22 Dec 2014

Rodgers is Wrong: Sanchez did not 'dive' against LFC, and here's the proof. Apologise?

In the aftermath of Liverpool's last-gasp 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers publicly accused Alexis Sanchez of diving to win the free kick that ultimately led to the Gunners' equalizing goal. Is Rodgers right, or is it an extreme case of sour grapes?

During his post-match press conference, Rodgers' barked:

"I don't think it should've been a free kick.

"Sanchez dived once he realised he wasn't getting the ball, and the referee fell for it".


Regular visitors will know that I am vehemently anti-diving, and I've regularly called-out Liverpool players for doing it, but in this instance, Rodgers is totally wrong: Steven Gerrard clearly fouled Sanchez, and here's the irrefutable proof:

 photo ScreenShot2014-12-22at063711_zps6a6099bd.png

Gerrard's right boot is clearly flush against Sanchez's shin!

That kind of contact is definitely more than enough to knock a player off-balance, and anyone who's ever played football will be able to confirm that.

Sanchez could've gone down theatrically (like Luis Suarez, whom Rodgers repeatedly and disingenuously defended against accusations of diving) but the Chilean maestro tried to stay on his feet after the challenge, and for that, he deserves great credit.

As such, with the above image in mind, I don't see how anyone can credibly argue that Sanchez dived. In my view, Rodgers is out of order for publicly maligning the Chilean maestro (i.e. basically calling him a cheat), and if he has any class, he'll issue a similarly public apology.

Author:


208 comments:

  1. Thanks for the memories, but no thanks.

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  2. It wasn't a dive. SG clearly had a contact with Sanchez, it was unfortunate though.

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  3. If you've ever played football, you'll know he dived. He gets a tap on his shin, takes a moment to find the ball is going away from him and then throws his legs from underneath himself. The impact from Gerrard's boot doesn't knock him over. That's blatantly obvious from the slow motions. Not the worst dive ever, but an dive nevertheless.

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  4. It's not a dive, but you're entitled to be biased if you like. Sanchez tried to stay up, but lost his footing. There is clear, and significant contact.

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  5. But there was a contact, so it was a foul.

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  6. From hero to zero. Still hurts to see him struggle.

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  7. As the photo shows, there was contract but this occurred momentarily prior to the alleged dive. That photo thus proves nothing. It looked to me like Sanchez went down without contact. Rodgers also has his opinion. No apology necessary.

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  8. for those who are yelping about the dive, then who should you blame for not marking Giroud? The only person in the box the cut back could possibly go to?

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  9. Minimal contact, but still a foul. There was another angle showing Sanchez pull a humorous 'ouch he hit me' face when he fell to the ground. No real complaints from me anyways, shouldn't stick your leg out because players will make the most of it. Maybe it's because I'm on the other side of the globe but the foul wasn't even much of a talking point.


    On the contrary, Joe Allen won a penalty against Spurs and the foul by Eric Dier was much more silly and a little cynical - yet Jaimie wouldn't budge on it, insisting Allen dived and cheated. I've already said there's contact from Gerrard, but Sanchez let himself go very easily. The still image doesn't show it, but a video replay does.

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  10. @Jaimie K Who are you to label a comment as biased, and It’s amazing how you consistently manage to focus on trivial issues

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  11. It's not a straightforward dive as such but the picture you show above was a full 2 seconds before Sanchez fell over so I'd say it wasn't a dive it was just playing the odds - Gerrard definitely didn't bring him down but Sanchez was entitled to go over and get a free kick because the contact was there. Just like Suarez often was.

    Merry Christmas, Jay :-)

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  12. I actually blame kolo toure for not cutting the cross out which he could have EASILY done. Watch Chelsea defend and tell me they would have allowed that cross to get past them. No chance. Marking maybe could be tighter but sometimes forwards' movement is enought to get a bit of space, either way the cross was easy to intercept and kolo let it go past him. Poor.

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  13. Keen to know JK's thoughts on this one. How would you compare it to Joe Allen's dive vs Spurs? I do distinctly remember you being very much against Allens diving, but with Sanchez (O Holy Sanchez, as he is known in the british media) it's different?

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  14. Blame on us not defending well ! But meanwhile flamini deserve 2nd yellow ?

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  15. This moral high ground post was inevitable. Why is an opposed view biased? Anyone could dismiss the foul regardless of who was playing, or who it was for or against.


    You instantly dismiss an opposite view and assume any such view is not 'credible'. Most people are more reasonable than that.

