Premier League – Week 4

Waiting for Monday, but watching with interest today.

I hate the Premier League era of early sackings and always believe you give a manager time. Howard Kendall.

But, we are in this era. And I fear for Arteta if it goes badly against Norwich today.

C'mon Palace. Suck it Spurs. But gawd what did they do to that Eagle kit?

I really like Connor Gallagher's work rate and ability to get beyond the striker. He would be a good buy. Not good enough for Chelsea, but will be good Premier League player in the middle.

Palace v Spurs is a poor game so far, International breaks completely ruin any rhythm teams have built up, hope we start on the front foot on Monday and try to keep our decent start going.

Agreed Ian, can't help think we've missed a trick or two in the loan market: Lingard, Van de Beek, Gallagher etc

Palace done really well there and are unfortunate not to be in the lead.

Tottenham seem to have a gap between their midfield and the somewhat isolated Kane. Sound familiar?

Very unspectacular but vital save from Lloris and great covering from the defenders just prior to that to deny Gallagher.

At first glance, you're criticising the attacking player for not taking the chance, but that was good defending and goalkeeping.

Yeah, decent work from Palace. Vista has them looking functional with Spurs playing 3 attackers. I'm not sure Nuno is a good fit with that Spurs squad. Palace to nick one with 10 minutes left.

Deserved second yellow for

Good to see a player pay for an earlier unnecessary foul. Ta Ta Tanganga.

Well, a bit of entertaining theatrical hysterics there. Zaha behaving more like the youngster many still see him as rather than the 28 year old experienced player he is supposed to be.

Definite second yellow for the Tottenham who got himself involved in the above situation. No complaints with the second yellow and subsequent red.

Daft challenge after the Zaha incident, deserved a red just for being a moron.

For a team that are top of the league, albeit only after three games, Spurs look bang average. Palace could easily be ahead in this one.

They're doing that horrible London originated chant of "your support is f@"king shit.

Please Evertonians, don't ever sing that.

Ever.

Obviously not, Danny. It'd be "your support is f'ing shite!" ;-)

Agree with comments on Conor Gallagher. He has a bit of an ald school midfielder about him. Can put his foot in and beat a man and pick a good forward pass.

True Dennis. My wife still gets bemused with my use of the word shite versus shit!!!

What a clearance.

The lad Gallagher is having a fine game. Energy and desire to win the ball back combined with ability and vision when he has it. And he has delivery.

Aside from City and Chelsea, we should fear no-one this season.

Pen Palace

Do it Palace yes. Palace 1-0

Gallagher is everything we hoped Tom Davies would be but isn't.

Cracking little player.

Don't know how Spurs players can argue with that penalty decision. Was as blatant a handball as you will ever see. Palace deserve be ahead.

Good shout above Dale, 5 minutes out.

He is Fran

That's how you make an impression

Wow, what a substitution!! Edouard comes on for his debut and within 20 seconds scores.

Marvellous stuff, lovely placement... or deflected! They all count.

That's Viera on the Cigars and Red Wine tonight.

Yeah it was my substitution. All planned. I knew it.

Considering Palace and Vieira we're written off and seen as relegation candidates, they have played some great stuff here.

And what an impact. Have rated him a long time, he'll score a few I reckon. Great finish.

Can someone tell me who's in goal for Palace, because I haven't seen him all game!! 😁😁😁

Good start to the weekend. And thanks Jeff. No Dier or Tanganga for a few games, proceed to suck it Spurs

Spurs don't have much depth in that squad

The manager of the month curse strikes again. Spurtz losing 0-2. Unbelievable! Happens every time!!!

Palace have dominated this game.

I know it's early days, but I wonder how much the uncertainty around Kane has unsettled Tottenham. And, no matter how much he declared he was staying, the underlying issue is he wanted to move but didn't get it. He's more an England player than a Tottenham one.

I thought this current Tottenham squad missed their boat 2 seasons ago.

And then Nuno. I personally think we got out of jail. The former Wolves manager who didn't do too well last season?

Top 6 and Europe is on.

Edouard again!!

