Sunderland Leave Liverpool With A Point

Sunderland left Anfield with a point but I can’t help but feel aggrieved that it should have been all three.
Having outclassed Liverpool in their own back yard for large portions of the game ultimately Sunderland’s hard work went unrewarded due to some quite appalling decisions from referee Stuart Attwell.

This was yet another game where we have an incompetent referee and his officials dominating the headlines and taking the plaudits away from a solid Sunderland performance.

Liverpool went ahead from a goal that shouldn’t have been. A goal even ‘freakier’ than Febregas’s lucky effort last week and a hell of a lot more frustrating. After being awarded a free-kick, Sunderland tried to take it quickly only for Attwell to blow his whistle, forcing us to move back a few yards to retake it. It was petty to say the least and the majority of referees would have allowed play to continue but we are talking about Atwell here. The referee responsible for awarding the famous ‘ghost goal’ in the game between Watford and Reading.

When Turner received the ball to retake the free-kick he back-heeled it a few yards, indicating he was leaving it for the keeper to come forward to take it. Torres reacted, ran onto the ball, dribbled towards goal unopposed and played it across to Kuyt who passed the ball into the net.

The referee waved away the Sunderland protests and chose to ask his assistant for his opinion. Why? Because Attwell hadn’t even seen the incident! He ran away from the ball (probably whistling the tune of You’ll Never Walk Alone) and when he eventually turned his back to play, Torres was through on goal with Turner left stood scratching his head (what the…?). His assistant bottled it as it was at Anfield and by the looks of it was scared of ruining the crowds celebrations. The goal stood.

The FA have since released a statement explaining the goal was perfectly legal and “within the rules of the game”. However, they failed to mention that it was completely unsporting and quite frankly a complete joke of a goal. It was a clear gift to Liverpool, they were given a handicap. Had Sunderland scored a goal like this I am confident it would have been disallowed. But this is Liverpool after all.

It’s also important to add that Torres wasn’t even ten yards back when the “free-kick” was taken. But like I said, Attwell wasn’t even looking.

I know Liverpool fans may argue that it’s payback for the beachball goal we scored last season and “what goes around, comes around” but the fact of the matter is Darren Bent did not cheat to score his goal at the Stadium of Light. In this instance; Torres and Kuyt were unsporting and their disrespectful attitude should be remembered when they return to the Stadium of Light later this season. They, along with the referee and his official, cheated us. But it didn’t stop there.

Sunderland continued on, playing some great football and crisp passing interplay. We looked a cut above Liverpool and it was only a matter of time before we would score. The opportunity eventually came when Attwell awarded us a penalty after Poulsen handled the ball in the Liverpool area. Bent stepped up and narrowly scraped the ball past Reina. 1-1. Game on.

Sunderland pressed on and we were comfortably looking the better side, we scored our second goal shortly after half-time. It was Bent’s second of the game and his sixth of the season, heading home an inch-perfect Nedum Onuoha cross.

The referee was not to be upstaged though and decided to play on when Danny Wellbeck was blatantly fouled by Reina after pushing the ball past him in the box. It was a certain penalty but again, this is Liverpool and this is the inconsistent Stuart Attwell we’re talking about.

Amazingly the drama didn’t end there, Attwell then decided Gerrard’s elbow smash to Wellbecks face was fair game and allowed the Liverpool skipper off with only a yellow card (that’s nice of you Attwell). We saw Turner sent off for an elbow last season away to Man. City. He was watching the ball all the way but the referee Andre Marriner (yet another plonker) believed his challenge was a dangerous one and therefore showed him the red. However, this season, similar challenge, actually…what am I saying? It was a hell of a lot worse and Gerrard is shown a yellow card.

Where’s the consistency??? If the referees can’t do their job, let technology do it for them!

As the game went on Liverpool began to get back into it and Gerrard eventually scored an equaliser. The lad shouldn’t have even been on the pitch.

It ended 2-2 but the ref totally ruined the game. If he had done his job properly Liverpool should not have been allowed their first goal, Wellbeck should have been given a penalty and Gerrard should have been shown a straight red.

Still, the lads done us proud, we played well and that’s all we can ask for.

Next up Man. Utd. I can’t wait. We’re due a home win against them.