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  16. Torres has been finished for ages Rafa couldnt revive him at Chelsea now he cant score to save himself in Italy no way no no way i would prefer Lambert actually anyone.

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  17. I was sad when Torres left as I always thought he should have seen the season out, however he made his choice and although he has winners medals to his name he will know he should have stayed at Liverpool as he's never played better.


    He still works hard so would fit in to our system well, and he would give us experience, but for me it's thanks, but no thanks.

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  18. Think he is finding it difficult to comprehend this argument - just removed a similar comment i made. reasoning is not offensive jaimie

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  19. It wasn't a dive. I thought the ref was decent.

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  20. I don't think he meant to unfairly malign him like that.

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  21. Neither Skrtel or Toure dentist well but Skrtel is nearer and never looks around. He was poor for both.

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  22. It's not much of a talking point here apart from on twitter I assume.

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  23. Don't you know that if it was a Liverpool player it would be a dive. Jaimie is a professional contrarian. I imagine this post will be deleted.

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  24. The title of this article is why Gerrard should be gotten rid of ASAP!
    Used to be a great player, but he's as thick as shit and has too much influence.


    "Joe Cole's as good as Messi"

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  25. When are you and others going to get this into your heads: I am entitled to have the *opinion* that another poster is biased. Similarly, visitors are welcome to label me biased if they like.

    If someone calls me 'biased', are they 'dismissing' my view? No, they're merely expressing an opinion about my opinion, and that is fine.

    So, please stop posting pointless, irrelevant comments like this.

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  26. Yes, it is dismissing someone's opinion.

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  27. I didn't budge on it because it's blatant cheating (IMO). The Sanchez incident is not blatant cheating. I've explained my view at length here: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2014/08/brad-friedel-slates-joe-allen-for-diving-tottenham.html

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  28. Allen dived; Sanchez didn't. There's no comparison (IMO) between the two incidents: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2014/08/brad-friedel-slates-joe-allen-for-diving-tottenham.html

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  29. why don't you stop removing comments referring how pointless and biased your comment is

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  30. All Toure had to do was stick a foot out and it's a corner instead of a goal. As I say, if that's Chelsea defending that - hell, even West Ham - that cross never gets past the first man and Giroud doesn't score.




    We would probably have then conceded from the resulting corner instead, but still...

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  31. You deleted my comment because it merely said, 'it is dismissing someone's opinion'? You're being extremely unreasonable.

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  32. I wouldn not say Sanchez is a serial diver but no doubt he tends to pull out that trick when faced with strong opposition.
    His dives against PSG and Real Madrid were shameless and his PSG dive is reminiscent of the weekends debacle.
    Rodgers is not the only manager to claim he is a diver Ancelloti did too.

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  33. You need to grow a thicker skin if you can't handle comments that say, 'it was dismissive'. Just saying mate.

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  34. Nonsense. It's not just about me; I don't want other posters to have to put up with this pointlessness, which is why I make light of it.

    Sent from Samsung Mobile

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  35. Then why not delete Pete's comment too?

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  36. On replay U can see Gerrard does knick him but the way he went down in total disarray seemed shady.Anyways.... not happy with 2 goals which came from direct Gerrard intervention!

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  37. Another calculated risk?

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  38. You must be a defender.

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  39. And has never diver hmmmm

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  40. I though it was a foul - Gerrard definitely caught him but I thought he ultimately could've stayed on his feet. There was a slight pause as he assessed the situation and then had a bit of a dive I thought. But it was a foul

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  41. Does anyone have a video or gif? I didn't see it in game, so can't really comment. But that still image suggests a foul.
    But when has any managed ever apologised for calling someone out? rightly or wrongly?

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  42. To begin with i don't think the comments are more pointless
    than the article. So if you want to protect the others then you might need to
    tackle the root

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  43. Jaimie, where do I send you a guest article?

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  44. Still can't believe we lost that game yesterday, shambolic doesn't come close to covering it. I think Brendan needs to eat a slice of humble pie and get in a renowned specialist defensive coach but I still see no point in being too trigger happy with the manager. We were actually really good yesterday, all that was lacking in our attacking play was a finisher. We played really good football and I think when Sturridge comes back we're capable of putting a run together. We've got a reasonable set of fixtures coming up and a chance to accumulate some points

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  45. I think it is time for rodgers to
    bring jerome sinclair into the game


    but also stop playing jones
    Mignolet is better or ryan fulton

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  46. Won't be seeing them about my toothache then :-)

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  47. NGCTC was it a dive or not its not team selection day tday mate.

