After what felt like the longest international break in football history, Jim Boardman and Jay Reid are back for another episode of Scouser Tommies, as the Reds get back to winning ways and move another step closer to league title number 20, despite the PGMOL's best efforts.
The win came courtesy of Diogo Jota’s Merseyside Derby goal, one with a tinge of controversy. Liverpool’s 1-0 win extended David Moyes’s miserable Anfield record - he’s won as many games at Anfield as Everton had shots on target in this match. What’s that about proving you don’t have to win to win trophies to be a winner?
The controversy over Jota’s goal was minor, and as Jim and Jay point out, easily explained. According to the laws of the game, Luis Diaz wasn’t interfering from an offside position, although miserable Moyesie might need it explaining to him a few more times.
Less minor was the controversy over James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexie Mac Allister. When even Duncan Ferguson is calling it a straight red card, there’s not much room for manoeuvre. Or at least you’d think so, but many a blue will be defending that for years to come, if asked. Just before they start to rattle on about the ‘offside’ goal. Another one for their long list.
The PGMOL did point out the following day that Tarkowski’s horror show should have been a red, but there was no sign of an explanation as to how Greater Manchester referee Paul Tierney, on VAR duty, failed to spot what everyone else did. Liverpool’s next ref is from even closer to the city of Manchester.
As discussed in the show, the derby win was much-needed and it really sets the Reds up well, and Jay discusses where Liverpool could be playing if and when they do finish the job. Not that the job is finished yet of course, and as Jim points out, next opponents Fulham aren’t always an easy team to beat at their own place.
As well as the highs of the derby win there’s time to discuss the defeat at Wembley just before this break, and Jim wonders if maybe we are taking these occasions for granted. However, as Jay points out, the disappointment of losing that game will fade into nowhere if the Reds do complete the job in the competition that matters most, one we’ve not been able to take for granted for many a year.
In addition this week, Jay and Jim discuss the Scouser in the team, Curtis Jones, who played at right-back in the derby and was on the receiving end of a lot of praise from his boss. There’s also a discussion on the Scouser out injured, Trent Alexander Arnold, whose future was under even more of a spotlight during the international break. Has he already played his last game for his boyhood club?
With this show coming so close to a derby, there was always going to be a mention of the neighbours and their comedic acts.
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