El Segundo

Almost as funny as you calling people crazy in the January transfer thread if they even thought we should or could go for Europe this season.

He is a nob but arresting him for being a nob is up there with arresting the "Not my King" people, it's thought policing.

De Bruyne stops Fred playing the ball? Are you sure we are talking about the same incident? Stepping into the line of the ball has nothing to do with it if he is not actually playing the balland is in the process body checking/tripping an opponent. I would add though that unfortunately Pundits tend to call that kind of thing "clever play" or "drawing the foul" - both code for cheating - and PGMOL do seem to agree with your interpretation more often than not - but they are useless **** idiots who are ruining the game. For me it's a foul all day long.

Exactly it's a body check then a trip. Putting yourself "in the line of the ball" doesn't mean it isn't a foul when you do it to block someone else.

Nah Fred din;t have the ball in possession so he has no right at all, he steps across De Bruyne to stop De Bruyne getting the ball and trips him in the process. It's initially what used to be called obstruction, but with added trip. Clear penalty.

I felt pretty confident today but Brighton really showed they were a long way from the beach and it was a tough game. I thought both sides played some great football. I was impressed with them, their interplay going forward and their playing it out from the back reminded me of us. Particularly impressed with Enciso who was having Cash on toast first half. Cash did better against Mitoma second half. One of the better attacking sides I've seen at VP for a while. That said we played some superb stuff as well and still carved out about 8 great chances and should perhaps have won a bit more easily. Ramsey was outstanding (apart from the one bad miss) and seems to have added dribbling at pace to his game. Shout out for Digne who I thought was very steady at LB and put in some decent crosses too. Bailey and Buendia maybe a bit off it, Cash beaten too easily once or twice by Enciso, but everyone else solid. Great atmosphere and nice to see all the mutual appreciation at the end with all the kids cavorting on the pitch as well. Emery - what a man!

I have mixed feelings on the ref. He got most of the big calls right I think, and he deserves credit for not obviously favouring Liverpool at Anfield, which so many of them seem to fall into. However he let himself down by allowing persistent fouling from Fabinho before finally yellow carding him after about his 8th foul. The added time thing was apparently an instruction to refs for the last two games of the season, according to a Wolves player who questioned it with their ref. But quite how he added 5 minutes to the first half and then found another 3 minutes and 8 seconds within that 5 minutes to add on is anybody's guess. On VAR, If anything, we got the rub of the green on some decisions. The offside goal was a question of interpretation as to whether the ball was played deliberately to Van Dyke or not, it could easily have been given the other way and I was surprised it wasn't at that place. Then the penalty shout for Luiz's challenge on Henderson - not enough in it for me but I've seen them given for less, especially there. I also fully expected a red card for Mings even though it wasn't.

Klopp's having a whinge about time-wasting. It's almost as if the 18-19 minutes of added time didn't happen. It's almost as if Liverpool have neve tried to see out a game when ahead. It's almost as if Klopp isn't a hypocritical see you next tuesday. Almost.

I think that's it - if a deliberate play by Konsa it's onside, if not offside - ref had to decide

So the ref managed to find an extra 3 minutes and 8 seconds in the already added time of 5 minutes. Mind boggling.

Never trusted Watkins on Pens since he cost us the game at West Ham. Not even hitting the target is utter shite.

Ok yes - I was looking at it from different viewpoints, adjusting for pen when talking about positions at start of today/end of last week's games, but looking at actual GD when considering today's result. After today, yes we would have been ahead if the cheat hadn't bought a pen last week.

The way we've been playing at home we are well capable of beating Brighton whatever their motivation.

Yes sorry I meant we're both on +4 not -4

We finished on +4. Without the pen, that would be +5. They finished on +6. Without the pen, also +5. When I did Maths 5 was equal to 5, it wouldn't put us ahead. Spurs just lost by 2 so now on +4. We're still on +4 too. Still doesn't put us ahead.

I have included it. last week finished Villa +4, Spurs +6. If Spurs lose 3-1 they go level goal difference with us on +4, Still above us on goals scored though.

We'd be level.

Without the pen last week we'd both have been +5. We ended up +4, Spurs +6. Currently 2 down to Brentford, so could end on +4 today as well. They'll still be above us on goals scored.

However good we are at the time I never go into games at Old Trafford or Anfield with much confidence - mainly due to the number of times we've been stitched up by the officials, and I kind of expect it now. Moreso today with PL and CL marketing darlings Liverpool pushing for a CL place. So we'll have to get 2 or three goals to win it, at least one to get a draw.

No we'd be level on goal difference but they'd be above us on goals scored.

Even when United beat the high line and scored, it only resulted in a goal because of other factors - a poor (possibly unnecessary) touch by Emi, Moreno being a bit slow to cover Ratface's run, and a lucky deflection that took it over Emi and past Mings.

To me it's clear Martinez doesn't get the ball, Kane nudges it before he gets there. However Kane then more or less collapses into Emi to "manufacture" the contact and make it look like a foul. He does it a lot, and the refs fall for it a lot. This ref initially didn't but then we had the contradiction of VAR taking three minutes to declare it might be a clear and obvious error, probably not even taking 3 seconds of the three minutes to check if might have been offside. They then fail to spot or decide to ignore the manufactured contact. PGMOL just embarrass themselves by saying it has to be clear and obvious and then taking an age to check it. But they don't care as long as they get the right decision - for the big 6. The comparison of the Loris foul on Watson just screams corruption and bias.

Players now deliberately insert themselves between an opponent looking to play the ball, with little or no intention of playing the ball themselves, to initiate contact and "win" a free kick. Back in the day that was obstruction and would be punished with an indirect free kick, not rewarded. It's another part of the modern game that makes me want to chuck it all in.

Attwell's worst decision was when McGinn had his foot stamped on. I'm pretty sure he blew for a foul to Villa, but then heard the criticism from the Wolves fans and seemed to change his mind. There is no way on God's earth McGinn fouled the Wolves guy, not even close. Not just a bade decision but a complete bottle job as well. Also just watching the last few minutes of Liverpool Brentford and the ref cannot wait to give a free kick for nothing every time Brentford go forward, dutifully making sure they have no chance of equalizing and threatening Liverpool's push for Europe. I too am close to giving up on Football because of the ineptitude and/or corruption of the officials.

My Stream gave up on about 70 mins but noted the following: Once Wolves went ahead they were able to cram their area with defenders, stop us with a low block and try to hit us on the break. We dominated the ball and were the better side but they did what they had to do. We created a few good openings but there was one brilliant save from Sa and Watkins missed a sitter of a header. Watkins was pretty ineffective against the deep sitting defence and we need better options for breaking teams down. Buendia and Moreno tried hard but final balls / decision making were poor Denied yet another handball penalty again for something would would be an absolute cert for one of the big 6 or if we did it in our box. One of the worst and most cowardly refereeing decisions I've ever seen when McGinn was stamped on, the ref blew for the free kick, then because the crowd whinged he gave a foul to them. Even by the current piss poor and inept PGMOL standards that was quite something. I hope it isn't the case that Emery and his tactics have been sussed out somewhat. Might just be a bad run of form linked to a bit of fatigue.