Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has accused Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia of cheating to win the penalty that handed United a 2-1 victory at Anfield last Sunday.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, an irate Johnson - who has cost the Reds four goals already this season due to defensive mistakes - adamantly insisted that he did not touch the Ecuadorian winger. He raged:
"I've watched it 50 times and it's not a penalty. I didn't touch him. I collided with Pepe, I didn't touch Valencia at all.
"It's cheating at the end of the day. You don't expect people to do that. This is one of the best leagues in the world and you've got people doing that."
Did Valencia dive? It's hard to tell from the video. I've seen the incident from every angle, and his leg splays out as if he's been clipped somewhere, but it's just not possible to see where there is contact.
It's interesting to note that Valencia was involved in an identical incident against Liverpool in March 2010, in another 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have fouled the winger, but after the game, in response to the question 'Did Valencia dive', Benitz responded:
"From the replay I think so. There are doubts about the penalty. The way he fell down is strange. When you see the replay it is suspicious how he went to the ground"
Granted, past performance is no guarantee of future cheating, but at the very least, it's persuasive corroborative evidence.
Jaimie Kanwar
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, an irate Johnson - who has cost the Reds four goals already this season due to defensive mistakes - adamantly insisted that he did not touch the Ecuadorian winger. He raged:
"I've watched it 50 times and it's not a penalty. I didn't touch him. I collided with Pepe, I didn't touch Valencia at all.
"It's cheating at the end of the day. You don't expect people to do that. This is one of the best leagues in the world and you've got people doing that."
Did Valencia dive? It's hard to tell from the video. I've seen the incident from every angle, and his leg splays out as if he's been clipped somewhere, but it's just not possible to see where there is contact.
It's interesting to note that Valencia was involved in an identical incident against Liverpool in March 2010, in another 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have fouled the winger, but after the game, in response to the question 'Did Valencia dive', Benitz responded:
"From the replay I think so. There are doubts about the penalty. The way he fell down is strange. When you see the replay it is suspicious how he went to the ground"
Granted, past performance is no guarantee of future cheating, but at the very least, it's persuasive corroborative evidence.
Jaimie Kanwar
jk, you blame suarez for diving even when he gets contact and now you say that the penalty for valencia is questionable? on the balance of probabilities, you are certainly a man united fan pretending to be a lfc fan.
ReplyDeleteWho'd be a REF?
ReplyDeleteTo me it looked like a penalty but do did Suarez's later on.
The problem is the inconsistency of Refereeing.
Jaimie I am certain that when replays are introduced, Ferguson will be long gone.
His ability to intimidate by mentioning such things as 'we never get anything at Anfield' comment before the game will be neutralised.
I'm for replays and goal line technology, if Ref's can't or wont make the right decisions take away the responsibility from them.
johnson didnt protest one bit at the time, all of a sudden now he pipes up. there may not have been clear contact but he was clumsy. go in like that and your asking for trouble. he shouldnt have lost the ball on the halfway line if the first place.
ReplyDeleteBleating scousers make me laugh... Always got to blame someone haven't you
ReplyDeleteActually, Johnston clips Valencias heel BEFORE he tries to make a rash challange in the box. STUPID challange and it was a foul.
ReplyDeleteRidicolous, you cant get a penalty for the oposing team losing the ball on the halfway. And for being clumsy: I would say the total oposite, GJ did a perfect run home and avoided contact! If anyone was clumsy, it was the cheat Valencia, who fell because he was about to lose his advantage, and got nervous. Yellow for the cheat Valencia is what it was.
ReplyDeleteAnd for protesting.... when did you last see a ref withdraw a penalty he just awarded? I know that all the manure players allways protests every incident, something learnt from their coach Alex F, a disgrace for football!
there was a push on the back thats why he goes down
ReplyDeleteYeah, a whole backpack named Rio, on Agger!
ReplyDeleteOff course he's dived, there shouldn't be any doubt about it. He's already on his way to the ground before Johnson could even touch him.
ReplyDeleteI have a bridge for sale, its a great bridge. For you only I have a special price!
ReplyDeleteThat's right. One just has to look at how Ferdinand berates the ref after Evans and Shelvey clashed. It's pretty obvious that Ferdinand has no respect for the officials at all and is intimidating them.
ReplyDeleteA push? You may have another look at the incident.
ReplyDeleteSo your willing to give Valencia the benefit of the doubt when it's pretty clear he milked it, but you won't stick up for Suarez who play's for the team you support ? eh.
ReplyDeleteThe premeditated crime which was orchestrated by the FA and executed by Mark Halsey on the 23rd of September 2012 was confirmed to me last night by a very good friend of mine who used to be an international referee in the past and now he is arbitration’s professor. The analysis was mainly focused on six specific infringements:
ReplyDelete1. On the 32nd minute of the game a foul was committed on Raheem Sterling by ManU’s number 3 player. The professor said it should have been a red card on the number 3 player!
