posted Nov 17, 2008

So is Nolan perfectly entitled to prevent Reina moving from the spot? Or to stick his leg in front of Reina to prevent him jumping?

The laws of the game state that if a player impedes the forward movement of another player when the ball is not within playable distance for the player impeding, then the result is an indirect free kick for obstruction.

A player is allowed to "shield" the ball when it is within playable distance, ie. they are in control of it. Even before the corner was taken, and when the ball was in the air, Nolan was doing his best to prevent Reina from jumping for it. He made absolutely no attempt to win the ball. The decision was correct.

It is about time referees were stronger on these types of things in the penalty area. It's been going on for far too long. Fair play to Styles for making that decision.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

Ha ha, standard luckerpoo fans trying to make a case for yet another ridiculous decision going their way. with the 'style' of football they play and the luck they have had so far this season it's shameful that they are on the same points as Chelski.

Nice to see Stevie Me shying away from England duty again, if he'd done it more often we'd have been able to build a decent side, although I think Capello has his card well and truly marked, no italian manager will suffer the 0/20 hollywood balls a game.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

DibbotheDon

If you had read the papers today or yesterday, you would see that Gerrard could be out for 10 days and would therefore miss the home game with Fulham. I see that Capello has insisted on his own diagnosis - I have no problem with that but will he do the same with Ferdinand, Rooney and Terry? Also, will the knockers apologise if the second diagnosis agrees with the first?

I am getting sick and tired of the "lucky Liverpool" comments every time they win which, more often than not, bear no relation to the game in question. Against Bolton, Liverpool hit the woodwork twice and missed several great chances - if this is them being lucky, I wouldn't like them to have some bad luck. Even the MOTD pundits said that the challenge on Reina was a foul. Move it to the other end and change the names to Keane or Gerrard on Jaskeleinen and I guarantee that the anti-Liverpool brigade would be screaming "foul" then.

With the exception of the first 15-20 mins of the second half, Bolton were played off the park and the score could have been 4-0 or 5-0 although it would probably still have been a "lucky" win.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

With the exception of the first 15-20 mins of the second half, Bolton were played off the park and the score could have been 4-0 or 5-0 although it would probably still have been a "lucky" win.
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You must have been at a different game from the one I was watching at the Reebok.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

Oh come off it. Apart from Gardener's two chances and a speculative volley that Reina parried away, Bolton never really threatened.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

With the exception of the first 15-20 mins of the second half, Bolton were played off the park and the score could have been 4-0 or 5-0 although it would probably still have been a "lucky" win.
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You must have been at a different game from the one I was watching at the Reebok.

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I too watched the game and can't remember Reina being stretched once. There was also a comment from a Bolton fan saying that they needed a quality striker.

Nobody has pointed out either that Bolton were awarded a soft free kick at the start of the second half on the corner of Liverpool's penalty area when Gardner slipped and fell over. Would the Bolton fans have moaned about that decision if their team had scored from it?

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posted Nov 17, 2008

Bolton have a history of fouls and fouling. Laughing at Megson, so I am. Trying to make out that he is some sort of a tactical genius with his "We know Liverpool Zonal mark" routine. The bottom line is that 3 times the Keeper was impeded by Nolan and his right leg. Otherwise he was getting to that ball. Could have been 8-0 to Liverpool.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

Oh, and Pepe Reina did well to force Gardner wide for his miss.

Keane needs to tuck away those chances too.

Dirk is a legend of a player. He was on the right wing one minute and was bang central the next for the goal.

Then he was out on the right cutting in for Keano, who should have scored.

I love Dirk.

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posted Nov 17, 2008

Hear hear. Dirk Kuyt is having a stormer of a season so far. I've lost count of the number of times he's hit the crossbar or post now. He'd have a hatful of goals by now if they'd gone in.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

Hear,hear! Dirk definately a top man at Liverpool offering far more to the team than just a goalscorer.

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