OMG. Edouard!!!!

There you go as they say!

Patrick Viera looks very classy, understated, confident.

Great stuff.

Probably one of the best combative midfielders of his generation Michael, which he combined with class and ability too.

Scholes and Viera from that era for me. But then there was Keane too.

Good take Michael. I kept looking for that game face he used to wear and the modest look was notable. That guy may not have a big budget but he looks like he has a plan

I know the vogue is to claim big-team bias at every turn from the media but – credit to BT – I thought everything they said about the match and about Palace was pretty much spot-on with no Big club - Little club nonsense to be seen.

Meanwhile, to counter that 100%, the CR7 love-in is kicking off bigtime on the USA Channel.

Hasenhoff wears the vest. Wardrobe!

Could’ve worn Jim-jams and outclassed the Ginge

I'd agree with that Michael. They mainly talked about the football and how well Palace rather than focus on Tottenham. The occasional slip into Critiano's homecoming but other than that, good coverage.

I see Schick has scored for Leverkusen against Dortmund

Would loved to have gone for him. Maybe January?

No goals in any game so far with half time looming.

Does anyone recall my prediction of a couple of weeks ago. I said Edouard would be an abject failure. Viera would be first manager sacked and Palace would be relegated. Just sayin.

And Ronaldo put paid to that.

Andy (44), one, or two, swallows don't make a summer.

I've watched Edouard a few times for Celtic and wasn't too upset we didn't get him. On the other hand, Paul Tran, I think, would have had no hesitation in signing him for the Blues.

It's all about different opinions, let's see how the lad carries on, maybe he is a natural goalscorer and we are wrong and Paul is correct, either way it's no use crying over spilt milk!!

I don't think the hatrick is on just yet Andy.

Palace's squad is paper thin and a couple of injuries may but your predictions back on the road

Looks like Saints found a nugget in Albania. That Broja kid has some ridiculous pace.

Antonio red is worth the draw but Saints were good for three Good results overall

..

The big dope up front for Chelsea looks quite useful...

Aston Villa playing well should have scored on 2 occasions

And the big dope scores at last.

agreed Bill, they look a powerful side

Nightmare from Mings.

Lukaku 2 goals makes it look easy

We have a player under police investigation for sexual assault of some sort and the widespread opinion is that his Everton career is over whatever the outcome and yet Christiano's Old Trafford return is cause for local and national media celebration despite an air show over Old Trafford of allegations about an outstanding case against the guy. At least BBC News report it but I bet the fly-past is not mentioned on tonight's MotD.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Plane protest over sex assault claim

I just don't understand why they ruined this chap's career when they were miles off the point where they charge. Imagine if it comes to nothing, life ruined. Why not wait til they know before telling everyone.

Doesn’t chase down full backs though does he, Lukaku? Doesn’t look like he cares enough.

Embarrassing Everton fans who used to boo this guy. I wish I could remember the faces of those around me who did but there were that many of them then that would be impossible.

The guy is arguably the greatest striker to ever play for our club.

People may quote Sharp, Gray etc. Not having it for a second. Lukaku is a phenomenal goal scorer. You put him up against a defender and a keeper to beat with a run at them and there is hardly anyone better in the world. One thing about these modern day super stars, you just watch them, how many times do they fail to hit the target? It’s hardly ever. They are literally never putting a shot wide of the mark.

Wonderful player who gave us a good few years wonderful service.

Another nightmare from Mings. Another finish from our ex-striker.

Tommy

I’m a big Rom fan but let’s not overdo it. The greatest strikers in our history won stuff. Dean, Vernon, Young, Royle, Gray, Sharp.

Rom is a much better player than when he played for us, he is going to be seen as a world class striker once his career is finished but in a blue shirt not in the same stratosphere as the players mentioned.

Tommy #59 I will send you a photograph. Oh I agree he is an amazing striker now, but when he played for us he was bang average, shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as Sharp and Gray. I will never forgive him for his semi final performance against Manure, missed pen and 2 one on ones. Had he been a decent striker we'd have won the cup that year.

