Rodgers speaks to ref chief Riley

By Olivavu, Thu 27/09/12 at 15:31

Brendan Rodgers has spoken to referees chief Mike Riley in an attempt to halt a string of bad decisions against his side.

Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield saw Jonjo Shelvey sent off, and a penalty given to United whilst Liverpool were denied their own when Luis Suarez went down in the area.

Rodgers was also unhappy with some of the decisions in Wednesday's 2-1 Capital One Cup win at West Brom and says he has contacted Riley to voice his frustration.

He told Sky Sports: "The opening period of this season, we haven't had any rub of the green whatsoever from officials.

"I rang Mike Riley this morning. I think he was actually expecting me to comment a bit earlier.

"I just said to Mike, we have to be careful that we don't discourage people and players who are trying to respect the game. We want to win the game but we want to win it by fair means."

The manager added: "The players have been outstanding in their work. But us being a sporting team and going by the letters of the law and the rules, it just seems to pass us by in terms of decisions.

"We've had a few sendings-off, a few penalties given against us and absolutely nothing that we've been given at all."

"So I hope that changes. Injuries and what-not, you can't control those sorts of things, but certainly decisions you'd hope we get better decisions in the next coming weeks.

"That's the thing I'll certainly be looking for over the next number of weeks, is a wee bit of good fortune in terms of some of the decisions that we've got."

Rodgers was particularly upset by incidents involving Jordan Henderson and young defender Andre Wisdom at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night.

"It's just become quite obvious, especially after last night's game," he added.

"Jordan Henderson had a horrendous challenge in the game last night and the player wasn't even booked.

"One of my young players, Andre Wesman made a really good tackle, and won the ball and got booked for it. There's been a number of incidents."

EddieC
Thu 27/09/12 at 16:03

The refereeing decisions for us so far this season have been shocking, hopefully this little chat makes a difference

bengate
Thu 27/09/12 at 16:13

Shelvey's tackle was a bad one and he can't argue. Maybe Evans should have gone too, but that's not the point. What disappoints me is that the tackle on Henderson against WBA was appalling, really horrible, and wasn't punished at all.

But generally, decisions haven't been the major factor in us not winning yet. We've played very well much of the time - against Man City and Man U, Young Boys, for an hour against West Brom - but not got the reward. We need to score when we're playing well. I think Borini needs to be put in the central role and Suarez moved wider, or into a free role. Other than that it's just a case of giving the youngsters game time and watching them become stars, because I think a lot of them will - and soon.

That's more important than a couple of bad refereeing decisions, annoying as they are.

Olivavu
Thu 27/09/12 at 16:38

Mulumbu definitely should have gone. It was a nasty tackle that should have been punished.

jcallen29
Thu 27/09/12 at 17:00

I'm glad Rodgers has spoke out about this but I doubt it will make any difference referees will just do as they please

BigDonga
Fri 28/09/12 at 00:02

TBH, I think I'm alone here, but the reffing hasn't been THAT bad.

Obviously the decisions have been wrong but I've felt quite often, before I've seen the replay that they were right. It might be due to my s**tty streams, crap eye sight or the fact that I'm not on the pitch like the ref.
But I'll give a few examples from the recent games.

Against Hendo, I thought Mulumbu just clipped him, yellow at most.
The pen against Utd, I thought Johnson came in hard and did crash into Valencia

I think a lot of the problem is that fans are seeing the replay, which at the moment isn't meant to influence a refs decision, and then getting into an uproar about it.

jcallen29
Fri 28/09/12 at 09:52

I've seen the mulumbu challenge on lfc TV last night it was a real leg breaker. Don't know about the refs position though so he could of missed it.

FernandoFowler9
Fri 28/09/12 at 11:05

I saw it too. Horrible challenge. Studs into the shin = red card, as far as I'm concerned.

I can't see what this phone call is going to do? The refs are going to give us decisions they don't feel we deserve?

Olivavu
Fri 28/09/12 at 12:06

The Mulumbu one was a straight red every single time.

Valencia was going down before anyone got near him.

Nicho
Fri 28/09/12 at 12:15

Whether there is contact or not, it is the intent of a foul challenge that should be punished. Mulumbu's intent was to take the man.
On Saturday, Evans lunge for a 50/50 ball was much the same. Neither Evans or Mulumbu could have controlled the ball with a challenge like that. Al least Shelvey stayed on his feet and intended to win the ball in a controlled way to allow him to keep possession.
I'll not argue about the scums penalty as this happens regularly. having said that it doesn't happen consistently. If he gives that pen against Johnson, the Suarez should have been awarded a penalty for a more obvious foul challenge. Luis' theatrics doesn't help his case, though.

theanfieldpaddy
Fri 28/09/12 at 16:53

Quote from: BigDonga on Fri 28/09/12 at 00:02

TBH, I think I'm alone here, but the reffing hasn't been THAT bad.

Obviously the decisions have been wrong but I've felt quite often, before I've seen the replay that they were right. It might be due to my s**tty streams, crap eye sight or the fact that I'm not on the pitch like the ref.
But I'll give a few examples from the recent games.

Against Hendo, I thought Mulumbu just clipped him, yellow at most.
The pen against Utd, I thought Johnson came in hard and did crash into Valencia

I think a lot of the problem is that fans are seeing the replay, which at the moment isn't meant to influence a refs decision, and then getting into an uproar about it.

the Mulumbu tackle was awful

you must have some really s**t steams

BigDonga
Fri 28/09/12 at 23:59

I know it was awful, but as it happened live, it looked to me like he just clipped him.

Olivavu
Mon 01/10/12 at 19:17

http://m.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/121001/premier-leagues-worst-divers-stats-revealed-182142?p=4

Oh.

Just goes to show how rarely players are booked for taking a dive - and how much Suarez is targeted, even if he does go down quite easily at times.

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