Ferguson left frustrated after Anfield defeat

October 25, 2009

SEEING RED: Nemanja Vidic picks up his second yellow by fouling Dirk Kuyt

SIR Alex Ferguson believes his Manchester United side did not get a fair crack of the whip from referee Andre Marriner at Anfield.

Nemanja Vidic was sent off for two yellow cards and Ferguson questioned a number of the official's decisions as they slumped to their first defeat in 12 games in all competitions as Liverpool triumphed 2-0.

Goals from Fernando Torres and David Ngog ended Liverpool's run of four successive losses and eased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.

While Ferguson thought Liverpool deserved to win, he claimed that Marriner was swayed by the home crowd.

He felt Vidic was unlucky to be red-carded, that home defender Jamie Carragher should have been dismissed and Michael Carrick was denied a penalty.

Ferguson said: "It is very difficult atmosphere here. There was a wounded animal aspect to the game and it was something we did not overcome.

"I think it affected our players and it affected the referee. There were so many controversial things that happened we have to feel aggrieved at some of them.

"The Vidic booking was the worst decision. It is a foul, fine. But the player has played on, he won the second ball and knocked it for a throw in and got booked. It put Nemanja under pressure.

"The most controversial decision was Carragher bringing down Michael Owen. He was clear through.

"The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature and if Carragher goes off, he is their best player and their captain. It would have been a different game. They would have been under pressure.

"The referee was only four or five yards from it he cannot use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through. With Michael's pace he is going to get away from him."

Ferguson was also incensed they were not awarded a spot-kick for a Carragher challenge on Michael Carrick.

"He has gone right over the top of the ball, " said the United boss.

"If it is outside of the box it is a free kick and maybe a yellow card.

"But it was inside the box and the referee was only six yards from it. It was another bad decision."

Ferguson did, however, conceded Liverpool were worthy winners.

"Liverpool were the better team and I am not taking anything away from them at all," he said.

"They deserved to win the game as it was a disappointing performance from us. We were not good enough."

Torres opened the scoring in the 65th minute with his ninth goal of the season and Ngog sealed the victory in stoppage time.

United remain two points adrift of Chelsea at the top of the table and Ferguson insists they will recover.

He added: "Part of the challenge is to get over disappointments. Last season we lost at home 4-1 to Liverpool which was a travesty but we went on to win the league."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Brian, Brussels (25/10/2009 at 17:55)

Very predictable, the result had nothing to do with poor team selection at all.

neal 07, south stand lower (25/10/2009 at 18:10)

SAF take a look at the team you picked, the tactics today and then ask yourself are you happy with your own performance? Did you react quick enough to stop our pathetic display? Did you stress the importance of kicking a rival when they are on its knees

Do you allow Valencia to not attack a mediocre full back?

Do you allow the non forward passing of the ball?

Do you allow pathetic, sloppy, disgusting, lazy attitudes?

Do you care anymore?

Bigmouth strikes again, Manchester (25/10/2009 at 18:34)

Anderson had to start that game, we all said that. When he didn't start, he had to come on, but who came on? Nani?! Things need shaking up, Evans and Owen to start the next few games for me. Nani frustrates me so much, i'm starting to hate the guy.

Tyler Durden (25/10/2009 at 18:50)

I'm not pleased we didn't win, but Carrick could have had a penalty, Caragher should have been off. Evra got booked after 1 foul (because the first one wasn't a foul) and Lucas & Mascherano fouled us everytime we got into decent positions. How can you compare Caragher's tackle on Rooney (for which he wasn't booked) and Berbatov's booking? I don't know if any of you have ever played football, but if the opposition are allowed to persistantly foul and you are booked for very little, it leaves what you can do a little impotent. I feel as though some people here expect us to go away from home and dominate the best sides in Europe. No team does that consistantly, what they do is cope with what's thrown at them and then take their opportunity when it comes along. We didn't get the rub of the green with the ref, or that little bit of luck (such as the Valencia strike)... Liverpool are not a bad team because they lost a few games. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter... whoever... they all lose games. AC Milan beat Real Madrid on wednesday, Liverpool beat us tonight. It's not the end of the world. We have Fletcher & Hargreaves coming back, and they would have made a difference there today, but they weren't available, they will be come the end of the season, and we'll see the difference.

