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Posts Tagged ‘stoke-city’

• Dalglish complains about standard of Premier League referees
• Liverpool consider lodging an official complaint

For those with ambition and an appreciation of history there are few more appealing jobs in football than that of Liverpool manager. But the time may have come to issue the post with a health warning; a recognition that taking over at Anfield could make you as deeply paranoid as Gérard Houllier, as obsessively contentious as Rafael Benítez, as visibly bewildered as Roy Hodgson and now, it seems, as shockingly enraged as Kenny Dalglish.

The Scot has been the personification of joviality since returning to Liverpool in January, but it felt as if a turning point had been reached on Saturday. Four games into the new season, and in the aftermath of the club’s first defeat of a campaign in which they are aiming to challenge for a Champions League place, Dalglish has decided to ditch the nice‑guy act.

His ire is with the standard of refereeing in the Premier League, believing Liverpool have been victims of “contentious decisions” in every one of their fixtures so far. This was only enhanced at the weekend when Mark Clattenburg, the official in charge, awarded Stoke the penalty from which Jonathan Walters scored the game’s only goal and denied Liverpool one of their own late on when Matthew Upson, stationed inside the host’s area, appeared to block Luis Suárez’s cross with his arm.

“We would like to be respectful to the referees but more importantly is them having respect for my club,” said the Liverpool manager, “and if I feel we’re suffering in any way, then I may need to go the same route as some others and see if I can gain some benefit from that.”

Dalglish declined to expand on his plans, insisting he would “speak to [the club's] owners first” before making any moves, the most obvious of which appears to be an official complaint to the Premier League. Liverpool did not confirm on Sunday if that was indeed his intention.

For its part, it is understood the Football Association is unlikely to discipline Dalglish for his comments given he did not criticise or question the integrity of any referee in particular.

That may come as a relief to the 60-year-old but for his admirers there may remain concern over his loss of temper, the sense, even, that for the second time in two decades the task of managing Liverpool is proving too great a responsibilty for the club’s greatest player.

Dalglish would dispute that and it could be deemed that his frustrations on Saturday had more to do with team’s failure to win a third league game in succession, despite their dominance of proceedings. Liverpool had almost 73% of the possession, created 16 shots on goal – compared to Stoke’s two – and, as Dalglish pointed out, were denied what did appear to be an obvious penalty. In fairness to Clattenburg, the one he awarded Stoke appeared a fair one given how it resulted from Jamie Carragher’s hauling down of Walters as the forward ran in on goal.

The visitors’ wastefulness was, in reality, their true downfall and seen most starkly just after the hour when, between them, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam had five shots on goal saved by Stoke’s defence in a matter of seconds.

“We played well, it was just one of those days when we couldn’t hit the net,” said Stewart Downing. “Hopefully we’ll be able to do that at Tottenham next week. We’ve just got to keep doing the same things.”

That last sentiment is one that would be shared by Stoke, who are now unbeaten in eight games and face a first ever group-stage match in the Europa League when they travel to Dynamo Kyiv on Thursday.

“We’ve started well but are still 32 points from safety,” said the Stoke manager, Tony Pulis. “Any side can beat you on any given day, so we’ve to keep our feet on the ground and take nothing for granted.” Pulis’s delight extended to the debut display of Peter Crouch following his £10m move from Tottenham on deadline day. The striker was quiet but showed plenty of eagerness.

The same could be said of Craig Bellamy, who marked his return to Liverpool as a snarling, second-half substitute. As it transpired, he was not the only one from the visitors’ camp who was in a petulant mood in the Potteries.

Premier League 2011-12Stoke CityLiverpoolKenny DalglishSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

• Liverpool manager vents rage after penalty decision
• Club owners to be consulted before complaint is made

Kenny Dalglish vented his fury at the standard of Premier League refereeing after his Liverpool team lost 1–0 at Stoke City. The Scot was enraged after Mark Clattenburg awarded the hosts a penalty in the first half but declined to give one when Matthew Upson appeared to handle Luis Suárez’s cross inside the area late on.

The defeat was Liverpool’s first of the season, and while Dalglish thought the visitors created enough chances to win the game – particularly during a spell just after the hour when, between them, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam saw five shots on goal blocked by Stoke’s defence in a matter of seconds – he felt the contest was ultimately decided by Clattenburg and hinted cryptically that his side have been victims of a conspiracy by officials throughout this campaign.

“If we play like that again we’ll be OK this season, but if we continually get battered by things which are out of control then we’re not going to have much chance,” said Dalglish. “We’ve had contentious decisions in every one of our four league games this season. We would like to be respectful to the referees, but more important is them having respect for my club and if I feel we’re suffering in any way then I may need to go the same route as other people go and see if I can gain some benefit from that. I’ll speak to the owners first and see what they say.”

Asked what action he may take Dalglish reiterated his desire “to speak to the owners first”, but the obvious route open to him appears to be making a complaint to the Premier League, and perhaps to Mike Riley, the head of the country’s referees. The Scot appears to have a case regarding the penalty Liverpool should have had for Upson’s handball, but the one scored by Jonathan Walters after he had been hauled down by Jamie Carragher appeared fair. Dalglish’s claim that his team have had “contentious decisions” in each of their fixtures this season also appears misplaced.

Kenny DalglishLiverpoolStoke CitySachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk

• Stoke City 1-0 Liverpool
• Walters 21

After a start which had seen them go top of the table for the first time in two years, there had been growing talk of Liverpool developing into genuine title contenders this season. But at a ground which has consistently proved to be a graveyard of success for the club came the feeling that, even at this early stage, their championship hopes have died just a little.

Liverpool’s record of having never won a Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium has now stretched to four games, this being their second defeat in succession, and while their performance here was encouraging in spells, and in no way as poor as that which led to a 2-0 defeat here last season, the visitors hardly looked like a team yet capable of garnering the victories required to knock Manchester United off their perch.

It will have particularly pained the travelling supporters that the goal which sealed their side’s first defeat of the campaign arrived in somewhat predictable fashion, with a direct and aggressive approach from Stoke leading to Jamie Carragher bringing Jonathan Walters down inside the area. The striker took the resulting penalty himself to record his first league goal of the season.

Liverpool, in fairness, did not sulk and went onto dominate possession, territory and goal chances here and will still be wondering how they did not equalise shortly after the hour mark when, having been put clear by José Enrique’s through pass, Jordan Henderson saw three shots blocked by the Stoke defence and Charlie Adam, two. Asmir Begovic, the Stoke goalkeeper, was to thank for three of those interceptions.

The refusal to concede was typical of Stoke’s spirit throughout and, as such, they will feel they deserved to win. Peter Crouch was quiet on his debut for the club having joined from Tottenham for £10m on deadline day but he will feel pleased having seen his new team record an eighth game this season without defeat.

Craig Bellamy featured for Liverpool having re-signed for the club at the end of last month but, barring a late header, made minimal impact. Indeed, it was Luis Suárez who yet again was the visitor’s most potent threat and he will feel aggrieved at not having won a penalty when Matthew Upson appeared to handle his cross into the area later on into the contest. Deep into stoppage time the striker then missed an open goal after Begovic had failed to collect Charlie Adam’s cross. It was one of those days for Liverpool in the Potteries, yet again.

Premier League 2011-12Stoke CityLiverpoolPremier LeagueSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk