IT’S the day after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Manchester United and the fallout continues — particularly where referees and Joel Matip are concerned, but more on that later…
The Matip Saga Rumbles On
FAST becoming a shambles this. As you’ll probably know by now, Matip wasn’t selected in the squad to face United yesterday with Liverpool still in the dark over whether he was eligible to play, having chosen to snub Cameroon in their African Cup of Nations campaign.
Then, it was revealed today that the defender could miss six games with FIFA failing to intervene in the club v country row, instead taking the stance that they would intervene if the regulations were breached.
So that has led Liverpool to consider fielding Matip in their midweek FA Cup replay with Plymouth Argyle, risking a breach of FIFA’s regulations. Must be an easier way to solve all this, but at least it will force FIFA to take action. Just hope it doesn’t come back to bite us.
Liverpool considering playing Matip at Plymouth and risking any fall out from Fifa.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) January 16, 2017
Klopp Talks Form
FOR several very valid reasons, The Reds are currently four games without a win in all competitions. That’s three draws against Sunderland, Plymouth and United and a loss to Southampton, in case you weren’t aware. Take from that what you will.
Jürgen Klopp isn’t too worried about it, as he said: “We cannot look at it. I think we are in the region of the table where we have to be.
“In this moment, maybe for us it’s a little bit more difficult to play our best because not everybody is available but everybody could see we will fight for it 100 per cent.
“There will be a moment when we are the better side — when everybody is back, in shape, healthy, fit and then we will see how the base is then.”
The team obviously isn’t how it was earlier in the season but think there are certain caveats to that, in all fairness.
Referee Reaction
THINK most believe that Michael Oliver and his mates had a bit of a stinker yesterday. The offside was tight but the lino isn’t anywhere near where he should be, giving himself no chance to make the correct decision. Then there is Paul Pogba’s wrestling-style body slam on Jordan Henderson. And finally, the snide Wayne Rooney leaving one on James Milner. Both those incidents went unpunished and the offside led to United’s equaliser. But that’s enough from me…
Howard Webb — the bloke famous for favouring United in their matches against Liverpool — believes that the officials may have cost Liverpool all three points. He told The Times: “Positioning is everything as an assistant referee and he is not where he needs to be, which is looking along the offside line.
“Because he is too far down the touchline, he cannot judge whether Antonio Valencia is just offside before he receives the ball, which he is.”
He went on to say that Rooney should have been booked for his challenge on Milner. Not many saying anything about Pogba, though…
https://twitter.com/lfcgif/status/820671980466827265
Safe Standing
WITH a safe standing area being successfully implemented at Celtic Park, The Anfield Wrap spoke to Kev Connolly of Celtic’s Green Brigade about the section. There is growing support for something similar at Anfield, so is the time right for Liverpool FC to recognise that and have a debate on the issue?
Today At TAW
Liverpool: United Rescued By The Ref But Reds Can Still Have High Hopes by Ben Johnson
On This Day: Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0 – January 16, 1988 by Karl Coppack
Liverpool And The FA Cup: The Class Of ’86 Show Us How It Used To Be by Ian Ryan
Our latest free podcast looking back at United, forward to Plymouth and debating the other current issues at the club:
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
If FIFA takes action, Liverpool should sue. Clear precedent in Greig v Insole that any action to ban or fine Liverpool would be a restraint of trade and Matip’s right to pursue his lawful living.
I don’t understand the matip issue. Is it to stop a player being paid to not go on international duty or to stop a club interfering? Surely a player has the right to decide if they don’t want to play for their national team. They can retire when they want. What’s the difference? Why doesn’t he just retire then come out of retirement if he decides he wants to play again? I don’t understand.