Tommy, if you think that Lukaku is" arguably the best striker ever to play for our club", then I must say, and I am quite sure you don't give a shit either way, that I will pass over anything you post again. Utter monumental bollocks. Have you no shame in your attention seeking?

Stephen

I’m not having that either. He wasn’t bang average, he was leading goal scorer every season he played for us and provided some great moments.

But I agree he was rubbish in the semi final

Tommy Carter - The guy is arguably the greatest striker to ever play for our club.

Are you serious? Ever heard of Dixie Dean? Read his story and then come back at me...

Tommy I never heard anyone around me booing the guy when he was our player but I do remember the absolute lack of respect he showed the club who gave him his chance to shine. I remember the piss poor attitude and performance in the semi final against united and several other games where he seemed completely disinterested. A great striker? absolutely! a great Evertonian to be spoken about in the same breath as the players you mention? absolutely not!

Mike @ 57.

A tricky one, I grant you. Difficult to weigh the charges - adult rape v sex with a minor - and determine which is more repugnante or who is more guilty. All the more so when neither charge has yet to be heard in an open court.

As for as the Everton player is concerned, given today's news I think it's reasonable to conclude that whether the charges are true or false, given the time these things take to come to trial, he has in all likelihood played his last game for the club.

Out of contract next summer, his name has not been included in our PL squad for the season.

Everton's Registered PL Squad for the Season

I'm guessing Tommy has never walked past a certain statue at the Park End.

'If ya know yer 'istory', 'n all that.

Jay,

Not to mention Roy Vernon, Fred Pickering, Bob Latchford, Joe Royle. In later days, Kanchelskis and Lineker (relatively).

None of them spent as much time slagging Everton off either. And they never got their arl feller to weigh in like good old Roger did.

Mind you none of those lads had Raiola as an agent.

Just imagine if the best player you could remember playing for Everton was Lukaku. I’d never have bothered

Lukaku is without doubt the greatest striker we've had in the premier league era, but greatest striker ever? Sorry Tommy!!

Hopefully DCL can take that accolade off lukaku as being our greatest ever premier league striker, but it will take some doing to beat some of the names listed above, from which the name Dave Hickson seems to have been overlooked, not that I ever saw him play, but heard some great things about him, who was idolised by my dad.

If you don't have the touch of Pele, Best, Maradona, Cruyff etc play to your strengths and be effective. Lineker and Michael Owen lived off pace and movement neither were comfortable in possession Rom is the same.

The criticism of his touch was (is) justified but in fairness he learned his lesson at Utd stopped bulking up and got back to being direct and rejuvenated himself at Inter. At the moment he is probably the best striker out there given the paucity of footballers worldwide but he's still awkward on the ball.

Well one of our old strikers has had a shit day…
Moise Kean – 4.5/10

A nightmarish return to Juventus for the young striker. Instead of helping his team grab a late winner, he gifted a goal to Koulibaly after failing to clear the ball on the corner kick in the right manner.

"...whether the charges are true or false, given the time these things take to come to trial, he has in all likelihood played his last game for the club."

He has. And if the charges are true, he has played his last game. Anywhere. Ever.

Sod the football and any other sport, other than some real estate in New York.

Just watched history and a new Super Star being born.

Emma Raducanu.

This is why so many love sport.

What a great story.

Jay, is she not just magnificent? If anyone every wondered why sport counts, this girl is the answer.

Apparently the Taliban have banned women from sport and said there is "no reason for women to play cricket".

How lucky are we to be able to debate football on this site. To share our joy at Emma"s success. Meanwhile, unspeakable monsters talk to our government.

I'll second that, Jay, about time youth plus skill and determination showed what sport is all about.

I'm not a fan of tennis, but curiosity got the better of me and I decided to watch the US Open final. Have to say, it was a great game, and Emma Raducanu is going to be a top player for years to come. And to think she had to play through qualifiers just to get into the actual tournament!!

I think we all know who this year's Sports Personality of the Year is going to be! 👍👍👍

Same as you, Rob. And that’s like Southport winning the FA cup. Stunning. And against the “home” crowd. Mature beyond her years.

