Houllier slams 'comedian' Jeffers for dive
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier condemned Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers as a comedian whose dive conned the referee into awarding Arsenal the penalty that earned them a 1-1 premier league draw at Highbury on Sunday.
Liverpool had led through their own, less controversial, penalty scored by Danny Murphy in the 70th minute, but had to settle for a point after fullback John Arne Riise was ruled to have brought down Jeffers eight minutes later.
"I'm not blaming (referee Jeff) Winter, he was conned by a comedian and I am very angry with Jeffers," Houllier told reporters. "There was no ambiguity, it was not a penalty.
"What I don't accept is that he (Riise) pulled his shirt. I asked John, who is an honest player, and he told me in good faith that he didn't.
"If every time there is physical contact in the box and a player dives like Jeffers there would be at least 50 penalties a game."
Houllier said that at the very least Riise should have the yellow card he was shown in the incident rescinded, adding, "the one who should get the yellow card is the diver."
Riise did appear to briefly have his hand around Jeffers's waist on the edge of the box but the Norwegian had released it before the Arsenal man crashed to the floor having broken clear.
Jeffers's manager Arsene Wenger had no concerns, however.
"I have seen it again on the video and I think he was caught on his left leg and had no choice other than to go down," Wenger said.
DEFENSIVELY MINDED
The two penalties were rare highlights in a game where Liverpool, short on confidence and rapidly losing touch at the top, came to defend in depth against the champions and generally succeeded.
"I knew that they would start sharp so we had to search for a way to frustrate them," Houllier said. "They are the best team in the premier league and we are not in our best shape.
"But we have turned the corner, we did that in the physical battle against Everton. There is a long way to go, but we need wins," he said.
Wenger was phlegmatic about the dropped points and said it was becoming harder for his players to turn on the style when opposition teams opt only for negative tactics against them.
"They came to make a draw and defended well for 90 minutes," he said. "In the second half we lost a bit of sharpness, could not find our fluency and gave them the chance to catch us on the break, though they always kept seven at the back.
"Everybody defends 100 percent against us and the games are very tight. If we don't get the opening, its very difficult for us.
"Even then we had the chance to win it in the last minute...a shot in front of goal from five metres," he added, in reference to Brazilian midfielder Gilberto's injury-time howler.
Arsenal meet another title contender on Wednesday when second-placed Chelsea visit Highbury hoping to close the gap at the top to two points.
"I think Chelsea will play more, it will be more open, they will come at us but it is hard to predict," said Wenger.
"Against us everyone is up for it from first to last minute so we just need to focus on the quality of our own performance."
― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 30 December 2002 15:29 (twenty-three years ago)
well wenger can say one thing to the media and another to his players actually. and the draw is a good result since we haven't been at our best (though i think at this stage we have more points than last year though i'm not sure).
I didn't see the game yestreday (but I saw the penalty incident on the news) but sol campbell is definetely not the best defender out there.
''They don't need to cheat, because they are the best team out there.''
True but sometimes the best team doesn't win. But we are better. no doubt abt it.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 30 December 2002 15:45 (twenty-three years ago)
three years pass...