2. On the 39th minute of the game both players – Shelvey and Evans – tried to win the ball by extending their feet sideways with no intention to hurt each other. The professor said no card should have been given to each player. On the specific infringement Shelvey was sent off with a red card!
3. On the 48th minute of the game a foul was committed on Steven Gerrard by ManU’s number 7 player. The professor said it should have been a yellow card on the number 7 player.
4. On the 57th minute of the game Luis Suarez was not allowed to move on in the penalty area of ManU as Evans’ leg remained extended. The professor emphasized that a penalty should have been awarded!
5. On the 76th minute of the game Valencia was found on the grass and Mark Halsey awarded a penalty for ManU. The professor emphasized that a penalty should have never been awarded!
6. When Shelvey was punished with a red card on the 39th minute and while he was walking away, MANU’S MANAGER TURNED AND SCOFFED SHELVEY WITH LAUGHTER!
7. The FA is accountable and must further investigate the specific incident. Managers who behave in this unacceptable manner then they should not be allowed to be coaching a team! If the managers do not foster the motto RESPECT and are not behaving in an ethical way how do they expect the players to do so?
8. Mark Halsey immediately and with no further hesitation must take fully responsibility of his “criminal” arbitration and retire.
9. LFC’s hierarchy must take immediate actions and declare Phil Dowd, Andre Marriner, Howard Webb, and Mark Halsey as undesirables to be hissing LFC’s game.
10. The LFC’s fans should not allow further “criminal” arbitrations from referees and send clear and loud messages to both FA and referees that they must RESPECT LFC’s history in English Football!
Question is: did he learn it from Ashley Young, Wellbeck, Nani, or Shrek?
ReplyDeleteBreaking news - Liverpool to sign chinese coach , his name is WINONESOON
ReplyDeleteJohnson rarely complains about anything. After the incident, Johnson seems to be injured after colliding with Pepe. Also, Pepe, in my opinion, actually gets to the ball before Valencia hits the deck.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jamie, if you are going to allocate blame for goals conceded this season, then Skrtel takes some beating, if ever a player is underperforming to get rid of the manager, then here we have a prime example
But its alright for you do it then, Glen, in last season's fixture....
ReplyDeleteIts not as bad as the hypocritical Stevie preaching against foreign players' antics in his book.
Nauseating when players like Glen get on their high horse, as the thing they are accusing others of, they do it themselves.
Old Trafford in 2010, no?
ReplyDeleteI remember Alan Smith saying something similar about Johnson 'not protesting' at the time. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Johnson was lying in genuine pain after colliding with Pepe Reina. I actually really worried at the time that he'd cracked a rib. So 'protesting' was probably far from his mind at the time. I can guarantee you that Johnson would have been roaring at the ref if he'd been fit enough to do so at the time.
ReplyDeleteits clear that johnson put his right leg ahead of valencia and catches his left knee in the process , whats the whole point of dive at all ?
ReplyDeleteOh drone on you lot! Two days later and your still deliberating the point! You have played 5 won 0, i would sooner blame your club for not signing a striker, and suarez for spending 90% of his match time rolling aroung the ground!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone reckon an anti united chant of ' you do what you're told' clicks? (In reference to the ' we do what we want chant')
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to worry about your lot rolling around, cause they just get a penalty. Different rules for different teams. What's that now, three in three weeks ?Absolute joke.
ReplyDeleteIf the ref is perceptually biased, expect clear decisions to be taken wrong. I suspect this would have been the case here.
ReplyDeleteMost probably he was happy that he managed to close down the danger, only to be surprised that a penalty was given. That was the reaction of many!
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt, Suarez has earned himself a reputation as diver which is costing team some points. Oppositions know very well that Suarez has no protection from referees and take a liberty to foul him in penalty box to stop a real goal chance for Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteSuarez has to change his attitude. If he doesn't, he should not be given first team start. Play any academy player as striker.
I think Young. He executed the split-leg trailing leg dive exactly like Young.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Have our best player on the bench and have anyone from the academy as striker . Good one. The difference between Suarez , Young ,Rooney , Welbeck, and Nani is they all get penalties for diving and Suarez gets nothing. Fair?
ReplyDeleteNot fair but Suarez doesn't play for United. Does he ?
ReplyDeletePeople died before 23 years and still haven't got justice and you are talking about fairness ?
There is nothing fair here. Everyone knows about it but no one has balls to call a spade a spade!
Listen . With all due respect to people who have passed on from football fans to all walks of life. From a football point of view what part don't you understand about the inconsistencies in the treatment of Suarez, as opposed to the united players?Three dubious penalties in three weeks. No questions asked. So don't say he's earned a reputation as a diver and at the expense of the team. He gives as good as he gets, and most importantly busts his .ar$e for LFC.
ReplyDeleteThere was and push in the back ! (Someone) his heel was cliped. Was'nt that much of a foul 2 diffrent accounts why it was givin !