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  48. IMO in this case No apologies needed ... all people entitled to have their own opinion .. Did you see any Refs in the league apologies after the match if they did wrong decision and influenced the result ? If you think he should apologies then J Mou should have been apologies " thousand " times lol although the perfect solution i would like all parties that made mistake apologies but i don think that possible at all in this world ;) If you know what i meant ..

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  49. I didn't see the incident but I think he definitely dived and that's cheating pure and simple. It is equally obvious without even looking that the picture above has been photoshopped and it's not even Gerrard's leg.

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  50. You missed the point. The issue is not labelling someone or their opinion as biased or not. The issue is you continuing to undermine your viewership and the general fan base at large. Your view of Seb being biased isn't even a genuine opinion, it's an assumed, preconceived idea stuck onto anyone who in this instance, does not share your view - because the alternative view is not aligned with the things you've written about LFC fans in the past. Every LFC fan is adamant that it was never a foul and Sanchez took a dive because of their skewed pro-LFC point of view, right?

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  51. Better then Lambert and Balotelli
    He makes runs in behind holds the ball up well
    still very mobile
    Not a bad option till summer when a better quota of players are available


    I give my emphatic YES!

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  52. Who is NGCTC ?




    My opinion is Gerrard is costing lfc and is the single biggest reason for our mediocrity


    goal number 1 :
    Stupid foul
    he made contact , sanchez was not going anywhere he should have back off and occupy a position
    that is the reason why rafa never played him back no tactical discipline




    Goal number 2:
    Aimless 100 yard pass
    him and glen johnson always think tehy are pirlo and messi respectively
    No need for that pass when you can play a 5 yard pass to Coutinho

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  53. He obviously hasn't cracked the NGCTC code...

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  54. Why? He has been dreadful since he left Liverpool. In fact he was fairly dire for a year before he left.

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  55. i would say yes coz..hes a talented player..wer else he will get bak his form..i guess its happens only at Anfield so please welcome him :) ..

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  56. Surprise to see that nevergonnacrackthecode was inactive yesterday.

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  57. Terry McDermotts perm1:19 pm, December 22, 2014

    If it helps a deal go through with Borini going the other way I am well up for it.

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  58. Sheikh Shamsy was active though. Very much

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  59. I really like his opinions
    He is what i calla nd enlightened fan
    : )

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  60. Even if I voted NO, I have to admit that I would take him anyday over lambert. That said ignoring the financial aspect. He would demand a big contract... But he is not worse than lambert or borini. So it would be an upgrade

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  61. Watched the match again and my word, how awful were Arsenal?

    I could not help myself laughing when I read this.

    “So we are disappointed with the goals we conceded but our character was very good. We have played better and dominated more than we did last year when we won 5-1.”

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  62. The complainnt regarding that goal should be about Skrtel being fouled?

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  63. Skrtel was weak. Too many excuses being made. He should have dealt with Debuchy but was owned.

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  64. Sheikh Shamsy is unlikely to have heard of NGCTC because they don't tend to comment on the same articles

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  65. Agree 100% about Skrtel being one to blame for the goal. Stll doesn't change the fact that he was fouled?

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  66. Skrtel was ball watching as usual instead of concentrating what is happening around him and let Debuchy get the better of him. To suggest that Debuchy fouled Skrtel is nonsense.

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  67. Skrtel was ball watching as usual instead of concentrating what is happening around him and let Debuchy get the better of him. TRUE.

    Skrtel was fouled. Also true...

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  68. Why would we waste a place in the squad and at least 100k a week.on this guy? We should re sign Joe Cole too. No no no no no!!!

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  69. 4eva LFC, LFC 4eva2:00 pm, December 22, 2014

    20 mill i would like to see that offer made for Bony he has proven he can score goals and he is a power house on the field, he and sterling would create major problems for any team with Cortinho pulling the strings.

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  70. We played excatly the same as last year. We created dozens of chances and Skrtel is to blame for 2 goals we conceded and scored one...

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  71. In what way was Skrtel fouled? He was beaten to the ball.

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  72. Watch it again. Debuchy has both hands on Skrtel's shoulder. Just enough to get those 2 inches of advantage. I would drop him for Toure and Sakho in a heartbeat, but still, it was a foul..

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  73. Yep, and hence why I think that what Jaimie said *was* dismissing Seb's opinion. Just because something was said as an opinion, it doesn't mean it was right to say. I mean, just because for example your opinion is that all black people are evil, it doesn't mean that it was acceptable to say...

