Lloris had a stinker but Van Dijk is elite
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Updated 01/04/2019 at 07:37 GMT
Plus, Neil Warnock has gone bleating on, your weekly reminder that Lionel Messi is unfair and Salem Salem Al Dawsari scored a brilliant goal. Also, draws are guff.
Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur shows his dejection after team mate Toby Alderweireld (out of pic) scores an own goal giving a last minute victory to Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March
Image credit: Getty Images
MONDAY’S BIG STORIES
Hugo stunk place out, Virgil came up smelling of roses
Hugo Lloris had a stinker against Liverpool, slapping a fairly saveable header from Mohamed Salah on to the foot of Toby Alderweireld to give the Reds a 2-1 win against Spurs.
So, is Lloris an elite-level goalkeeper? Well, let’s look at the facts. He plays at an elite level but so too did Ali Dia. He is Tottenham captain but so too was Gary Doherty (once the Warm-Up thinks). He has won the World Cup but so too has Shkodran Mustafi. He has made a fair few howlers over the last few seasons but he has also made some astonishing saves.
The point of the above gibberish? Well, the rush to absolutes in this post-truth world is nonsensical. Yes, Hugo Lloris was at fault for Liverpool’s late winner, but, no, this does not make him a fraud, a bottle job or washed up. Is he good enough if Tottenham want to win the league? Probably not. He is a very good goalkeeper but to win a title in the era of Manchester City, very good is probably not good enough.
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur scores an own goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March 31, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
Anyway, Tottenham came away from Anfield pointless due to profligacy as much Lloris’ howler. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had the better of the second half and could – and probably should – have scored at least one more after Lucas Moura had cancelled out Roberto Firmino’s first-half header.
Moussa Sissoko passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to, well, pass to Heung-min Son in a two-on-one situation against Virgil van Dijk, who, to his credit, defended the situation magnificently; while Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli also passed up presentable opportunities. So, while much of the focus will be on Lloris and his error, Tottenham should, as teams who have designs on being title winners do, put Liverpool to bed.
For Liverpool, who have designs on being title winners, put Tottenham to bed. They withstood Spurs and then struck – if they lose this title it won’t be due to a lack of bottle, as evidenced by the below tweet, this Liverpool side are elite.
However, if they do win it, it will be in no small part down to the utter brilliance of Van Dijk, who continues to look worth every penny of the 75 million quid Liverpool shelled out on him last year. He coupled the impressive two-on-one defending against Sissoko and Son with a performance steeped in assured excellence.
At least bleating Neil Warnock is consistent (Oh!)
Cardiff City were on the end of some dubious officiating this weekend. They led 1-0 as the match drew towards a conclusion but the Bluebirds would end up losing 2-1.
The Welsh club’s grievances came in two acts:
- Cesar Azpilicueta was in an offside position when he equalised
- Antonio Rudiger was lucky to escape a red card after he hauled down Kenneth Zohore
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock was far from happy with proceedings.
He was raging here:
If I was a Burnley or a Brighton fan [two of Cardiff’s relegation rivals], they will be absolutely loving it today. It’s not our fault an official can’t see that, it is the most obvious offside I have ever seen or the most certain penalty I have ever seen. It’s the best league in the world but the worst officials. They don’t understand what is at stake. They shouldn’t make mistakes at this level.
Fair enough.
Well, no, not really – particularly if as pointed out by the eagled-eyed Jacqui Oatley, Warnock has previously revelled in being on the other side of some dubious decision-making when his Cardiff side beat Brighton courtesy of, you guessed it, an offside goal.
He was not raging here:
My wife doesn't read tea leaves but she did tell me two weeks ago, last Thursday, that my luck is going to change. We have no chance [of staying up] according to the bookies but the lads are giving me everything.
The Warm-Up assumes that Neil might not have thought the Premier League has the “worst officials” after that 2-1 win back in November 2018. Now the Warm-Up doesn’t believe, as some managers say, looking at you Fergie, that these decisions even themselves out over the course of the season but here they pretty much have. So, Neil, pipe down.
In other news related to Cardiff absolutely getting done over, this is a glorious reaction from Neil.
Will Self levels of stare down, there.
Lionel Messi’s ridiculousness is getting ridiculous
Lionel Messi struck goals number 40 and 41 of the season against Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Saturday, making it 10 seasons on the bounce he has achieved that feat. Complete and utter filth.
Anyway, his second, a free-kick, was a complete mockery, see below:
This guy is unplayable.
However, the Warm-Up is here to remind you that, well, apparently there are four better footballers than Messi knocking about according to Ballon d’Or voting.
IN OTHER NEWS
Sunderland may have lost the Checkatrade Cup Final to Portsmouth on penalties, which, while not ideal by any stretch of the imagination for those of a Sunderland persuasion, the Black Cats fans in London town seemed to enjoy their trip south.
The highlights of said wonderful final were on Quest, you know? While you're here:
YOU CAN WATCH EFL ON QUEST EVERY SATURDAY AT 9PM. ALSO LIVE AND ON DEMAND VIA QUESTOD AT QUESTOD.CO.UK AND VIA THE QUESTOD APP.
HERO AND ZEROES
Hero: Salem Al Dawsari
That first touch was pretty impressive to control a shot that was disguised as a pass (want to put any more pace on that one, lad?) but what comes next has no place on a football field. Complete and utter filth.
Alas for Al-Hilal’s Al Dawsari, his side would lose to a 97th minute winner from Bruno Uvini in a 3-2 defeat against rivals Al Nassr.
Zero: Draws
Less draws Saints fans and you could be pushing for Champions League football.
HAT-TIP
Last week was international week, so was dry in the extreme. The good people of Independent had you though, with a list of the top 100 players in the world.
Enjoy.
RETRO CORNER
Well, this is pretty incredible
COMING UP
Arsenal take on Newcastle, with a win enough to take them third. Nick Miller will be here on Tuesday to take you through the mind-bending reality that this Arsenal side could be third come close of play on Monday night.
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