THERE is a scene in Paul Thomas Anderson’s best film Punch Drunk Love when the lead character played by Adam Sandler is embarrassed in a restaurant and then goes to the bathroom and absolutely kicks fuck out of it. He wallops it from pillar to post. He straightens up and returns to his table.
After this draw that’s all I can think of. That’s all I want to do. That or sit on the floor and pound it.
There is the general notion that you do this sort of thing — writing and talking about football — and you rise above everything. Shrug. Move on. Write a wry sentence or two.
I feel like I am about to have a breakdown. I have nothing. I am drained dry. If I felt I could get away with it I would just collapse into heaps of sobs. The night is young. I still might.
I understand this is just a game. I understand this is just the halfway mark. I understand kicking fuck out of a bathroom. I understand why this is wrong and ridiculous.
I’ve no fucking moves beyond absolute heartbreak. Going to York tonight. Talk we are staying in the Heartbreak Hotel. Who’s the bastard in the black? The desk clerk.
2 – Sunderland are the first team to score two penalties in a Premier League game against Liverpool since West Brom in April 2011. Spot.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 2, 2017
Anthony Taylor then. My feelings in this order:
- This space doesn’t normally feel the need to talk about referees
- Before a ball is kicked today, it’s my opinion that he isn’t good enough to be a Premier League referee
- Before a ball is kicked today, I think given his previously displayed ineptitude, the Liverpool manager should have done everything he could to ensure he doesn’t referee a Liverpool game. In exactly the same way Rodgers made Lee Mason persona non grata in 2013-14.
- His performance today for both sides was little short of disgraceful.
- He’s Wythenshawe’s finest. I want to be crystal clear about this: there is not any suggestion of bias here from me. I doubt he is actually competent enough for that. It’s just that it shouldn’t be possible for anyone to even make the suggestion. He shouldn’t be refereeing Liverpool games. Nor Manchester ones. Because he’s from a district of South Manchester.
- In short, though, he’s fucking shite and should be none of our business. Howard Webb was a far better referee and he shouldn’t have been near Liverpool games or games with a Liverpool interest either.
Regardless, while a tough game, Liverpool should have found a way to take it out of the hands of both Taylor and Sunderland.
They should have found a way to make it easier. They toiled too much. Jordan Henderson’s absence from the side bit hard, The Reds too ponderous in the middle of the park. Too many yards in the legs.
The manager chose to ask his players for one more big push rather than change them. A percentage call. Who knows if it is right or wrong? All I know right now is that I am glad he is our manager. I want him to come to York. To talk to me. To reassure me.
These two sentences are equally true:
- Had you offered me 10 from The EV, Stoke, Manchester City and Sunderland I would have taken it at once.
- This is the worst I have felt after a point since 2009 against Arsenal.
The day we next play a league game at home I am 36. The day we last won a league I was nine. I’m on the floor. I’m in pieces. Because I might be 37 before we next win a league given this.
I hope I am wrong. I love these lads. I love this manager. I love that away end. I love the diaspora. I need proving wrong. I need picking up off the floor. I need a bathroom to kick fuck out of.
Adam Sandler wins through in the end. He channels his anger. Honours Emily Watson. Promises never to leave her again.
18 more games. I’ve got a bone to pick. I don’t want you monkey mouthed motherfuckers sitting in my throne again.
This space won’t talk about referees or misery this season again. I promise never to leave you again.
18 more games. Into these 18 times.
Recent Posts:
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
The standard of refereeing is abysmal at the moment, but we should have been out of sight for it not to matter.
I’m ok with the point given we drop them at ridiculous times for some reason. I’m guessing his will spur us on against Utd and that’s what I want. Beat them bastards. Beat the Chelsea bastards. Fuck the referee, this league needs winning.
If today really is as bad as it looks, does Anthony Taylor get a a league winner’s medal from Chelsea? Surely he earned it today.
More frustrated with the Premier Leagues ridiculous decision to make us play twice in less than 48 hours. Completely absurd. No wonder there was nothing left in their legs.
Well, Sunderland played 2 in 48 hours as well.
