The only major decision that Atkinson got right was the red card issued Reds skipper Steven Gerrard. Atkinson failed to expel Martin Skrtel at the death for his stamp on David De Gea. Though the punishment would not have changed the outcome of the match because it was virtually the last action on the day, it’s now up to the FA video committee to punish the Reds defender retrospectively.
BR expectedly defended his centre-half when he said: “I have seen the Martin Skrtel incident. The ball was played through but it probably looks worse in slow motion. It looks like he is trying to get a nick on the ball, to get a toe on it the ball went into the goalkeeper’s hands. Martin is not that type of player, he was just a fraction out.” Let’s just say I disagree with Rodgers here.
But Liverpool were not the only beneficiaries of Atkinson’s erroneous calls as United too could have had two players sent to early showers. Defender Phil Jones was very lucky to remain on the pitch after very vicious tackle on Jordan Henderson. Another ref could have taken a sterner look at the overly aggressive challenge and issued a straight red instead of the yellow which lenient Atkinson dished out.
Midway in the first half, Jones clattered into Adam Lallana in an aerial challenge. Yes, it was accidental in truth, but overly aggressive and dangerous in the end as it left the Liverpool midfielder requiring treatment for a couple of minutes. I was gobsmacked that the Red Devils defender didn’t get even a verbal tick-off! A yellow card in that incident could have forced him to be more circumspect before that horrendous second half challenge on Henderson.
United captain Wayne Rooney too got away with a couple of punishable fouls. While under pressure from Martin Skrtel, Roo whacked off the ground Simon Mignolette’s standing foot and got no booking. Shortly after, he cynically fouled Philippe Coutinho who was shaping to shoot from a dangerous position. Atkinson correctly called the foul but didn’t book the England skipper! A yellow on the foul on the Reds goalkeeper could have forced Roo to allow Coutinho take his shot, and we know how deadly the little Brazilian could be from that spot.
Marouane Fellaini arguably committed the highest number of fouls in the match. Yet he wasn’t booked at all. At a point midway in the first half, Atkinson looked exasperated as he counted four fouls committed by Fellaini. At that point you would think the ref was going to take his name but he only awarded Liverpool a free-kick, leaving the rangy United star to roam freely at Anfield.
I repeat here at the risk of sounding like a broken record that United deserved their win at Anfield irrespective of Atkinson’s poor handling of the match. But it leaves very sour taste in Reds faithfull’s mouth to recall that the same ref was at the centre that fateful 27 April 2014 when Jose Mourinho’s boys employed anti-football tactics to bust Liverpool’s title hopes. In truth there was nothing cynical in United’s recent success at Anfield.
COMMENTS