I was a big tennis fan as a kid, starting with the Borg/Connors/McEnroe/Lendl and Evert/Navratilova era but I confess I lost interest the more football consumed me and the more the men's game in tennis came to be dominated by big serves and power and Serena Williams seemed to win every tournament going.

My wife's a huge tennis fan and I've always tried to follow the Brit players' journeys at major tournaments so it's been amazing to watch Emma Raducanu just sweep through the US Open as a green teenager with almost no top-level experience and then win the whole thing.

What she's achieved isn't supposed to happen and she did it with such poise and composure. Absolutely brilliant to watch.

Lyndon, same here... when the men stopping playing serve-and-volley and the big personalities drifted away, I did too. (And I go all the way back to Laver/Ashe/Rosewall and Newcombe with the big mustache.) But Emma is a truly charismatic performer and what she did is amazing.

The Canadian Fernandez was pretty special too... ranked 66 in the world coming in, I believe? Nobody ever heard of her before this tournament, either.

Back to Gylfi, he is in a no win situation. If he is found guilty then he is in deep shit and his football career is over. If he is not found guilty then he does not go to jail but his football career is still over, like Dave Jones. What happened to the presumption of innocence?

Mike/Lyndon

Boris Becker was my hero as a kid when I was a tennis player. I always had green knees after diving around trying to emulate his style. I got bored in the Federer era. Serena though I love. She’s a phenom, a unique talent so superior to the rest I have to respect her.

Absolutely respect Serena, Kieran. Like Federer (who I really like as someone more akin to the aforementioned players from the 80s, among whom I somehow neglected to mention Becker) and Djokovic (who I really don’t like), you have to respect their achievement.

But like the dominance by a few in football, it gets boring when the same people/teams win all the time. That’s why women’s tennis is more interesting these days, more so when you have unknowns like Raducanu and Fernandez making history like they have this week.

Lyndon

Yeah I get it. Post Graf women’s tennis was pretty open so it will be fun going forward. Nice to see the British girl win but as she said herself “anyone could have won.” Also, I must say I was really impressed with both players post match interviews. Not an easy thing to do center court after a grueling game. But they were both magnanimous, humble and just Nice. You’d have thought they had great script writers but they seem to be just really decent, hard working respectful young women. Great role models.

Rob 77

Yes I thought the same thing on sports personality. Poor old Gareth and Harry will miss out as the nearly men they are. Breaks my heart.

That said, 60 odd Olympian's won medals too so maybe the giant egos of the football world (and Gareth) will see a nominee list sans football players.

We are dominating the paralympics too. Far cry from the Maggie Thatcher days when lack of investment saw us shit at every sport.

I read that Raducanu's father insisted that she went to several coaches so that she learnt many facets of the game, not just the singular view, and that she absorbed everything like a sponge. Perhaps we might like to invite her to give a motivational speech at Finch Farm.

I have to confess to never really being a huge tennis fan, but the wife is, so I've watched it a bit over the years. If anything, I get tired watching it. I've always thought it's some kind of hypnotic thing watching the ball go back and forward constantly!

Anyway, enough of my Tennis ignorance. I liked Becker but I'm no expert in any sense. A fantastic achievement by the young lady.

Back my comfort zone. I caught bits yesterday but mainly followed the scores.

Arteta bought some breathing space. I did genuinely worry for him had that gone wrong yesterday.

Early days, and not dismissing Liverpool because I'm an Evertonian, but I can see the top 3 of City, Chelsea & United forming early and staying there.

Likewise, early days and I try to wait until after Christmas, but Newcastle to be in the relegation mix? I say that through conversations with supporters. The mood isn't great and wasn't last year either.

Cristiano Ronaldo. 36 years old. How dare United buy a past-his-best galactico and former player with no sell-on-value. Okay, sarcasm aside, it shows what sheer hard work and looking after yourself physically can do as well as having the injury fairy on your side, which I believe he has had. I guess some of that is linked to my previous point about fitness and taking care of yourself as well.