Gilly, Belgium (25/10/2009 at 18:53)

They didnt play well , yet again and i say well done 'pool

Scholesy passed me the ball..., England (25/10/2009 at 18:58)

Blah balh....our performances over the top teams will have to be better this season.....balh blah.....we were rubbish but the ref should have helped us out.......blah blah......I'll pick a completley new midfield for every game we play this year, regardless of opposition...BLAH BLAH BLAH!

Roy (25/10/2009 at 19:01)

Not a poor team selection, neal07, just a poor team performance.

And for once SAF is right about the ref. It could have been Owen 1-on-1 with the goalie, a goal (maybe) but Liverpool down to 10 men.

Liverpool deserved their win today - they were the better team both halves but the ref did bottle it.

GC Northstand (25/10/2009 at 19:08)

Here they come the wingers who know nothing, Neal go to wilmslow son and meet the nerd of the year you two deserve each other. One result does not a season make we will see in May where the silverware goes.

Oh ye of little faith.

Believe for patience sake BELIEVE

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS MY FRIENDS (and muppets from Wilmslow & south stand lower)

jim gregson (25/10/2009 at 19:21)

I THINK THE FEAR OF LOSING IS STRONGER THAN THE DESIRE TO WIN.
wE ARE GOOD BUT NOBODY IS AFRAID OF US ANY MORE.
WE SHOULD HAVE GONE FOR THE JUGULAR AGAINST A TEAM WITHOUT ITS BEST PLAYER.
JIMG CANADA

johnnygerman, WSU (25/10/2009 at 19:34)

It had everything to do with poor team selection and poor motivation. The person to blame is SAF.

Yes, the ref was a homer, but Liverpool wanted it more and SAF failed to react in time to change the team he put out.

Utter crap. We got exactly what we deserved against a team we could have hammered.

Vidic was hopeless and Evans should have played in his place, Rio was ordinary, Carrick invisible. Rooney was still carrying an injury. Thank Christ for VDS or else it would have been really embarrassing.

David, North M/C (25/10/2009 at 19:46)

I'm so glad Ferguson feels aggrieved with some of the referee's decisions, he doesn't seem to like the taste of his own medicine. May it long continue.

paul that dickov, bramhall (25/10/2009 at 19:50)

Watched the game and on the balance of play Liverpool had more quality and desire to win and just about deserved to win the game.

On the sendings off both deserved to go off for two yellow card offences , Carraghers offence only merited a yellow also.

Unlike the referee Mr Ferguson's behaviour is inconsistent , becoming more and more erratic by the week and you now start to question whether in fact he is fit to manage any longer. Perhaps he needs to study the manner in which his nemisis Sir Matt Busby conducted himself , he must turn in his grave when he see the way Mr Ferguson demeans the name of the club with his antics.

Whilst they are considering his punishment for the Alan Wiley issue I really do hope that the FA seriously look at his antics on the touchline and his post match comments about the referee as further evidence that this man is a loose cannon and has absolutely no respect whatsoever.

Rant over!

I would be interested to hear what real united fans think about their Manager's antics as it has now gone way past mind games.

Private Fraser, Warmington-On-Sea (25/10/2009 at 19:56)

Hat trick to Vidic. Much more likely than Berbaflop ever getting one. I see the Ferguson smoke screen is up again; the dopey press will follow that angle and not ask about awful team selection, again.

nory ida (25/10/2009 at 19:58)

stop blaming the referee..it's all your faults fergie!!your time is over..

