Liverpool v. Man U - Sunday

FallonFacta · Liverpool v. Man U - Sunday

Liverpool FC ban all inflatables from Anfield

by Mark Lawless. Published Fri 23 Oct 2009 14:35, Last updated: 2009-10-23

Liverpool FC have issued a ban on inflatables at Anfield ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester United.

The Reds have taken the step following word that United fans were aiming to make fun of the freak goal which condemned Rafael Benitez's side to a third consecutive defeat last weekend at Sunderland.

A youngster in the Liverpool enclosure punched the inflatable onto the pitch during the game at the Stadium of Light where it was placed in the net by goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

However the ball floated out and deflected into the path of Darren Bent's goal-bound shot, deflecting it away from the arms of the Spanish stopper and into the net to gift the Black Cats all three points.

The beach ball, which was sold as part of a £10 gift set, has gained in popularity since the incident last Saturday and bids on internet auction site eBay have exceeded £40 for the ball alone.

Red Devils supporters who have tickets for Sunday's crunch Barclays Premier League tie have been warned by club officials not to bring inflatables of any kind to Anfield as they will be confiscated by stewards.

Several United websites had urged fans to bring beach balls to taunt Kopites and have bought up the entire stock of beach balls from the club's official website which has since removed the product.

Liverpool responded to these reports by revealing that all visiting supporters will be searched on their way into Anfield on Sunday.

Birmingham-born official Andre Marriner will oversee the match between the fierce rivals but referees' chief Keith Hackett has ruled out any possibility of beach ball-influenced goals being allowed.

He said: "Just as Liverpool will take care of security at the ground, so vigilance by the match officials is likely to go up after what happened.

"I haven't told Andre to keep an eye open for any balloons on the pitch because there is no need to. He is a very experienced, capable referee. He is mindful of last week's incident and is absolutely clear that any outside object interfering with play results in an immediate stoppage and a dropped ball being awarded.

"Games like Sunday's are a challenge but I am confident Andre will maintain his good form and that there will be no problems."

No one from Liverpool FC was available for comment at time of going to press.

They can't ban beach balls! It's hardly an offensive weapon!

Just to wind things up a little tighter Fergies agreed that the Sunderland goal should stand. Of course if it happened to us he's still be complaining!

I have to think that given any opportunity he'll bring Owen on - imagine if he scored the winning goal

Anfield might implode on Sunday

Jimbob

6/4 is widely available about Man U. I rarely bet on the Premier League but may make an exception for this game. Liverpool are in freefall at the moment. My only worry is how much Man Utd's trip to Moscow has affected them. Not only did they go there. They won

That's pretty hard to do and it may have knackered them out

geordie_racer

good job JAN MOLBY isnt still playing for them

shamardal84

Is Rooney out or not? I think that is the big thing. I think Man U losing Rooney would be a bigger blow than Liverpool not having Torres. Could be a good draw bet if those 2 are out.

accajacca

i am so tempted to get stuck in to man u @ 6/4. i think they might give liverpool a hiding.

FallonFacta

Anyone know if Rooney's playing?

accajacca

johnnio

He's playing.

FallonFacta

Thank you both

Rooney to score and United to win for me

johnnio

I can't see past a draw in this one. Have a small bet on Owen to score last goal. Really looking forward to this, cannot see Liverpool not getting something out of this, either a Liverpool win or a draw. Man U won't win this.

Hope I'm wrong.

johnnio

Loved the back page in the Mirror yesterday. They mentioned the poster unveiled by Liverpool supporters in 1994, "Au Revoir Cantona and Utd, come back when you've won 18" and they've said that Utd fans will be coming to the ground with Cantona masks, helpfully printing a lifesize Cantona mask with dotted lines for ease of cutting out of the paper. Wonder was the story really true or was it the press digging it up to fuel the hype for the big match. Either way it was a good one.

SkankyMinga

1pt BUY Mascherano card minutes @ 28
1pt BUY Scholes card minutes @ 30

FallonFacta

I'm listening on the radio

A few beach balls about apparently!

kickingkyle

accajacca

Man u miss ronaldo so badly.

kickingkyle

We have been poor most the season, i think we miss Fletcher when he doesnt play as much as ronaldo, Scholes and Carrick just dont seem to click very well.

FallonFacta

SkankyMinga

kickingkyle

Nice profit but no idea how it works!

SkankyMinga

SkankyMinga

johnnio

Thought Carrick was disappointing today. I remember a Tottenham fan saying that what he hated about him (when he played for Spurs) was how he used to take the momentum out of quick attacks by playing square passes at the wrong time, and he did that a few too many times today; Utd were trying to stretch Liverpool with a quick attack and he layed the ball back instead of carrying on the move forward to his wide men. Liverpool bossed the midfield today and were very impressive, they deserved that today.

lewijay

A great game to watch and an awesome performance considering recent events. The teamplay was superb all the way through with the class of Torres showing his importance once again.

Overall not a surprising result but one that can breath confidence into a squad that's for sure. May keep the vultures away from the door a little longer.

Also i loved the way Reina ran the whole lenght of the pitch to celebrate the 2nd goal. Must be the hardest thing he did all game!

burroughhilllad

V imp result for Liverpool but very suprised at Utd. Didn't seem to be bothered for much of the game.

It's stopd the rot at Lpool but they won't be winning the league. Deserved to win today but that's it, wont be champions. Chelsea or City.

lewijay

It's Chelsea for me this season. the manager has brought even more confidence to an already very good team. They win the games very easily at times and often don't have to hit full stride.

I cannot have City yet, not after 10 games when others have been there and done it. We all know that consistency is key and will they have it later on? A good start but yet to be convinced myself.

Agree on Liverpool and definetly dissapointed to follow a close 2nd last season by the start of this one. Poles apart! Perhaps they can go on a nice run but a hard game all be it in the cup on Wednesday could knock the wind from the sail depending on which teams are picked.

United may have been jaded by the Trip to Moscow but i felt good seeing scholes with Carrick today as they seem not to do so well together. I don't think Valencia was used to full effect today as his pace could have killed the back four but he never got enough of the ball. The fact is United do look vulnerable in the Centre half position if you catch them spaced far enough apart, ala the 1st goal today.

They will be back and winning again next weekend though i don't doubt.

alansouthcoast

A good result for Liverpool, they seemed to want it more today. Vidic was lucky he didnt get booked sooner, he had an awful time of it today.

City and Arsenal threw away a two goal lead, I cant see either being in the top two unless they make vast improvements. Arsenal look brilliant going forward but have looked vulnerable at the back all season.

Papa 3

What a kick in the "balls" for United, and me, if United had scored just one goal I would have had £90 on Goals Galore.

NoDough

geordie_racer

Fletcher is a key player, vastly under-rated in terms of what he rings to the side but he is no Ronaldo

Ferdinand is so far off his game it is uture and vidic has no idea of what to do with Torres (in fairness, Ferdinand ought to be helping)

Carragher should have been off for the foul on Owen, a real bottle decision - having said that if vidic had done what he did yesterday at Old trafford he wouldnt have been off.

Chelsea the ones who profit from all this, Arsenal will be kicking themseves but I think they are better placed for the rest of the season than we expected.