Lukaku is a striker. He was here as a young, developing player to score goals and he did. I didn't care too much for his touch. I watched Gary, Gary Linekar. He scored goals. Lots of them.

The immortal Alex young, Magic Duncan. Kevin Sheedy, Bilyaletdinov. Yakubu. James Rodriguez

Everton have always had players who didn't like the tracking back side of the game, Some of them frustrated; some are still revered decades later. None reviled.

Anybody who thinks the Chelsea centre-forward didn't get the credit he deserved and was so despised by so many of our fans, simply because he didn't track back, is getting themselves involved in an argument they don't understand. If it wasn't for his antics off the pitch, he'd have been loved... and the fact that he was a lazy fat bastard wouldn't have mattered a fuck.

On the tennis: It takes two to make a great match and, while I take great joy in the performance of Emma Raducanu and share in the thoughts of those above, I think we should all recognise the incredible contribution from Fernandez, her little Canadian opponent. What a warrior. Talk about being carried out on your shield...

Women's tennis looks in rude health.

Only just catching up with Match of the Day.

What was Mings when he got that yellow card? I did actually glance over that at the time. Why does a centre back need to make a challenge like that near the oppositions penalty box? Use your head son.

Lukaku's second goal. I've often said it in the Kane vs Calvert-Lewin discussions. We don't get those kind of strikes from Dominic.

They're all different strikers, I get that. And we need to play to Dominic's strengths. Those 2 are just more complete and all-rounders.

“He is not an Everton player and this will be the last time I speak about him... until we play Chelsea.” 24/8/21

Right

Ed @ 81

"What happened to the presumption of innocence?"

I agree but my point is why are the responses to two players with sexual assault allegations hanging over them being treated so differently?

Is it the supposed nature of the assaults (Jay @ 67) or rank hypocrisy?

Why am l watching Everton women? They are awful.

Jeez... and what a shit manager, playing a 5 at the back and still the flanks are wide open.

They just got 9 new players to try to make the Champions League places. Seems like the same lot must be in charge of transfers for both senior teams.

C'mon Leeds! Suck it you arrogant Red Shite!

5 minutes in and this is a cracker.

Didn’t take Salah long to throw himself to the floor. Good job the referee didn’t fall for it. 😡😡

Liverpool player with his arm stretched out above his shoulder, the ball bounces up, hits him on the lower arm – no foul.

Sky Sly 6 still having their own rules to play with.

Second rs goal offside for me. Mane moves left and the Leeds defender moves in the same direction with him. Otherwise the defender would have been in the line of the path of the ball to stop it.

Looks like a broken ankle for Harvey Elliott.

What’s the red card for? Was an unfortunate accident after the Leeds player won the ball.

Red card?! Never. Never.

Pickford’s fault.

Everton Women were just awful and, once again, Kirk got his set-up completely wrong and, once again, we were exposed on the flanks.

Didn't think it was red but terrible shame for the young lad.

Brent @98,

I thought it was a brilliant move created because two players both wanted to “really run” but I thought the last touch came off Salah, and that should have meant a goal kick rather than a corner, but maybe I'm a touch biased.

Tony, you're like me – not a touch biased! Much more than that!

What was Klopp doing on the pitch discussing with the referee before the red card?

I don't think it was a red card and it looks really bad a manager from a top 6 team is allowed on the pitch just before the ref is giving a red card.

If that challenge by Pascal Struijk was seen as endangering the safety of an opponent, then football is dead. The game can no longer include tackles if that challenge was seen as dangerous. It will become a contactless sport.

There was an almost identical challenge later in the game on Mane, when the Leeds player won the ball, cleanly, and play carried on. It was just an unfortunate injury for Elliott, and I think the red card should, and probably will, be rescinded.

I hope the red media take note of what Van Dijk has just said regarding Harvey Elliot's very bad injury. It's hard for us, but it can be hard for them to, which sums up how most people feel when these awful and accidental injuries unfortunately happen.

I had a pretty good afternoon watching the All Blacks beat the tar out of the Argentinians, and I'm having a pretty enjoyable morning watching the opening Sunday in the NFL.