Harris ex-crumpsallite now sweden, Sweden (25/10/2009 at 20:03)

The ref was poor but that was not why we lost. We lacked aggression in midfield, where I thought Scholes struggled as he always does when not given any time on the ball. O'Shea was poor and did not give Valencia any support at all, Neville should have played. Anderson shoul have come on early in the second half and Rio and Vidic certainly dont look like the best centre back pairing in the world atm. We will come back next week, but maybe Chelsea might edge it this year.

trured, canada (25/10/2009 at 20:08)

C'mon Fergy, stop whining, every game you are complaining about something or somebody.............
I have a 9 year old grandchild who doesn't whine as much as you do.
I suggest you grow up and concentrate on YOUR team play, you are the one who is supposed to teach these ADULTS how to overcome obstacles during a game, not have them listen to you WHINING every time you don't get your own way........

Lars from Lapland, North of the Artic circle (25/10/2009 at 20:17)

Get a grip of yourself 'Fergo' you can blame everyone else but yourself, you picked the team. Don't show us up by always blaming the referee.

Fergie hasn't a CLUE, Madoc Ontario Canada (25/10/2009 at 20:35)

Don't go there Fergie, you just look and sound stupid. You cannot blame the ref for your brain dead team selection or tactics. You never gave us a chance from the start, half that team had played in Moscow. Cannot wait for the Barnsley game to see some young payers with passion.

Rick Jenks, Bury (25/10/2009 at 20:38)

This is the big one, has been nearly as long as I can remember and will continue to be long into the future. It's gonna be tight and can see Owen scoring. Always love to see the scousers loose but this is gonna be extra special
steve the wandering red manc, Australia
24/10/2009 at 04:15

Very special indeed Liverpool 2.0 Trafford United now let's see lost 3 big ones on the bounce oh what about Barcelona that was a bi one too. Chelsea coming up ah,ah. Another big mouth muppet.

Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (25/10/2009 at 21:25)

There's a load of doom and gloom and Fergie-bashing all over this forum after todays game against the Mickeys. There's a few points I'd like to make on todays display:

Scholes and Michelle can't play together against top 4 teams. I wish Fletch had been passed fit or at least Ando in the mix and Scholesy left on the bench for this one. With Fletch or Ando in there we'd have had more fight and hassling, more movement. The 'Pool are too hectic for Scholesy these days, if he has to play he needs young legs around him.

What has happened to our rock solid defence? Where's Rio's speed and anticipation gone? Has Vidic turned into a thug? He used to try and play football . . . We need passion not pure thuggery. Is Patrice maybe carrying an injury? The Nev should have been in the mix instead of O'Shakey today. But in total, we have no-one with speed in the back four (Evra excepted). Torres, who had great difficulty staying on his feet (probably heavy gravity!)most of the time, was unassailable once he got on the move. Where was the cover? Rio was twice as quick a year ago, is his injury (back) still troubling him to such an extent?

Giggsy seemed to not have enough room to move forward when he got the ball? Did the 'Pool take his space or were our own guys standing in the way? Valencia was always doubled on by the defence, where was his helping wing half? (O'Shea stayed behind him, I know). Should we have been brave enough to bring DeLaet for this game, at Anfield or would that have been suicidal? Well, we lost anyway, so what! Even Gazza would have stormed on past Valencia to give him an option, time and again until his lungs burst, but he never got the chance. O'Shea was, I think, too scared he'd get overrun, or he was acting on orders to stay back as cover.

Berba got a raw deal from the Ref. But was outmuscled when it come to the crunch. He got no protection from the Ref, and ended up getting booked for trying to defend himself (the scum player took a dive to influence the ref). Roo was hustle and bustle, and huff and puff, but didn't really do much to hurt the enemy. When Owen came on, he was clear, the ball was in front of him, Michael Owen with ball 18 yards from the goal line hauled to the ground by Carragher who only got a yellow card for blatantly hindering a 100% goal chance . . . the ref earns a yellow for this in my eyes 'cos that's his true colour for bottling, that was a clear RED. We should have had a penalty in the first half when he took Carrick's legs out in the box, that was a yellow for Carragher also. Either way, Carragher should have recieved his marching orders whilst the score was only 1-0. (Maybe 1-1 if the pen had been given).