For me, it’s not the playing twice in 48 hours, it always happens over Christmas. The issue is, everyone should be playing with a very similar gap between games. Chelsea for instance, in the 3 games over this period have had a 3 day break and now a 4 day break. That’s no different to when there is Europe or rearranged games later in the season. I get it’s for TV but surely the Premier League should be involved. Due to this scheduling, there are actually teams, who have not had the hectic period.
If Spurs get a result, nothing much would have changed. If they don’t, we can all say that we lost it in the 3 games against Bournemouth, West Ham and Sunderland. 7 points dropped from winning positions.
“Well, Sunderland played 2 in 48 hours as well”.
Completely missing the point.
We’re halfway through the season.
Two should have been enough. We drew today by our own hand, not because of the ref, not because of our rotten legs. The two mistakes that led to goals were the result of entirely needless faults by fresh players. Emre miscontrolling the ball out for a throw when under no pressure and Lucas’ clumsy foul just outside the box. After that Klopp will have busted the bathroom for you Neil. Then he’ll pick up the team to beat United. I’ll take the point today. It may win us the league. I’m glad Sturridge got his goal. Mignolet seems reborn. Coutinho will be back soon. You gotta hold your head up high. This is our year. Ynwa
Nailed it.
I’m neutral, and I think you’re wrong. I don’t think either penalty was an incorrect decision, and there could have been no complaints had a third been given to Sunderland for handball.
The free-kick that resulted in the second pen though? Hardly a foul, that.
Well you’re wrong then aren’t you? The first was a classic case of kick the ball through a gap and fall over and Mane’s hand was in a natural position and didn’t move towards the ball for the second. The free kick leading to it was completely ridiculous. Taylor is bent, very noble sentiments Neil but sometimes you have to call it like it is.
Okay, so I should have waited until I had calmed down and watched a proper replay before commenting. Clear handball, and Taylor didn’t have that bad a game in general. Still think there first doesn’t get called a pen more often than not though
Hi mate, not sure anyone is disputing the pen awards.Just the free kick. On a different note 10 from 12 is a very good return. Let’s see where we are in April and go from there.
Great article Neil.
As I alluded to in the ratings comments, I think the minimum requirement for a ref should be being able to tell the fucking time.
Restroom smashed , cats kicked.
Never do it the easy way do we ?
Against Everton- we were able to call on Sturridge and Can from the bench with a decent team out already. We should have 5 top players sitting and waiting each game. Minimum.
Yet overall, in our last 7 games we’ve had 2 and sometimes 3 teenagers for the future on the bench- and as Klopp admits, they’re not for the ‘game changing’ moments needed. We maxed points in 4, but dropped 7 in the other 3.
Chelsea and the others have Internationals on their benches to change games and even rotate the team, match to match.
Stupid mistakes, tired minds and legs cost us 2 points today from winning positions. If the kids aren’t positive alternatives to today’s team, then the squad needs to be strengthened by at least 2 attacking players.
I know he believes more in his system than looking for marquee players, but top players can and will adjust to the well oiled machine he plays. Dembele in Celtic could easily slot in for example. This Chelsea team is catchable and are riding their luck with their arrogance. Costa and Hazard down and they’re not the same. Time for Jurgen to show us his scouting skills for established players as well as ones he can mould.
I know some will quite rightly say that Sunderland also played twice in 3 days, but it definitely showed as far as we’re concerned today.
Gini and Emre, Emre especially, it seemed misplaced so many short passes and were not dealing with being pressed well. Can for me is a no-no in Henderson’s role for them reasons, too slow also for it I think personally. Not saying he’s a bad player, I’m not at all convinced that role is for him.
Hope Sturridge limping off is nothing serious, seemed to be a knock rather than anything muscular. He seemed bright today and ithing to make a point.
Gutted with the draw, it’s strange because if we’d have drew against City and won today I’d be satisfied despite the same points return. But having played for a few matches now after Chelsea it would have been nice to put the onus on them for a change.
Ah well, shit happens.
Hurry back Hendo! Struggled without his and Milner’s leadership on the pitch. Emre needs to get his head down & up his game. Not good enough at the minute.
