Clattenburg; the best Premier League referee chooses this games to make four howlers and hand the game to the away team.  Which is a shame because for the rest of the game he was pretty much spot on for everything. 

 

Bright sun lit one end of Goodison Park and the other end was in cool shadows on an Autumn Saturday afternoon in Liverpool.  The shadows hinted at the darkness to come but the brightness mirrored the expectant faces of both sets of fans, the long awaited game had finally arrived and we had tickets.  Watching on TV isn't the same as being there, you miss the noise of the crowd and song, chants, groans and ripples of emotions wash over the packed faithful.  San Siro, Stadio de Olimpico, Stadio Delli Alpi, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane, Villa Park, Sealand Road or the Saunders Honda Stadium, Memorial Stadium, Stadion Evzena Roisickeho, Dynamo Stadium, Estadio Hernando Siles, Shizuoka Stadium all wish they could have the atmosphere that The Derby generates. 

 

Maybe thinking about the game in midweek but certainly hampered by injuries Moyes picks Howard in goal, a back four of Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs and Lescott is agile and strong and the lack of speed is made up for by a fast brain in the case of veteran Stubbs; Arteta occupies the right of midfield with Jagielka and Neville sitting in the middle providing some protection for the back four and to combat a powerful Liverpool midfield, Osman play wide left; Anichibe and Yakubu play up front, the two Africans bringing strength and aerial prowess along with an ability to hold up the ball. 

 

Benitez, with a tough midweek trip and injuries picked Reina in goal with a back four of Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia and Riise, very solid and with the ability to get forward; Gerrard plays wide right with Sissoko and Mascherano inside whilst Benayoun occupies the left flank; Kuyt and Voronin play together up front. 

 

The first salvos are fired as Riise gets physical to win the ball from Arteta on the right flank, the throw in is cleared and Benayoun breaks up the Liverpool left, he finds Gerrard and the scouser overruns the ball. 

The midfield is congested and hectic so Liverpool utilize the long ball, Hyypia's attempt is wild but Finnan's is better and finds Benayoun, the Israeli works the left well and cuts inside, twisting and turning to evade Hibbert he lays the ball off for Voronin but the Ukrainian's shot is soft and straight at Howard who is bale to claim his spill at the feet of Kuyt.  Hibbert shouldn't have let the ball bounce and given the visitors a chance, poor play by the oft criticized right back. 

Gerrard delivers a good ball in which falls to Voronin, the Ukrainian, without his shooting boots on today skies the edge of the area shot. 

Everton struggle to find any rhythm and the passing of Liverpool is making life tough in the middle, particularly as the home side is intent of being generous with the ball; the away side hasn't got any cutting edge up front. 

Benayoun, having a riot in the first half, gets onto Gerrard's pass but the cross is cleared; a Liverpool free kick is wasted, Osman breaks and finds Yakubu, Carragher wins the ball well. 

Arteta takes a free kick on the right, the ball in is superb and Liverpool only half clear, Osman wins a corner as it comes back in, a tricksy play between Arteta and Osman is spotted and blocked by Voronin, another corner is half cleared and Neville swing one in but ends up with a goal kick, Liverpool look susceptible on set pieces. 

Mascherano hoofs upfield aimlessly, Jagielka plays a ball to Lescott on the left and his cross is cleared; Everton's free kick is cleared by a leaping Hyypia; as on the quarter hour Everton start come back into the game having weathered the early pressure from Liverpool. 

Riise's deep ball catches Kuyt just offside and the midfield has calmed a bit, Sissoko hits it long to Benayoun who can't get his cross in a sees the ball go behind for a goal kick; Sissoko gives up possession to Osman and the Englishman works the ball on the right, Liverpool break up the move and hoof it upfield. 

Gerrard injects some pace on the right and gets the ball from a scrum of players, he carries the ball to the byline and whips it in but Stubbs positional sense allows him to clear it ahead of Kuyt at the near post. 

Osman skins Hyypia on the right and lobs in a ball from the byline, Reina does well to tip it onto the bar and behind as two Everton players were lurking at the back post; the resultant Arteta corner is scrambled clear. 

Everton are starting to apply pressure to Liverpool , they win more of the ball in midfield and are getting forward more, their set pieces trouble the visitors whose opportunities come from the home side propensity to be sloppy with possession occasionally. 

Lescott breaks up the left and lays the ball to Yakubu, the big Nigerian holds the ball up under pressure and lobs it beyond Finnan, the Irishman beats Lescott to the ball but gives up the corner; another excellent corner merely goes for a goal kick. 

Anichibe holds up the ball on the edge of the Liverpool area and lays it wide to Hibbert, the full back crosses and Osman almost gets a headed goal but Reina is alert to the danger; it comes out and Voronin concedes a throw in, Neville's long throw comes out to Osman who shins a volley high from the D. 

Yakubu tracks back to strip the ball from Finnan and runs off down the left, Gerrard tracks back and fouls the Nigerian, from Arteta's free kick Anichibe heads just over. 

