolet, we had full control of the rest of the game and but for the lack of finishing ability by Lucas Leiva we would have had a fourth goal on the counter attack.

Man of the match: Raheem Sterling - Currently the best player in the Premiership on this form.  He showes no nerves and performs consistently well every game at such a young age and what a player he is growing into! His goal was a beauty, but his pass for the Suarez goal was simply class and showed that he has so much more to offer than his raw pace.

In the post match press interview - Rodgers proclaimed Sterling as the best young player in Europe right now and I don't see anyone arguing with him at the moment.

Negatives

• At 2-0 we should have gone for the kill and finished the game off before half time - letting Norwich back into the game was very disappointing but the pleasing thing is we again came through with the win.

• Mignolet had been criticised by our former goalkeeping legend Grobbelaar earlier in the week stating that he was "the weak link in our side, being a good shot stopper, but not the best all round keeper" and at times he looked determined to prove Brucie right. He looks increasingly suspect in the aerial challenges and needs to improve that side of his game to be seen as a worthy successor to Reina who used to collect clean sheets for fun.

Positives

• 11 league wins in a row is a fantastic feat and should be applauded by all our fans.
• Having a striker Luis Suarez hitting 30 league goals without any penalties is an incredible achievement.
• Securing a minimum third place with more games still to go shows what a brilliant season we have produced so far.
• 57 goals scored in the first half this season is outstanding with hopefully more to come.
• 96 goals scored in the league by us with still three games to go.

Lets now move onto Chelsea and continue our amazing run!

Norwich: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Turner, Olsson, Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Redmond, Fer (Murphy 77), Hooper (Van Wolfswinkel 77).

Subs: Bunn, Gutierrez, Garrido, Ryan Bennett, Tettey.

Booked: Snodgrass, Turner, Howson.

Goals: Hooper 54, Snodgrass 77.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Allen (Agger 80), Gerrard, Lucas, Sterling, Suarez, Coutinho (Moses 75).

Subs: Brad Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Cissokho.

Booked: Skrtel, Flanagan

Goals: Sterling 4, 62, Suarez 11.

Referee: Andre Marriner (England)
Attendance:26,857

Liverpool overcome City fight back to stay top: Liverpool 3 Man City 2

With Margaret Aspinall and others from the families of the 96 looking on this was always going to be more of a coming together than a football match as Anfield remembered the 25^th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.  It was a show of we are one and that’s why the 96 and their families Will Never Walk Alone.

Dedlfc sent out a text yesterday following the minutes silence at the FA Cup Semi-Final between Arsenal and Wigan which read the following “FA have given is a fitting tribute at the FA semi-final by leaving 96 seats vacant as a mark of respect of respect for our 96 fans who died 25 years ago!  Respect as last!

Liverpool hit their straps quickly with Coutinho and Sterling the two standout players buzzing around the gaps between Manchester City’s midfield and defence causing consternation with their movement, pace and speed of thought which left City chasing shadows.

In an electrifying opening, Liverpool as they have done so often this season threatened to dismantle Man City quickly moving in to top gear.   Suarez, brilliantly shielded the ball from Demichelis before shrugging off Clichy to release Sterling running in behind the Man City defence.  The youngster, coolly steadied himself before turning Kompany inside out and slotting past Hart with the Kop almost blowing the roof of in celebration.

Anfield's observes a minute's silence

Liverpool’s ascendency was given even more of a lift when City’s talisman  Yaya Toure limped off after shooting high into the Anfield Road stand to be replaced by Javi Garcia.   Daniel Sturridge who has looked out of sorts in the last 3 games, should have put us two-nil up when Sterling found him with beautifully judged ball which was bent into his stride, unfortunately the 20 goal striker slid the ball wide of the far post.

If the excited crowd thought that the miss would prove costly only minutes later the worries were intensified.  Coutinho’s corner found Gerrard unmarked and the soaring captain’s powerful header was expertly turned over by Joe Hart.  Gerrard with his trademark delivery whipped in the ensuing corner which found Skrtel who having peeled away from Kompany glanced a header in the top corner sending Anfield into rapturous delirium.  The ecstatic crowd began shouting “Poetry in Motion” as Coutinho and Sterling continued to terrorise the city back four.