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  74. I'm gonna position myself comfortably on the fence for this one. I actually don't see how the above photo represents conclusive proof of any meaningful contact or otherwise, but nor was I outraged when Sanchez hit the deck. I've seen the incident a few times and still couldn't stake any particular claim either way. Given that ambiguity, I do agree that it seems churlish of BR to make any categorical claim that Sanchez dived. Letting his bitterness get the better of him there maybe. All we can say is that Sanchez might be one of the 99.9999% of the footballing population who make the most of contact.


    Just a quick note on Sakho, whose performance yesterday (IMO) is worthy of the 'outstanding' mantle, so often bestowed upon others. Assured bringing the ball out from the back and he shackled Sanchez superbly throughout the entire game. For me he still has the potential to be our best defender. Deserves a shot.

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  75. Yes he did. Ref had some very bad calls, that foul is not among those calls.

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  76. Agree, Sakho was brilliant and completely shut down Sanchez so much so that he moved to the other side in hope of achieving more but could not.

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  77. Well, obviously we view this in a different way. Each to their own.

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  78. Maybe you should reply to him from time to time. Would be an interesting conversation...

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  79. To be honest I cringed at the Allen one against Spurs. Sure, it's a foul as Dier stretches out his arm to tug him back at the shoulder, but the way he's legs gave from underneath him... Guess that's modern football for you.

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  80. Sakho makes Lovren look like a kid playing schoolboy football.

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  81. You don't see his hands on Skrtel's shoulders or you don't think that is a foul?

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  82. Mate, what you are seeing is not half as bad as the way Skrtel wrestles players to the ground and does not even get booked.


    If that was a foul on Skrtel from Debuchy then Skrtel should be sent of in every match for what he does at times. Skrtel was weak, end of the story.

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  83. Mate,, Skrtel does deserve a red in every game. I know that. But.. WAS THAT A FOUL?

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  84. No, to me it was not a foul. How many more times do I have to make my point that Skrtel was weak?

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  85. Being weak doesn't exclude being fouled. Hands on opponents shoulder in arial duel is not a foul? We hugely disagree on rules in this game...

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  86. Mate, I have watched the replay time and time again. I am not going to change my opinion about the matter so what if you think it waqs a foul then so be it.

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  87. I actually thought Arsenal's performance yesterday was worse; we were just not able to capitalise on it like we were last season, for obvious reasons. Regardless, much of the errors in Arsenal's play were forced by our pressing of the ball and utter dominance in midfield, so the lads deserve credit for that. On another day we might have won by 2 or 3 goals.

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  88. How silly of me.

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  89. Did Debuchy foul Skrtel for the first goal?

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  90. Enlightened one? Ironic...considering his title.

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  91. No. In that case Skrtel fouls in almost every set peices. Shirt pulling and stuff.

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  92. Paper over the cracks.


    I have never in my life seen a Arsenal side so willing to let the opposition have so much possession. Even last season in our 5-1 win Arsenal had much more possession than us.


    Arsenal were utterly sh!te and we still could not beat them.


    Paper over the cracks

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  93. So if we agree Skrtel does foul players in almost every set piece, it was a foul? Because anyone who watches football knows that he does...

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  94. Agreed but Sakho is still one of the 'Rodgers signed a load of shit' list so he has a long way to go to redeem himself in the eyes of the all-knowing internet warrior brigade. Personally, I rate him and think he's nailed on to be a massive part of the future of LFC if we play him regularly. Lallana and Markovic also fall into that list despite having only just arrived and clearly being good footballers. Moreno sometimes appears on that list too despite also being demonstrably a really good player.


    Ultimately a lot of LFC fans, at least those on the internet, expect way too much of pretty much everything and must have really unfulfilling lives outside of Football Manager. For our manager to be 'under pressure' less than half a season after our best attempt at winning the league in 24 years and losing our best player in the summer is just hilarious. That's without even considering that our second highest scorer has only played 3 matches too. No wonder Jesus has got his back.

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  95. Really excited with this new formation this is how it should be till sturridge comes back , Coutinho and Lallana increase ten fold


    ............................................Sterling
    .........................................Lallana............Coutinho/Balotelli
    Markovic/Moreno................Gerrard/Can...............Lucas.......Henderson
    .......................................Sakho/Lovren....Skrtel......Toure
    ........................................................Mignolet


    January should only be used to address two positions striker and a goalkeeper

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  96. Lovrens not gotten a chance to play with Lucas as of yet
    apart from the swansea game which was his best game


    Put Lucas and Can in front of Lovren and Sakho and watch how the defense improves overnight
    put migs in goal

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  97. you missed out the h .............It was JOKE!