I know, it's all speculation, but the ref bottled a whole load of decisions that would have been uncomfortable for Liverpool, he was scared of the Anfield crowd, though he'll never admit it. Where have all the good english referees gone? We used to be proud of them, a long time ago. Nowadays they take the easy way out, hide behind a system that kills criticism by punishing the critics, whilst themselves wanting to be the star of the show, become celebrities.

Who would pay his hard earned cash to see a referee? Nobody. Rant over.

Right, let's get the kids out and stuff Barnsley.

nyotakubwa (25/10/2009 at 21:27)

The referee did not have a good game I agree. However, the 4-4-2 system needs to be questioned. Fergie himself won't go with that system in Europe yet opted for it against one of Europe's better sides today away from home. Lacking Fletcher and Hargreaves, with Rooney just returning from injury, a three man central mid field maybe would have been better?

Frankie Balboa (25/10/2009 at 21:27)

It's great to see Berbatov still playing for Utd, what a great footballer, his work rate is breathtaking, his tackling faultless and he never complains when things don't go his way....

fowler, wythenshawe (25/10/2009 at 21:38)

dont worry be happy, like i told you all at the start of the season!!!!!! THE END IS HERE FOR LAST YEARS HISTORY ,like this defeat!! its history its wot happends next that matters lol at least you beat that little city with that headless chicken tevez lol lol grego peel hall blue

Red8, Cheshire (25/10/2009 at 21:41)

Everything comes down to one person, The Manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. The worlds greatest player went out Owen came in...you could have seen where this was going! We replaced atleast a thirty goal a season winger/striker with a slow injury prone nightmare.....this is not Owens fault this is a managerial farce!! We as fans go to see this side every week and get that in return....beaten by a bunch of scousers, who could hardly hit a barn door in the past few weeks. We weren't beaten either we were destroyed. We posed no goal threat at all and Berbatov again showed after in recent weeks he was starting to get somewhere, how useless he really is. Rooney was no better either. There is no class in our set up, no Torres who as a striker had one chance and yes, one goal. Cut our defence to ribbons in an instance. We need a threat...all the good sides have them, granted most don't win but we have none. Ronaldo is gone a huge whole was left and not replaced. This was inacscusable we had a budget of atleast £100 million after we brought in Valencia and the money that was meant to go towards Tevez (thank god hes gone the money grabbing mercenary)not used to spend on a striker of equal goal scoring quality as the current Ballon d'or winner...but we have ended up with Owen who has ended up blocking the way for a new starlet that we so desperately need!! Two players that we should be looking at are David Villa (who is known world wide to be better than Torres and has been put to test many times at international stages) and Luis Fabiano, sevilla's current top scorer and Brazil's current no.9. These are the kind of players we need to win pressure games not Micheal Owen, not Berbatov these players cannot be trusted when push comes to shove! Fergie needs to sign a striker Villa would be prefered as he isn't cup tied for the Champions League because as you all know Valencia didn't qualify for this year's European Stages.
Alex, sort this out! A striker beckons, or we could fall further and further behind. January's transfer window really needs to come sooner!

tripone, canada (25/10/2009 at 22:14)

wow wow, all Liverpool fans that suddenly showed up here. What is the difference before the game and after, not much really.
U will still not win the EPL, we may still do it and that stayed the same. Up to scoring the goal i tell u that i feared nothing from U and it seemed more that we will score not U. The ref was just annoying and stopped the game from flowing. Just to make it short, NOTHING really changed and deep down, you still have problems, and we are still placed better than U to win the EPL.The difference today is that your fans impacted the untried ref, and you won because you were the home team.SO waky waky enough dreaming.

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