ReplyDeletelol...GROW UP, Yes Just GROW UP, please get over your united get it all there way nonsense. Howard & Halsey on the payroll rubbish! U mite get more penalty shouts if suarez didnt exagerate every tackle on him. But that wasnt my point, my point was your still wasting your time with 'oh poor liverpool the victim' If u wanna blame someone blame the team for not having no wins in 5, and blame the management for not signing any strikers!! United had the luck on thier side on sunday, but it certainly not why liverpool are lying in the relegation zone!
ReplyDeletePenalties awarded in the Premier League in the last 10 seasons:
ReplyDeleteTeam Penalties awarded Home Away
Arsenal 60 44 16
Liverpool 60 33 27
Man Utd 59 39 20
Aston Villa 55 23 32
Chelsea 54 35 19
Blackburn 48 25 23
Man City 47 36 11
Newcastle 46 29 17
Tottenham 45 27 18
Fulham 43 32 11
Everton 41 28 13
Bolton 39 18 21
West Ham 32 25 7
Portsmouth 31 24 7
Birmingham 28 18 10
Wigan 28 11 17
Middlesbrough 25 17 8
Sunderland 24 17 7
Charlton 21 13 8
West Brom 20 10 10
LIVERPOOL JOINT TOP, pipping united by just one, but it goes to show, there def is no biast against LFC. So bin the victim card would ya!
Agree, Roadender - Skrtel has been a liability at times this season, and I've higlighted that in other posts. Against Man U, he was also partly to blame for the penalty IMO. When Valencia got into the box, he just backed off and backed off, and gave him the space to manoeuver. Skrtel should've advanced on him, and at least pushed him towards the wing.
ReplyDeleteto be fair we should have been at least 2 nil up in the first half, if we where we would not be moaning about missed opportunities!
ReplyDeleteGet off your pedestal, everyone has protestors in their ranks. Are youtelling me Reina or Gerrard never protest? To be fair they probably asked Fergie to coach them seeing as how much respect he has in the game.
ReplyDeleteEverton fans are so bitter....oh, you supportutdu Liverpool. The group responsible for this atrocious anti LFC regime of conspiracy consists of Lee Harvey Oswald, some lizards, Elvis Prestley, Lord Lucan and a little white Fiat Uno. Apparently.
ReplyDeleteWow. You're mentaljjjjjj
ReplyDeleteYou can play with statistics however you like.
ReplyDeleteWhat if we deserved more than those penalties awarded while Man.UTD cheated their way to a very very close second position? It seems the general consensus among many football fans, Man.UTD included, that they get more than their fare share of penalties.
Valencia, Young, Wellbeck, Ronaldo, Rooney and a host of other names have had dubious penalties awarded their ways more than any other players.
I am also curious to see that statistic representing the last 5-6 seasons. It would be very different I'm sure! ;)
thats just means they should have 10 less than we.
ReplyDeleteTwo things...LFC got mugged on sunday in broad daylight,the bad guys got away,scurrying giggling all the way home,we'll get them next time.As far as simulation goes,at what point in a players development does it raise its ugly head,it has got to be noticed,scouts, video,and jr level games.In my opinion i think there should be a governing body tracking these players and their antics,be it EPL or FIFA I realize it sounds crazy, but you have to agree that football has taken on some really tough jobs handling violence in stands,stadium safety,racism and respect.Sad to say the latter falls a little short as i believe diving is the most cowardly way to play and shows absolutly no respect for the game or its fans.Just saying.....
ReplyDeletelook at second 12 jhonson's hand pulling valencia and look at his foot too, this guy sucks, Valencia speed is awsome
ReplyDelete"What if we deserved more than those penalties awarded while Man.UTD cheated their way to a very very close second"
ReplyDeleteWhat a ridicolous statement, "What if" Liverpool cheated more? goes to stand if they had more, they most likely cheated more?
Unfortunately I dont have the stats for the last 5-6 seasons.
But looking at this season, chelsea have had just as many penalties as united, and actually converted all three penalties. But nothing has been questioned about any of their penalities and they are top of the league!! Just because one has been awarded at the anfield, your up in arms saying united get favourtism, when stats prove they dont!
u are muppett, there is contact and as a looserfool fan u cant see it, he wasnt loosing advantage if not for the clumsy GJ, how many mistakes did he make this season which have costed yo loosers
ReplyDeleteall coz the players mentioned a very skillful players, which yo team dont have
ReplyDeleteNot quite as awsome as his acting.
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday Ferg16 had no respect to Rodgers.He had the guts to come down the by-line to voice his 'anger' with Jonjo after the red card.Did he do that because it was ROdgers in-chage of Liverpool?Can he attempt to talk to Jonjo if it were either Benetez or KK in charge?When Vidic consecutively had three redcards on reddish Torres, did Rafa Benetez come down the by line to talk to Vidic?NO.Has Wenger ever come down to talk to any opponent player after a hard tackle to his player?NO.We Liverpool fans are applauding to Jonjo SHevlev for talking and point fingering Ferg16 if Rodgers could not have the boldness to confront Ferg16.Ferg16 is the most disrespectful manager in this country.
ReplyDelete