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  98. Ok Jaime, you have given the irrefutable truth on Gerrard fouling Sanchez but where is the irrefutable truth on Sanchez NOT diving. I mean, this is what your article is based on, right? Sanchez was fouled but he also dived, no? Or, in your view, is it not possible to be considered a dive once there has been contact?

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  99. It's the Daily Mail for fewck sake, not even worth the column inches. Don't get why people waste time on this garbage.

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  100. Skrtel should be closer to Giroud or gone out toothed wide man. He did neither. He only needed to stick a leg out too. He has no need to be so close to near post.

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  101. Jaime, I know that you have a 'zero tolerance' policy on Liverpool players blatantly cheating so I was just wondering will there be an article appearing about Sterling's blatant hand ball?

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  102. I said something about you being biased and my post has gone?

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  103. It is called "gaining an advantage"
    Every team will do it
    it is up to the ref to spot it , if he does spot it the player will be punished.
    Nothing to really fuss about.

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  104. Yes a bit. As much as Skrtel has done in the past. He still could and should have done better.

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  105. Sturridge in the team and I have no doubt we would.

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  106. He climbed all over him. Like you say Skrtel does it and it is a foul as it will be given on occasion. It is light but definitely a foul.

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  107. Toure went out wide. Toure could have easily dealt with it. Skrtel didn't do his job either because he didn't mark tightly enough, but the easiest fix to preventing this goal is for Toure to wave a foot at a ball that was 2 ft in front of him. He should have done it. I would have done it.


    ...You would have done it.




    ...My mum would have done it.








    ...Jamie would have done it - and he's rubbish at footy, just check out how easily he goes down by reading above

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  108. Skrtel fouling does not mean that when he is fouled it should be disregarded. Especially since in that game he didn't get away with any. And that Debuchy foul lead to a goal.
    It is a simple question, was THAT a foul?

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  109. Well said Gareth. Was talking to me mate but the same things about half an hour ago. I can't see the away fans talking the sh1te that gets talked on the Internet. In fact they were singing his name against Bournemouth. That tells you all you need to know.

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  110. Not at all. I used it as an example for comparison. It's a foul.

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  111. Time wasting, tactical fouling, standing over a free kick. The list goes on. Teams try and gain advantage in times and places they can. It really doesn't deserve so much discussion Imv.

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  112. Weird how the media works though isn't it? Stir up responses from badly-informed people and all of a sudden you have a story.


    Doesn't work for people who actually go to watch the games, but then in the grand scheme of things those people are the minority by some distance. 40,000 regulars versus 400,000,000 internet experts. No wonder so many people think 'Liverpool fans' are deluded - they are!

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  113. Boremouth also "let " us have possession
    before you said you used to have red tinted glasses




    well now you have hate full glasses

    you will not recognize anything positive from rodgers

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  114. He could have killed him

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  115. Rodgers shouldn't worry about whether another team's player dives or not. He should be worried that with three central defenders in the box a guy who's 5ft10 can still score with his head.

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  116. And BR goes on about diving... And not about that or second yellow not given to Flamini. And he didn't shout on linesmen for those throw ins and corners given to them... Just look how Mouninho was screaming for a red against lower division team in a Cup that doesn't matter...

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  117. I very much doubt it would be interesting

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  118. Well I enjoy starlets talking about world peace or nuclear physics so...

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  119. Oh, Ash, seriously, I get you want to stay on the fence but mate Sanchez could have brushed his teeth between getting 'smashed!' on the shin by Steven and then going down scrambling as if the Earth beneath him had dropped in height by six inches....


    Boy oh boy, as far as dramatics go, he looked like he was ready to let out 'Et tu Brutus?'


    Yes, i agree there is no proof of meaningful contact and I'm firmly sitting on the side of the fence which says, Sanchez made the best of it and 'played for the advantage' - which he is entitled to do as everyone and their dog does it these days...


    As far as the manager is concerned the tribe mentality states one should stick up for your brothers in arms....


    Mourinho is an expert in putting the onus on others, Wenger is expert in 'see no evil' - sorry what? -When? - I didn't see anything and Pelligrini is expert in confusing everyone by drawling in some kind of Spanish mumble where everyone says, 'What?!? - What the f*** did he just say?' and then give up....