There was no way we could continue the break neck pace and City began to impose themselves as the first half moved to a close and may well have felt they should have had a penalty when Sakho’s missed timed tackle in the penalty area seemed to collect Dzeko on the follow through.  Sterling, the star of Liverpool’s attacking effort appeared on the line to the head the ball up, Glen Johnson managed to head the ball a little further forward which Mignolet gratefully collected.  Mignolet pulled off a brilliant full stretch save from a Fernandinho shot.

City kept on the upward curve in the second-half pressing Liverpool further back with the brilliant David Silva dictating play and with James Milner coming on for Jesus Navas City were more compact and powerful with Fernandinho moving further forward.  It was Fernandinho and Milner linking up to play in David Silva in the 57^th minute which brought City back in the game.

It was now a dominant City and with Silva again at the forefront, prompting and teasing and interchanging with Nasri before his cross was deflected in off Johnson and disappointingly past the wrong footed and flailing right leg of Mignolet.    Brendan Rodgers looked to stem the flow bringing on Allen for the injured Sturridge and City looking to go for the jugular brought on the returning Aguero for Dzeko.

The huge intake of breath around Anfield was probably the reason, apart from his lack of inches, that Silva failed to steer his sliding shot from Aguero’s pass.

Joe Allen quality and calmness helped provide the footing needed to push on again and his surged into the area on a couple of occasions almost linking up with Suarez.

Coutinho who with Sterling was a class apart, latched on to Kompany’s sliced clearance with a spectacular shot in which he virtually wrapped his foot around the ball to execute.  It was a finish which deserved to be the winner of a breathless and brilliant game.

Philippe Coutinho celebrates his stunning winner

Jordan Henderson dismissal may not have stopped us winning the game, but it’s a big blow to lose one of our the players of the season for three games and Victor Moses who complained earlier in the season about his lack of playing time, may just have to play a crucial role going forward although he won’t be available against is parent club, Chelsea.

Man of the Match:  Liverpool Football Club and football.  The 25^th anniversary was done with all the class which LFC is renowned for throughout the footballing world.  The way in which the minutes silence in all the other games was adhered too and embraced says it all about the 96 and their families. YNWA

Special moment: The Gerrard generated huddle at the end in which he said "Listen, this is gone.  We go to Norwich.  Exactly the same.  We go together.  Come on!"

Teams:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Flanagan, 8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 10 Sakho, 10 Coutinho (Moses – 89 mins), 14 Henderson s/o 15 Sturridge (Allen – 66 mins), Sterling (Lucas – 95 mins), 7 Suarez

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Touré, 5 Agger, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Moses, 21 Lucas, 24 Allen

Manchester City: 1 Hart, 5 Zabaleta, 22 Clichy, 25 Fernandinho, 4 Kompany, 26 Demichelis, 15 Jesus Navas (Milner 50-mins), 42 Yaya Touré (Javi Garcia – 19 mins), 10 Dzeko (Aguero – 68 mins), 21 Silva, 8 Nasri

Substitutes: 6 Lescott, 7 Milner, 9 Negredo, 13 Kolarov, 14 Javi Garcia, 16 Aguero, 30 Pantilimon

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Attendance: 44,601

Liverpool battle past attritional West Ham

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll added spice to what we knew would be a difficult game when he claimed in the week preceding the game that “I never really got the chance and was told to leave.  That’s why I’m here.”

With the ‘Big man’ in that mind-set Liverpool supporters were all wondering whether we’d be on the end of a backlash and with Stewart Downing also lining up against his old club, supporters were questioning whether we should make changes to the team to subdue the physical threat. 

 

Should we start with Coutinho and Sterling or start with just one?  Should Lucas come in for Gerrard with the threat of a two match ban hanging over him? Should Sakho come in for Agger to help contain West Ham’s long ball game?  Brendan Rodgers never had to make that call as Agger picked up a “small knock” in his words, although he ought to be in contention for the home game against Manchester City.

West Ham set out to make it difficult leavving very little space for us to work in midfield and a defence well marshalled restricting Liverpool to long-range efforts with Suarez and Sturridge working hard, but finding it difficult to extricate themselves from the unwarranted attentions of the West Ham markers.

Early on, Suarez saw his 25 yard free-kick drift just over and then produce a moment of impudence when cutting in from the left after collecting Coutinho’s throw-in, his speed of thought was so instinctive and sharp that his chip left West Ham keeper floundering as it came back off the bar.  Suarez then expertly found his striker partner Sturridge, who uncharacteristic rushed his shot to fire over.

