GRAHAM POLL: Clattenburg got nearly all the big decisions right in Liverpool's win over Man United yet his inconsistency left everyone scratching their heads

By Graham Poll

PUBLISHED: 12:01 EST, 16 March 2014 | UPDATED: 16:32 EST, 16 March 2014


Mark Clattenburg got almost all of the big decisions regarding foul play correct and yet did not put in a very good performance, as anyone watching was unable to see what constituted a yellow card and what did not.

The big decisions of an impressive 3-0 win for Liverpool against Manchester United at Old Trafford were:

1.    Rafael flew into Steven Gerrard: a high speed studs up challenge which was close to being a red card but yellow was understandably shown.

CLATTENBURG CORRECT

Reckless: Manchester United's Rafael (centre) fouls Steven Gerrard with a dangerous tackle from behind

Reckless: Manchester United's Rafael (centre) fouls Steven Gerrard with a dangerous tackle from behind

2.    The first penalty could not have been clearer as Rafael deliberately handles the ball.

CORRECT AGAIN

Hands on: A penalty kick was awarded after Rafael (right) handled the ball in the box after a run from Luis Suarez

Hands on: A penalty kick was awarded after Rafael (right) handled the ball in the box after a run from Luis Suarez

3.    Clattenburg decides not to caution Rafael, probably as it would have meant a red card.

WRONG DECISION

Claim: Referee Mark Clattenburg should have given Rafael second yellow card for handling in the box

Claim: Referee Mark Clattenburg should have given Rafael second yellow card for handling in the box

4.    Liverpool’s second penalty as Phil Jones barged Joe Allen – a clear foul and again Clattenburg decides not to caution.

CORRECT

Correct call: Clattenburg got it spot on awarding a penalty for Phil Jones' (centre) push on Joe Allen in the box

Correct call: Clattenburg got it spot on awarding a penalty for Phil Jones' (centre) push on Joe Allen in the box

5.    Rafael fouls Suarez out on the touchline for surely his last action as he had received his ‘final warning’ when conceding the first penalty. Clattenburg decides to give him another warning and cautions Nemanja Vidic for an earlier foul that he played advantage from.

VIDIC CAUTION CORRECT, WARNING FOR RAFAEL WRONG

Wrong call: Clattenburg should have carded Rafael for an earlier foul on Suarez, not booked Vidic for a later tackle

Wrong call: Clattenburg should have carded Rafael for an earlier foul on Suarez, not booked Vidic for a later tackle

6.    The third Liverpool penalty and the least clear as Vidic slides across the path of Daniel Sturridge but misses the ball. He does not actually trip the striker but still impedes his progress and the penalty is correct.

This time Clattenburg does show the yellow and as it's his second Vidic is also shown the red card – it is extremely harsh on the Serb as it is a careless challenge and the decision is completely inconsistent with the earlier ones.

PENALTY CORRECT, CARD HARSH

Pinch point: Despite minimal contact, Clattenburg was right to send Vidic off for impeding Daniel Sturridge's run

Pinch point: Despite minimal contact, Clattenburg was right to send Vidic off for impeding Daniel Sturridge's run

Harsh: But Clattenburg was wrong to give Vidic a second yellow card - it was inconsistent with other decisions

Harsh: But Clattenburg was wrong to give Vidic a second yellow card - it was inconsistent with other decisions

7.    Clattenburg misses the fourth penalty for Liverpool as Michael Carrick clearly trips Sturridge.

WRONG DECISION

Wrong decision: Michael Carrick (right) should have had a penalty given against him for a clear trip on Sturridge

Wrong decision: Michael Carrick (right) should have had a penalty given against him for a clear trip on Sturridge

8.    A superb final decision to allow Liverpool’s third goal as Suarez initially looked to be offside but replays show he was level with the last defender.

CORRECT CALL

Got it right: Clattenburg was right to allow Suarez's goal to stand as he was clearly onside from a Sturridge shot

Got it right: Clattenburg was right to allow Suarez's goal to stand as he was clearly onside from a Sturridge shot

Clattenburg caused his own problems by deciding to allow Rafael to stay on the field after he had given away the first penalty.

Had he shown red then, as I would have done, the players and everyone watching would have known what to expect.

While his actions did not affect the outcome of the game they detracted from what would have been a very good performance.

 

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I don't feel Rafael should have been booked for the handball. It was instinctive rather than deliberate hand ball after Suarez miscontrolled the ball past him. Penalty was sufficient punishment. On the Sturridge pen it was a clear and blatant dive from Sturridge. It was an awful challenge from Vidic though and I don't blame the ref for being conned, but he was conned. The ideal decision would have been free kick to Man United and Sturridge booked for diving. I think both Flanaghan and Rafael were in a competition to see how many yellow card offences they could commit without seeing red.

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Johnson handball stopped Mata getting it.penalty.wrong decision by reference.Rooney obstructed in the area.penalty.wrong decision by reference.Flanagan tackle on Raphael after he had been booked.Should have been sent off.wrong decision by reference.Vidic no contact with player who goes to ground.No penalty,no booking,no sending off,booking for player who dived.wrong decision by ref.Gerrard allowed to play for 15 Minutes and even takes penalty with blood coming from his nose should have been off the pitch.wrong decision by reference.Rooney.

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Diving is wrecking the game managers encourage it namely Roy Rogers one word a cowboy

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At least the guy is far better than you ! He is fair and not full of himself he allowed the game to flow maybe you should go back to watching your own vids

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Mr. Graham Poll, what about decisions which went Liverpool's way ?? How about the second yellow and subsequent red which Flanagan should've gotten for dangerously tackling Rafael on the right side near the United D, which he walked away from sheepishly ?? What about Johnson's handball in the Liverpool penalty box which was conveniently forgotten by you in your write-up ?? Liverpool down to 10 men by around the 50th minute mark, and a penalty given to United, might have altered the game drastically, You're just a United baiter, nothing else, Mr. Graham Poll. You've never been happy with United, and you never will be. You're about as biased towards United as Arsenal are towards Tottenham. In this game, I'm not saying that United played well, far from it, and probably deserved to lose anyways, but key decisions did not go their way either. The way you've setup the article, it might as well have been that only United were guilty of mistakes, and Liverpool were the second coming of Christ.

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Johnson wasn't even looking at the ball when it hit his hand, unlike Rafael who deliberately handled.

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Poor for me. I don't know when i last saw a good performance from an English ref

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Poll, You forget to mention the clear penalty from Glen Johnson's blatant hand ball.

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You have no idea about the rules of football do you? Jesus some people are just thick!

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How was sturridge not booked for diving? a few minutes later went down in the box and penalty wasnt given, so why wasn't a yellow shown even though it was more of a penalty than the third penalty

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Well said from an expert. Three clear penalties and maybe a fourth.

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Err poll what about Johnsons handball?

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Another one who has never seen the rule book. The lack of intelligence in some of these posts is astounding!

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