    Brendan had to choose which one to follow - personally I think he chose the best....


    Love Sakho, think he will come good...

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  120. To be honest I think giving the foul would have been harsh. Like I say it's a regular thing. As for Flamini I wouldn't think that was a red either. It may have been a yellow but I wouldn't go overboard. I thought the ref was good. Never gave debatable decisions which is fine by me. Rodgers shouldn't be saying it's a dive. I think he is just redirecting the view away from himself.

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  121. He already had a yellow, would've been the second.

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  122. Oh my god - a sane fan.....


    I'm a real advocate of LFC playing football like yesterday - fast, slick, exciting with no sign of me falling asleep during any of it...
    that is a brand of football we could attract top players with and I sincerely hope Brendan gets a chance to stay and make us great again...


    We played at one point with 83% of the ball!!! - against Arsenal!!!!!
    That's a paradigm shift compared to where we've been for so many years - and when was the last time we could say we scored a goal after 55-odd passes(against Bournmouth)?
    We are getting back to playing as a team again after getting lucky with Balloteli's injury - lets just do a collection and hire a bouncer to keep him away from the ground and continue our progress.....

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  123. If you're saying our fans are singing Sakho's name that makes me well happy....


    Big fan of his, hope he gets a run to get up to full speed and prove his worth - he's gangly but looks actually assured on the ball - from what I've seen on the TV his passes look good....

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  124. Sami just became available.

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  125. I don't believe Sterling did it deliberately.


    Sent from Samsung Mobile

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  126. In my view, Sanchez didn't dive. You're welcome to think something different.

    Sent from Samsung Mobile

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  127. Sorry I think I missed something here....


    We played sh** and won 5-1 last year..


    We played great and drew 2-2 this year...


    What cracks are being papered over...? That our playing style is becoming more collective and robust enough to dominate possession against a possession team, so we could draw against a team with three international strikers/attackers when we had exactly zero strikers on....


    So Arsenal came and let us play? Really I don't think that happened - we took the game to them and Brendan only just stood by his striker Balo - who let him down - but now he's back to his own brand of play and with better fit players (Goalie, defensive mid, striker) we would have won it outright......

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  128. Hi Sid - I received your article. Thanks! I'll post it at some point over the next couple of days.

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  129. Samsung owes you some money my friend...

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  130. Only Sanchez knows

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  131. Your comment is a cheap and easy cop out, Jaime. You stated in your article that he tried to stay on his feet and that he deserves credit but there is absolutely no evidence to support that. As soon as he felt contact, his hands went up in the air and his body made no effort to stay upright. Clearly he was playing out the foul until he got what he was expecting.

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  132. Speak for yourself My dog is like JK.. He doesn't dive. But then he doesn't bark as much as ex footballers either

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  133. If this happens then Rafa will be back as he is the only one who get the best out of him

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  134. Come on, Jaime, his hand moved VERY swiftly or 'suddenly' towards to the ball to knock it forward with an definite jab. Are you seriously defending?

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  135. Another person who doesn't understand the simple concept of differing opinions.

    Based on the available evidence, in my *opinion*, Sanchez tried to stay on his feet and deserves credit for that. If your interpretation is different, that's fair enough.

    If you can't hack an opinion that differs from yours, tough luck.

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  136. See Hypia resigned - defensive coach perhaps?

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  137. lol
    Suarez - a bite is better & not career threatening

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  138. I agree but by the time DeBuchy used both hands on Skrtel's shoulder to launch himself in the air and prevent Skrtel from doing the same I would argue that it should have been a foul. Of course the ref may have decided that Skrtel has done much worse in the past and that Debuchy climbing him was just a bit of karma.

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  139. Would be a shame not to use him in some way but you're right it's unlikely BR will give him a call

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  140. Not a dive. Gerrard knew exactly what he was doing. He was willing to accept the free kick rather than let Sanchez loose behind him. I probably would have done the same. Look at Gerrard's eyes. They are clearly on Sanchez's leg...not the ball.

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  141. Haha! Can't believe the poll is currently at 48% Yes...!!! Who are those crazy people

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  142. And like Sterling does just about every time he gets any kind of contact.

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  143. Or anyone who knows something about defending. Because we do not need someone like that...

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  144. No different to the Joe Allen penalty "dive" IMO, felt a touch and went over.

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  145. A foul? Yes.


    Soft? Yes.


    Deserving of a free kick? Yes.


