BAGGIES 0 LIVERPOOL 1 MATCH OFFICIALS 1
After an even start with the Baggies giving Liverpool too much space the assistant referee was the only person in the ground who saw anything wrong with the Jerome Thomas Suarez incident resulting in a penalty which Adam converted, effectively giving Liverpool the platform they needed to stroll through the rest of the game. Forget about the media who are either ex Liverpool or members of the Dalglish appreciation society when only one person in the ground saw it as a foul it was the wrong decision full stop.
With the benefit of replays Suarez lost control of the ball Thomas back heeled it put his body between Suarez and the ball and tried to break away. Suarez fell onto him. The only possible outcomes were foul against Suarez and possible yellow as Thomas was clear, or obstruction by Thomas resulting in an indirect free kick. If you gave that there would be 20 penalties a game with defenders shielding the ball.
There is a league table of intimidation by managers who by their comments influence officials when they have split second decisions to make. Ferguson is first followed by Wenger with Dalglish moving into third in front of Pulis. The goal gave Liverpool a cushion while the Baggies stood off allowing them to stroke the ball around.Our main attempts at attacking were hoofing it up to Tchoyi and Odemwingie who got no joy against a solid Liverpool defence.1 0 at half time and regrouping in the second half may have given us a chance,i nstead we pushed forward with McCauley and Reid 50 yards behind the play when our attack broke down and a quick incisive move gave Carroll plenty of time to beat the advacing Foster.
That was game over the second half was a non event with Liverpool content to sit back and our midfield unable to get close enough to give us any momentum.
As a player I always admired Dalglish,as a manager he lacks the class he displayed on the pitch. This has filtered through the club. The days of Shankly, Paisley and Fagan and supporters who were genuine have been replaced by the cynicism brought on by the greed that is football today. Liverpool are much stronger than last season and with the diving of Suarez and the thuggery of Carroll they have a chance of making the top four. They are already there for getting decisions from the officials. The Baggies need to play to their strengths which is playing football closing the opposition down and competing for every ball.