Benayoun finds the ball and launches a Liverpool attack, but a too narrow Liverpool concedes the ball; a Riise free kick is deflected wide then Everton handle both corner kicks. 

The home team keep their foot on the gas with a flowing move starting on the right, Arteta works the ball to Yakubu who finds Osman inside, the ball is played into Lescott but Finnan cuts out the play before thaw cross can be delivered; the throw in comes to Osman at the top of the D but he is closed down before he can get his volley off

Lescott gallops down the unguarded Liverpool right and delivers a neat ball which Finnan does well to head behind; the near post delivery is headed on and it falls to Stubbs who has drifted off the back, he dinks it back in and a deflections sees it drop into the six yard box, Hyypia turns and shoots to beat his own 'keeper for the opening goal. 

The Liverpool fightback doesn't materialize and Everton aren't content to just sit on their lead; Lescott again heads upfield into the space vacated by Gerrard, he finds Yakubu who shrugs of Mascherano disdainfully but with men waiting in the area is final cross is weak and Reina claims unchallenged. 

Kuyt fails to beat the offside trap again; Neville finds Lescott who delivers a fine testing cross but Osman rushes the shot and the chance goes begging. 

Liverpool is looking stuttery and ill at ease as Everton hold firm. 

A Gerrard shot from a throw in is woefully high; Neville defends well from Kuyt; a Finnan cross is cleared and a Riise cross is just terrible. 

 

Neither Moyes not the Benitez use any substitutes at the half. 

 

An early Liverpool flurry sees a Voronin cross cleared and Kuyt offside but an away onslaught on Howard's goal doesn't materialize, Everton look more composed than their opponents. 

Arteta skins Finnan on the left, he dances and dribbles and when his way to goal is blocked he lays the ball back to Lescott who attacks the area and wins a corner; the ball in is cleared and Voronin sees Gerrard and plays the Captain in, slack defending from Yobo allow the Englishman to get onto the ball and his pace take him past Hibbert, the right back stupidly decides to grab Gerrard's shirt rather than let Howard have a go at a save then Gerrard goes down rather easily, Clattenburg points to the spot and shows Hibbert the red card,  Kuyt converts well from the spot for the equalizer. 

Down to ten men the home side still looks to attack, Lescott wins a corner kick which is half cleared and as the ball comes back in the left back is smothered illegally by Finnan but Clattenburg isn't interested. 

Clattenburg you wanker!

Voronin breaks on the right but a ball inside to Riise is skied aimlessly. 

A Neville throw finds Anichibe in the area, he holds the ball up and finds Yakubu, unable to turn the Nigerian tries an overhead kick which Reina calmly claims; Liverpool apply some pressure to win a corner, Kuyt's shot is blocked by Anichibe, Voronin's shot from the rebound is well saved by Howard and Kuyt heads over from eight yards out. 

Yakubu finds space on the right his cross finds his countrymen who battles well but is dispossessed, the two Nigerians combine again, this time Anichibe's battling gets the ball to Yakubu, with space and twenty five yards out the 22 unleashes a fierce drive which flashes just wide. 

Kuyt and Voronin combine to utilize the extra space but Lescott snuffs out the attack; Gerrard plays in Voronin on the right but the Ukrainian's cross is poor. 

Benayoun comes off for Babel and the Dutchman is straight in the action, he finds space on the right, beats Lescott, cuts the ball back to Sissoko, he manages to get the ball to Gerrard but on his left foot the powerful drive goes straight at Howard; Riise and Voronin can't quite combine then Yobo beats Kuyt to a through ball and plays it to his 'keeper, Everton attack from the clearance which Liverpool smother. 

Gerrard is controversially brought off and Brazilian Lucas gets his Liverpool debut in the cauldron of The Derby.  Gerrard and Benitez exchange no pleasantries as the Captain comes off with a thunderous scowl. 

Mascherano has a wild long range shot and a Hyypia cross is too deep, Sissoko gets the ball but his cross is cleared by Stubbs. 

The game is very open with Everton playing well despite being down a man; they look more dangerous coming forward as Liverpool seem unable to exploit their numerical advantage. 

Babel wins a corner and the ball finds Lucas who plays in Voronin, the Ukrainian cuts back into trouble and shanks his shot well wide from close range. 

McFadden comes on for Yakubu. 

Everton just manage to scramble clear a Liverpool ball into the area, it falls to Sissoko who shoots wide from a promising position; Mascherano finds Riise but Voronin only gets a throw in; Arteta steals the ball from Lucas but Liverpool close him down; the visitors break and a Finnan cross finds Voronin only for the Ukrainian to head wide; Neville and Arteta clear a second Finnan cross; Mascherano finds Lucas who work the ball to Sissoko, Babel is the recipient but his final effort is poor. 

Baines comes on for Anichibe. 