    End of Story

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  146. 100% right
    Also have to remember these players all want to win every game and the prize at the end of it all isn't just a certificate. It's millions for European qualification

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  147. Off topic, but Hyppia has resigned. I hope someone from LFC is on their way to his house right now with a coaching contract

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  148. This can't be right.


    Your comment was lucid, well-reasoned, devoid of jerking knees and contained solid punctuation to boot.


    Must be a mistake.

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  149. Well I'm glad that Sakho is finally getting the credit he deserves, or at least avoiding undeserved stick, from us LFC fans.

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  150. I'm surprised people haven't blamed him for Gerrard's misplaced pass that led to Giroud's goal, the way they blamed him for Gerrard's slip against Chelski.


    Absolutely has the potential to be our best defender.

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  151. Le wild guess appears: your favourite Southampton midfielder is Wanyama, no?

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  152. To my surprise, I find myself not being against this, as long as he's not the only striker we sign in January.

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  153. I know and I know that refs shouldn't ref context but I think each of those were harsh yellows and a red would have been severe. Borini on the other hand could have had a straight red. Both those decisions added up to a sending off. I am not convinced Flamini's did.

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  154. Rodgers name.
    I am a fan of Sakho's too. He is far from perfect but he would be first choice above the rest.

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  155. i wish they would also sack the idiots who repeat such rubbish and give us all a break

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  156. Amazed the poll is so close, fully agree with JK, the guy is shot to bits

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  157. Chelsea fans voting yes :)

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  158. Winner .v. Loser

    Rafa has just won the Italian Super Cup (Gonzo Superb) trophy number 12, how many has Buck won again?

    Bring him back, he is a WINNER, he WILL sort out the defence, he will make us compete, he will get the best out of Steven Gerrard (who is continuously derided by MANY idiots on here)

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  159. Seems as thought the poll is quite divided - worth a gamble?

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  160. Sanchez got a tap on then shin guards from Gerrard but sanchez began to regain his footing and then fell again. Looked like a soft event to me..........

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  161. He would never pass the "philosophy" requirement of BR - just the same as Andy Carroll. - But, how many would take Andy back from West Ham now? I would - but then I thought he was treated unfairly. In fact he would be worth his weight in gold if he were employed as a coach to teach our forwards how to deftly chip a keeper as he did a few days ago.
    Having said that (and rambled on at a tangent for a bit) I would gladly welcome Fernando Torres back on loan for the remainder of the season if he passed the necessary health checks. He would not be able to play against Chelsea but who cares if he clicked again in the remaining games.

    Would love to see him back at Anfield being prompted by Steven Gerrard on the off chance it may just work but like my friend Y.O.said below we would have to insure with another striker also. Sorry if my post is seen as totally illogical but memories of his play for Liverpool still burn brightly.

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  162. Ha, I bet it was also a serious question ;)

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  163. We need pace up front, Torres lost that in 2010 when he went to the World Cup injured and played. Never the same after that. Should have bought Lacazette in the summer.

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  164. If it's a choice between Torres and some no mark, I'd rather have Torres. It's bound to be a shite decision, but if it works out it would be hilarious and enormously gratifying.

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  165. Sanchez receives a kick, thinks about it, then falls theatrically.

    Sent a video to editor email address.

    It was a foul as he was kicked, but he made sure he fell over to earn the freekick. I've no complaints with award of the free kick.

    Sterling definitely deliberately handles the ball, why defend him? He also earned numerous soft free kicks.

    Also sent a video to editor on this one.

    Objectivity please?

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  166. Great player for Liverpool. Those days are over.
    If he signs for us, I'll run onto the streets naked until I get arrested.

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  167. But in the post, you said that there was contact on Allen, but he went down, possibly embellishing the contact. That's exactly what Sanchez did, he got a slight amount of contact, realised he could gain by dropping, and went down.

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  168. And, my reply was deleted.

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  169. How the hell can 48% of the respondents actually consider having that washed-up, ungrateful Spanish has-been return to Anfield? ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR MIND?????

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  170. ANYONE who would opt to have that farce return to Anfield OBVIOUSLY has forgotten that for about a year-and-a-half before he skulked out the "back door" to Stamford Bridge, Torres had long since QUIT on his teammates, the club and the fans. It was a common sight to see him walking around with a scowl on his face, spending an inordinate amount of time "on the floor", pretty much going through the motions on the pitch. I remember this distinctly. Torres has passed his "use by date". End of discussion...