I highly recommend watching either rugby or the NFL as a pleasant change from football. Watching a game where courage, toughness and physical competition are respected, commended and admired is enormously satisfying. And hugely different to what football pretends to be now.

NB - You need RedZone to enjoy the NFL, otherwise you might as well just watch television advertisements on YouTube.

Rob @108.

I just googled the Son incident, when he was given a red card after a collision with André Gomes, and found out it was rescinded on appeal. It wasn't a unanimous decision though, the vote was 2-1, from a three-man commission.

Henrick #107 that was my thought entirely and his frantic outbursts certainly had an effect on the decision IMO.

It looked a fair tackle to me and he even won the ball but I haven't seen any replays.

I would also add that I thought at least 2 of their goals were offside.

Rant over.

The tennis last night was all-consuming. The wife and I were transfixed as the two unasuming youngsters provided a final full of attacking bravery and incredible maturity in their respective speeches. Wonderful, wonderful sport at it's very best.

I think it's important to note that our missing player hasn't actually been charged with anything, as it currently stands.

The Echo reports:Sarvar Ismailov, Everton Women's Sporting and Commercial Director tweeted: “unacceptable” during Sunday's 4-0 defeat by Chelsea.

Willie Kirk's team were well beaten in the Women's Super League as the Londoners recorded 27 shots on a disappointing afternoon for the Toffees.

In a now deleted post, Ismailov, who has been in his position since 2020, shared the one-word tweet late in the second half.

I don't see why Ismailov has decided/urged to delete his one-word response to the Women's defeat against Chelsea. Perhaps, if a few more honest truths were publicly aired by our board a few years ago, Everton's men's team may have achieved a bit more than they have.

As for the neighbour's exploits, I can't understand how so many Blues torture themselves by watching them at all, never mind watch them live and exclusive, week-in & week-out, I put the score up on text after I know their game has ended, fully expecting them to have won or at least not lost, always hoping that they have been beaten, and that's all I need to know when it comes to them – unless they're playing Everton of course.

I was shocked to see their game was the only Premier League fixture scheduled for today, whilst both Manchester clubs were not televised live in the UK at all this weekend, how much special treatment does one club need?

Does any one think the RS first goal was offside? I do.

But if so please prove me wrong TWRs.

And the Leeds lad getting sent off, and the MoD commentator saying the severity of the injury means the RedCard. What fekkn does that say, mean and allude, for this season?

That’s the finest King Edwards, in football nonsense.

What’s the point of VAR, and rules of the game, when the Oscar winning Mane and Salam, are dropping like they’ve been dropped by a good punch, at every chance?

And seeing Mr Ed, and his reaction, today.

Rafa I hope you take the piss when we go back to our old ground.

Wonder if Pascal Struijk of Leeds name will come up as often as Pickford,s name was, for injuring a Liverpool player.

It's surprising I haven't seen the Gomes/Son incident mentioned in any of the reports I've read. Surely it's the closest comparison?

In that one, Son was petulant. The injury was freakish, but the foul was deliberate. That was considered enough to rescind the red.

Struijk's will be rescinded without any doubt. I'm not even sure it was a foul.

I guess we'll see.

Ernie @ 118; its the rs mate, until it happens to them its like it never happened. Allegedly, according to them and the BBC, there have only ever been 2 serious injury resulting tackles in the history of football, both on their defenders - what are the odds on that?

It's week 4 in the Men's League but only week 2 in the Women's League.
4-0 defeats X 2 Vs City and Chelsea, both times post match comments have featured quotes about maybe not being 'brave' enough.
The Women's Football director...Usmanov's Nephew...posted, then quickly took down a 1 word post - Unacceptable.

Does he have a point. Or will plenty of others get 4-0 hammerings from City & Chelsea?

But if you're starting off from the 1st minute, at home, in the first day of a new season, with a big crowd behind you - with (as was reported by some sources) a back 5 ??

It's early days yet, but still...