Let’s get the kids on against Plymouth in the fa cup and give these lads a much needed break.
Bobby Firmino looks lost without Coutiniho.
Mane lad, enjoy your break in the sunshine, hurry back… just don’t get fucking injured!
Hopefully the Sturridge knock is nothing as we need his goals more than ever.
9 days til the league cup semi.
Onwards & upwards!
Forza Liverpool
10 from 12 is great as long as the teams behind and in front of us dont get 12 from 12
I guess I was -2 the last time we were champions. So yeah… Get the fuck in line, Neil.
With our injuries we haven’t yet got the squad depth to get the other side of the Christmas/new year fixtures playing Klopp intensity footy with all the points. We’re in better shape points wise now than we were same stage 08/09 or 13/14 I believe. We beat United and City at Anfield those seasons and still came up short. Every game as it comes and all that but 31st January at home to Chelsea is must win. I can’t wait.
Four wins from five is an excellent haul but makes today no easier to take. I am genuinely raging. Raging because we regularly contrive to give our opponents exactly what they need and raging because of David fucking Moyes coming out and saying that if he was German his tactics would have been praised, thus showing that British managers are surely the most deluded group of people now or ever. Yeah that’s right Moyesey, it’s nationality and nothing else that separates you and Klopp. How’s the table looking? Utd job went well didn’t it? Enjoy Sociedad?
As for the officials, I gave up even referencing them many years ago. This league has many things of which to be proud, but high levels of officiating is not one of them. I mean look at the sorry state of Dean and his officials today for West Ham vs Utd. Inutterable incompetence. Shameful cretinism. And I actually rate Dean. Then Mourinho has the sheer front to come out and say Utd are the ‘champions of bad decisions’ or whatever it was. Oh do get to fuck you boring bastard.
Terrible day, but isn’t it nice that our terrible days involve drawing and staying second nowadays?
COYS.
You sound mad Neil. But you ain’t stressing.
1. Surely you felt worse after the point against Palace. You know the one.
2. Boogie Nights, mate.
It’s a funny game. Different team, yeah, but. Worst time to face Sunderland. Liverpool were not weak, not bad, but deservedly tired and not deservedly complacent. One thing I know is that since 1879, Sunderland Association Football Club has demonstrated, at crucial times, that they have pride.. When pride gets injured in anything, there can be an extra price to pay. We paid it today. There was no shame in that result. Liverpool, though clearly a class apart was in a desperate and committed battle.
Nice writing mate. You are giving voice to millions’ inner joy and rage. Would’a liked to make it to York and brought Jurgen along for a detailed post mortem and a few pints.
Sorry, There Will Be Blood every day of the week ;)
Now, link to Old Trafford and prediction of claret bring spilled…
Matip and Coutinho are going to feel like ‘new signings’ aren’t they?! And we’re going to need them to stem the momentum and arrogance now exuding from Ibrahimovic, Pogba and the rest of the mercenaries.
I was sat in the Sunderland end yesterday, in line with the 6 yard box we attacked in the second half. It’s surprised me after the game that more has not been made of the foul on Sturridge which caused his injury. Haven’t seen the incident back but it looked to me that Sturridge had his legs kicked away from with the ball not being played, and this taking place at least on the line of the penalty box and therefore a penalty to us should’ve been awarded.
Be interested to hear what the TV view on this was compared to my live view?
Anthony Taylor, noticed him like no other ref because he positioned himself 5 yards from the D where Liverpool wanted to pass. No complaints about pens, but his positioning made him into an obstacle that disturbed the midfield and I felt contributed to the poor passing
Sturridge’s ‘injury’ appears not to be that bad. If so why was he lying down for ages then takes the opportunity to go off when he’s probably our freshest player on the pitch? Perhaps I’m being unfair and his foot was causing him so much pain he couldn’t carry on, but as Jurgen said ‘there’s pain and there’s pain’. I don’t recall, Hunt, Toshack, Johnson, Rush, Aldridge or Fowler going off with a poorly foot, never mind lying down when there’s a game to be won. Good goal though.