Graham Poll's Official Line: Desperate Liverpool pay the price for unsporting behaviour

Liverpool's desperation to win at Old Trafford was made clear by two unsporting acts early in the first half.

Javier Mascherano cynically pulled Antonio Valencia back as the United winger burst through.

Javier Mascherano

Flashpoint: Liverpool's Javier Mascherano cynically grabs the arm of Antonio Valencia in the incident that led to a penalty for Manchester United

It was definitely a foul but the level of cynicism cannot affect the decision by the match officials.

The initial contact by the Argentinian was clearly outside the penalty area and replays suggested that, being fully aware of where he was on the field, Mascherano let go of Valencia’s arm before he got into the area.

Technically, if the contact stopped outside the area then it should not have been a penalty but football purists would say that justice was done due to the cynical nature of the foul.

READ POLL’S VERDICT ON THE WEEKEND'S FLASHPOINTS

The second act of unsporting behaviour was a new one to me and occurred once referee Howard Webb had pointed to the spot for United’s penalty.

Fernando Torres deliberately kicked at the penalty mark in what appeared to be an attempt to affect the surface prior to Wayne Rooney taking the kick.

A yellow card should have been issued and probably would have been had Webb seen what the Spaniard was up to.

TORRES KICKS UP A FUSS

Wayne Rooney

Unsporting: Rooney looks bemused by Torres's behaviour after the Spaniard strides to the penalty spot (below left) and scuffs the surface (below right) with his boot

Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres


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