A Stubbs free kick is well struck but well wide; McFadden wins a corner off another free kick, Liverpool half clear and Arteta puts the ball back in only for Reina to punch clear. 

Everton clear a Liverpool corner but are sitting back a bit more. 

Pennant comes on for Sissoko. 

Carragher and McFadden get yellow, the Scot for a foul and the Englishman for mouthing off. 

Everton can't clear their lines and the ball pinballs in the area, Lucas latches onto it but is denied a goal by an acrobatic save from Neville, not being the 'keeper the Everton player is shown the red card and Howard faces Kuyt again.  The 'keeper guesses right and gets a hand to the shot; had the hand been stronger he would have ensured Everton a point but his 'keeping was poor and Liverpool take the lead. 

A final flurry from the home side sees Neville put the ball in from a throw; Carragher manhandles Lescott to the grass but play continues with no penalty given. 

Clattenburg you wanker!

 

The home side withstood the early Liverpool onslaught and played themselves into the game, their set pieces always difficult for Liverpool to deal with.  The own goal was fortuitous but looked like coming anyway.  Good play from most players; apart from the occasional giving away of possession.  They looked to have the Liverpool team worked out.  Some terrible decisions messed up a close game. 

 

The Fat Spaniard can be smug and talk about players diving (meaning Lescott) but his team was mostly out played.  They had their chances but lacked the cutting edge up front.  Gerrard worked well when he got more central but then was taken off. 

 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

Loudly and proudly I'd held you up as a shining example of how to referee.  All this season you have been practically flawless, a word, a gesture instead of a card, you seemed to have the respect of the players and managed games with a calm demeanor and an undraconian authority. 

For 90 minutes you acquitted yourself well, words instead of cards to Stubbs and Carragher, you let the game flow and allowed the players to play and you were consistent; the holy grail of the men in black. 

The red for Neville was correct as well. 

 

You were almost perfect and then you make four awful decisions. 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

You pulled out a yellow card for Hibbert, then after Gerrard came over yelling you put it back into your pocket and pulled out a red.  So now you make important game changing decisions based on the rants of players!

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

You obviously were going to give Hibbert the yellow; you had it in your right hand ready to wield it; and as we all know the cards are kept in different pockets so it's not a mistake.  You just changed your mind after comments from a player, that's not the way to referee, because every player is going to claim it wasn't a foul or a handball or a penalty. 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

Some referees may have given the penalty others may have not, the contact was minimal and Gerrard went down easy. 

 

Steve Finnan putting both his arms over the shoulders of Joleon Lescott and holding him back to prevent him reaching a ball in the area then pushing him to the ground is only not a penalty if your name is Clattenburg and you are a wanker! 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

Dirk Kuyt gets tackled and decides to get some revenge, Phil Neville is lucky the Dutchman didn't make contact with a wild and dangerous two-footed lunge.  The intent was clear but he only gets a yellow. 

 

Clattenburg you wanker!

 

Jamie Carragher using both arms to wrap up Joleon Lescott then using his right leg to apply more pressure before hauling him backwards in the area is only not a penalty if your name is Clattenburg and you are a wanker! 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

Two simple decisions, why you didn't make them is beyond me, they were at the heart of the action and were on the ball.  Lescott has been a handful at set pieces all season so he'll be the Everton player marked tightest by the defence.  Did you let that simple fact slip from your preparation? 

The conclusion as to why you failed to spot two blatant penalties and ignored both of them is that you are just a wanker. 

How can someone who had risen to be an example to all around him be such a wanker!

Not only did you hand the redshiite the game but you did it at Goodison Park, were you trying to set a new precedent with refereeing decisions going to the away team. 

 

Clattenburg you wanker! 

 

 

Everton:-

Howard

Hibbert

Yobo

Stubbs

Lescott

Arteta

Jagielka

Neville

Osman

Yakubu (McFadden 77)

Anichibe (Baines 84)

 

Bookings:-

Hibbert (R)

McFadden

Neville (R)

 

Goals:-

Hyypia (OG) 37

 

 

Liverpool:-

Reina

Finnan

Carragher

Hyypia

Riise

Gerrard (Lucas 71)

Mascherano

Sissoko (Pennant 88)

Benayoun (Babel 68)

Voronin

Kuyt

 

Bookings:-

Kuyt

Carragher

 

Goals:-

Kuyt 54 (P), 90 (P)

 

Attendance:-

40049

 

Referee:-

Mark Clattenburg - a wanker!

 

 

No sour grapes here.  Just a reminder to that wanker Clattenburg that these are the rules you ignored when you refereed like a wanker!

 

Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:

Direct Free Kick

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits

any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee

to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

• jumps at an opponent

• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player

commits any of the following four offences:

• holds an opponent

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.

 

Disciplinary Sanctions

Sending-Off Offences

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the  RED

card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

1. is guilty of serious foul play

2. is guilty of violent conduct

 

Decisions of the International F.A Board

 

Decision 4

A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned

as serious foul play.