I'm 66 and played football to a good(ish) amateur level until I realised serious injury might've cost me my job. Even so I received for years, and relished delivering, more than a few fair but fierce tackles. Happily I never broke anyone's leg and nor did anyone break mine but I've always admired a 100% tackle because they epitomise the challenge inherent to a game in my day. These days fair, robust tackles seem to be outlawed, to the detriment of the game in my opinion.

The Leeds lad to my eye delivered a perfectly lawful tackle with, as a consequence of an ungovernable nano-second of fractional movement between the two players, a distressing injury to the Red.

A red card was a massive injustice, especially when the powers that be can review ad nauseam post-match, before adjudicating.

Spot the difference? Harvey Elliot (I sincerely hope he recovers quickly) is seriously injured, following a tackle by a Leeds player, who receives a straight red from the ref. No howling from the RS for him to be hanged, drawn and quartered. No pundits going after the Leeds player – just kind thoughts for Elliot and rightly so.

Pickford injures St Virgil and the whole bandwagon rolls into town and goes after him for days, weeks even months. Pickford didn't even get booked!!!

As for tonight – COYBs please don't cock it up.

Very bad injury for the kid. But Klopp needs to be punished for pressuring the red as he does it all the time.

We have actually lost 4 players to double leg fractures - Oviedo, Coleman, McCarthy and Gomes.

Steve Brown

It's a fair point. Over here Robbie Earle and Mustoe thought it was “one of those things”, ie, not a red card. Terrible shame for the youngster but of course Klopp wants the whole Leeds team hung drawn and quartered. I've no idea what he was complaining about to the fourth official post the red card.

Although they had the benefit of the extra man for part of the game, I just thought Liverpool were superior.

Leeds; early days (been saying that a lot lately), but yet to win a game. Second season syndrome kicking in?

Over my playing time, I broke both ankles and one of my legs (fibula). Not all at the same time obviously! Personally, my recovery from the breaks was much quicker and easier than when I had ankle ligament damage (twice). That took a lot longer. I was back steady-state running soon enough, but the moment I tried to take to the pitch and it involved turning or changing, I had many a "not yet" moment.

There was no malice in the tackle and I believe the official reacted to the severity of the injury, not the tackle itself. Expect a few more red cards for Liverpool's opposition in the next few weeks. I think it was only last week Klopp was already bemoaning that the tackles he was seeing was a throwback to the 70s or 80s. Something like that, but he's already been onto this recently, so wait for his next pre-match press conference.

Four games in, two poor red card decisions in their favour. It's why I watch as little football as possible these days. Between them and the "let's reference Ronaldo in every match report in every division" on Sky Sports, it's not a sport any more, it's a joke.

Jack Convery.

The ref didn't even give a free-kick (I don't think he did), so why the red card?

Sensible post Danny, Liverpool were superior, and are definitely one of the teams you can learn about football, when watching them play like they did yesterday.

Klopp seemed more interested in getting the player sent off, than he was over the freak injury to the youngest player in his team, but I’m more interested in seeing how Everton do tonight, especially because the manager has had another fortnight to work with his squad.

About to set off on my way Tony.

A long day, night and tomorrow morning ahead, but it's going to be worth it.

The dogs said so.

I hope so Danny, and hopefully the players are as committed as your good self mate!

Romelu Lukaku is one beast of a player and for me is currently the best striker in the PL, if the media weren’t blowing smoke up Ronaldo’s arse constantly they might realise that Rom has started off with a bang at Chelsea, the header against Zenit was clinical, Derek Moore @ 110 I love the NFL, I admire the athleticism and physicality of the players, to be honest I’d sooner watch Rugby league or the NFL to football unless it’s the Blues of course.

I know there's been plenty of comment about this on social media, but it's simply astonishing that Struijk's red card hasn't been overturned, especially given the precedent of Son's foul on Gomes.

I'm not usually one for conspiracy theories, or any of that hard-done-by stuff, but this lack of consistency is only going to fuel the belief that the rules are being bent towards the money clubs.

Meanwhile, remember all that fuss and anger about the attempted breakaway ESL? Well, if you do, then you have a better memory than most because it's like it never happened isn't it? Talk about business as usual.