Just as it seemed we would have to gather ourselves at half-time and formulate a different plan of action, Steven Gerrard unfurled a spectacular 50 yard ball with such incision, that it crept inside the full-back to Suarez, who deftly flicked the ball inside James Tomkins who handled to stop Suarez going in on goal.  Gerrard displayed all the calmness of his 33 plus years expertly Adrián the wrong way.

Liverpool’s celebrations were sawn off in mid-flow with Anthony Taylor deciding that it was his time to get himself in the spotlight with a ridiculous decision.   Carroll blatantly knocked the ball out of Mignolet grasp with his hand after connecting with his face allowing Demel to stab home.  The Assistant referee Stuart Burt having flagged, consulted with referee Taylor who overruled Burt to award the goal.

Steven Gerrard slots home the winner

The decision was staggering in its competence and something which we have suffered with in big games the season and in a game which at times felt like a war of attrition could have been very costly to our title ambitions.

Brendan Rodgers made his move at half-time bringing on Lucas to replace Coutinho who struggled with the lack of space afforded him.  The substitution gave us the initiative we were craving for with the combative Lucas adding a more steely presence and simplicity with the ball, allowing Sterling to provide more incision into the Liverpool attacks playing behind the front-two.

Even so, Carroll who resembled a striker from a bygone age came close to putting West Ham ahead when he rose majestically above Glen Johnson to head against the bar.

 

 Liverpool fans celebrate in the London's Ruse Pub in London's

With Lucas now attuned Liverpool were controlling the game, pinning West Ham back for long periods with the home team’s regimented formation keeping us at bay.  Lucas, then unveiled an exquisite short pass inside the full-back to the raiding Flangan who was brought down by Adrián in his follow through, which seemed somewhat harsh.

Steven Gerrard strode up to put the penalty away, his 13^th of a prolific season, playing in his much heralded holding “quarterback” role.

Suarez almost put the game to bed when with the ball coming across him, in an unorthodox manner of a genius, contorted his body so as to curl the ball with the outside of his boot and against the bar.

West Ham had a modicum of pressure during the final throes, but it was Liverpool who looked the more threatening with Raheem Sterling’s run and shot which needed to palmed away by Adrián late on.

Man of the Match:  Steven Gerrard – Led his team imperiously and his stunning pass which set up the first goal was a thing of beauty.  He stepped up once again for the penalties and calmed the nerves of those around him displaying an indomitable spirit which he seems to have taken forward since the retirement of Jamie Carragher and is leading his team into battles (in conjunction with his manager) showing they have learnt different ways to the win.

Mamadou Sakho in his first full game back since injury was imperious.  The threat of a fully wound up Andy Carroll should not be played down and he and Skrtel gave as good as they got with the ex-Liverpool man often picking himself off the ground.  More impressive though was his calmness bringing the ball out of defensive and his short and incisive passing.

Luis Suarez – Two flashes of genius and a starring role in gaining the first penalty says it all about a player who deploys a never say die attitude week in week out. While he may not have been allowed to have his usual brilliant game, he left his mark on the game two remarkable pieces of skill.

Critical eye:  The standard of the refereeing was appalling and could have been costly.  It wasn’t the fact that Anthony Taylor made a mistake, it was the fact that he overruled the Refereeing and assistant and in all probability made the second penalty decision knowing that he’d made a huge mistake earlier.  We’ve hit by bad refereeing decisions this season, but this was different because as the foul was so blatant and he changed the mind of colleague with his intransigence.

*Sad to see the brilliant talent of Joe Cole languishing on the bench.

Team:

West Ham: 13 Adrián, 20 Demel, 8 Armero, 14 Taylor (Jarvis – 78 Mins), 5 Tomkins, 2 Reid, 21 Diamé, (Cole – 85 mins), 16 Noble, 9 Carroll, 4 Nolan, (Nocerino – 68 mins), 23 Downing

Subs: 7 Jarvis, 22 Jääskeläinen, 24 Carlton Cole, 26 Joe Cole, 27 Potts, 28 Johnson, 47 Nocerino

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Falagan, 8 Gerrard, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 10 Coutinho (Lucas – 45 mins), 14 Henderson, 15 Henderson, 15 Sturridge (Kolo Touré – 85 mins), 31 Sterling, 7 Suarez

Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Touré, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Victor Moses, 20 Cissokho, 21 Lucas, 24 Allen

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 34,977

Fábio Aurélio announced his retirement after missing the whole of the 2013 season for Grêmio due to injury.  YNWA Fabio!