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  171. Oh, ok, thanks for the clear up....


    Actually that makes me feel even better - I'm glad the fans able to spend/invest their money going to matches are behind Brendan - means what I'm seeing in our team from afar isn't too far off the truth...:)

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  172. Shame I don't have a dog - but if I did I reckon it would have been 'turned' by now and turned to diving to gain advantage over all the other dogs vying for food/female dog attention etc... - you have no idea how impressionable they are....!

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  173. I, for one, would happily take him back, just not for £20m or anything near that. If we were to do a clear out, and get rid of Balo, Lambert and Borini, then Torres would be a good backup to have, like the role he played for Chelsea towards the end. I'd still expect a first choice and probably a decent young striker if such a thing were to occur. Maybe getting in Bony/Martinez as our firsty, Torres as the experienced backup and Berahino as a youngin?

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  174. He lost his soul.. his path. Give him a shot a redemption. In his hey day was one of the most gifted finishers of the ball for Liverpool. I say why not?

    Gerrard to put his arm around and forgive would do massive for his mental...

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  175. Fernando was meant for Liverpool and no other, maybe he will come back and be crap... but maybe he won't?

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  176. Bringing competent player to LFC the person who recommended should be sacked.

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  177. Me too. At least he moves ahead of the ball. I'd only take him on a free though considering his lack of goals and injury record. If we have to pay a fee for him there are better options out there.

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  178. And let's be honest here, even if he flops, it's not like that's out of character for Rodgers and "the committee"

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  179. Before the day is out the majority those 'crazy people' who love The Reds will say "Yes". I don't know whether you should call their memory 'RAM' or 'Selective' but LFC supporters go to watch their team with smiles on their faces (not frowns) remembering the good days "with hope in their hearts" and expecting the best from their team. Long may that spirit reign. Magnificient goal from Skrtel shows the old fighting spirit may be returning?

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  180. Don't know about RAM or Selective, I'd say they're suffering from amnesia.
    His last 12 months at LFC were like watching a spoilt kid who dropped his ice cream, his entire time at CFC was an embarrassment and it's continued in Italy.
    No pace, no confidence and Gerrard, who was so important to FT's game, is not the player he was when they were playing so well together.
    Torres would mark a major step backwards in our style of fast, mobile attacking that we seem to be just starting to get right.

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  181. Hahaha. I thought it might of been Torres himself wearing his mouse button out

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  182. OK, remain calm, take some deep breaths and call your local NHS mental health team. They do a fantastic job and will be able to offer you all sorts of corrective therapy ;)


    I'd suggest starting with one of those YouTube "Torres vs ....." videos from his CFC time

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  183. I know right!!!
    Since he left us he's averaged a league goal every 5.7 games. Fabio Borini in the same timeframe averaged a league goal every 3.6 games, Lambert a league goal every 2.3 games....
    Even Carlton Cole has averaged better than Torres for league goals over that same period with a goal every 4.7 games

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  184. *Spock* "Captain, our advance units are being targeted"
    *James Kirk (JK)* "OK, set phasers to Enable and fire"
    ;)
    But seriously, I think you're right on that one

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  185. I've just re-watched it a few times normal speed and slow- no and I can't see what you're describing.
    Definite handball, but not deliberate IMO

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  186. So was Kenny Dalglish. You want HIM back, too??? When it's over...IT'S OVER, and for Torres...IT'S OVER!!

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  187. Well written. Take out of that what you will! Had it not been for your post above I would have said you belonged to the SA Diplomatic Service. (Do they have one?)

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  188. YES for me.... and he will bring out the best in Stevie G once more.

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  189. We have played ok three times all season so far and lost one MU, won one Spurs and drawn Arsenal.

    What is our style again ? Fast attacking mmmm.....
    Rickie Lambert , Kolo, Mario, Borini, Allen, Adam cant play 90 ,minutes Lallana, Lovren , Like watching a team of kids , Palace play gung ho like we do and we are now looking like them!!

    Been beaten by average teams all season and shows no sign of improving as we cannot defend for toffee.

    Highest spending of any LFC Manager ever and going backwards with a tactically naive at best boss who cannot attract top players. Not one of BR signings would get in top four. Must do better , Torres still has something but that ship sailed a long time ago. Might still be better on one leg than Balotelli though

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  190. And then there is Balotelli, Borini and Lambert those pacy goalscoring DS. Worst group of strikers in the PL. Cheers Brendan. How about this lot for a free scoring front four , any takers ??

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