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Highs and lows for Dalglish in Merseyside derby

ESPN staff
October 1, 2011
Why wasn't Charlie Adam asked to take Liverpool's penalty against Everton at Goodison Park? © Getty Images
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Pundits are pundits, managers are managers
Prior to kick-off in Liverpool's trip to Everton, widespread opinion among pundits seemed to be that a quick start would be vital at Goodison Park. "The first goal will calm the nerves", said Graeme Souness. "Very tough if you concede first", said Paul Merson. However, flying in the face of such opinion was Kenny Dalglish, who decided to hold fit-again captain Steven Gerrard back on the Liverpool bench. Choosing instead to release both Gerrard and Craig Bellamy against a tired defence, Liverpool capitalised in the final stages of the game, perhaps showing why Merson and Souness are better suited to TV studios.

You've got the wrong man
Of all the men to send off at Goodison Park, referee Martin Atkinson surely picked the wrong one when he dismissed Jack Rodwell. Tim Cahill lifted his studs to shoulder height on Lucas Leiva, Phil Jagielka clattered through the back of Luis Suarez, while Tony Hibbert almost snapped the ankle of Charlie Adam, but Atkinson opted to punish Rodwell for winning the ball cleanly. Have the rules of football changed?

Spot of bother
After Dirk Kuyt became the second player to miss a penalty for Liverpool this season (Suarez blazed over against Sunderland), the question has to be asked as to why Charlie Adam is being overlooked. If you gathered a group of 100 men down a pub and asked them to name the Premier League's top five penalty takers, the chances are Adam would not come far behind Fulham's Danny Murphy. The Scotland international even scored twice when asked to re-take his spot-kick for Liverpool during pre-season. However, when it has come to the crunch, Liverpool have opted to make life difficult for themselves on both occasions. Memo to Dalglish...

Comedy gold
Fair play to former Southampton star Matt Le Tissier, who provided excellent coverage of Manchester City's trip to Blackburn. Reacting to a first-half injury to Sergio Aguero, Le Tissier reported the fact that City had called to the bench for Samir Nasri, before amusingly stating: "The big surprise is Nasri has agreed to the request."

History! Not quite
Sunderland have never recovered from a two-goal deficit to win a Premier League game, so imagine the excitement among the anoraks at ESPN when they clawed their way back from 2-0 down against West Brom. The Black Cats had a full 45 minutes to create history, but they failed to deliver. As a result, they've probably missed out on a prime slot on Match of the Day this evening.

My gran could have done better!
When you watch these Premier League footballers strut their stuff, you cannot help but question what some of them practice in training each day. On average, these players must spend at least four hours per day playing football, yet when it comes to simple things like rolling a ball past a goalkeeper, they fail miserably. This particular rant is aimed at Norwich's Anthony Pilkington, who simply had to score when clean through at Old Trafford. A goal would have put the Canaries 1-0 up, but instead they lost 2-0. Back to the practice ground Anthony...

Watch out for the Wolves
If any advice can be given to referee Mark Halsey, it would be to race home and lock your front door. Not only did he deny Wolves a blatant first-half penalty by giving a free-kick when Steven Taylor committed a foul two yards inside the Newcastle penalty area, he also chalked off an equaliser in injury-time as Wolves lost 2-1. The linesman (oddly wearing a cap) was the man to flag for the ball going out of play (when replays suggest it didn't), but Halsey has changed his mind on high-profile decisions in the past so we feel the blame lies with him for not doing so again.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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