Grand Slam debate

Let us have your thoughts on the action at the top of the table

Last updated: 24th March 2008

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Who were the biggest winners following Grand Slam Sunday?

Manchester United are now firm favourites for the title after their 3-0 win over Liverpool.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men are now five minutes clear at the top of the table following Arsenal's defeat to Chelsea

Liverpool were left to rue Javier Mascherano's controversial sending-off at Old Trafford as Manchester United moved a step closer to the Premier League title.

The Argentine was shown a second yellow card for dissent after team-mate Fernando Torres had been cautioned by referee Steve Bennett.

But was Bennett right to give Mascherano his marching orders? Would he have made the same decision had it not been for the Ashley Cole incident in midweek?

Is this the direction the game should be heading? How can officials find a better balance between clamping down on disrespectful behaviour while still allowing players to show their passion and commitment?

Are Chelsea firmly in the race after they came from behind to beat Arsenal at Stamford Bridge?

Does that defeat end Arsenal's hopes of capturing the championship?

Has Avram Grant answered his critics who said he could not win the big games?

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Comments

Khalid Khan says...

man utd will win the title but 2nd place is still between chelsea and arsenal. nobody can rule arsenal out bcuz they hav gr8 class but man utd will win the title comfortably

Posted 17:23 26th March 2008

Lisa Ferguson says...

I think that Mascherano deserved to be sent off. He was repeatedly harrassing the referee. There is a new ' respect rule' now which is to be followed. He should of accepted things and got on with it and kept his thoughts to himself. He put himself in more trouble by refusing to the leave the pitch. The referee was asked by both managers to protect the players after the Andy Cole incident which he did as best he could. The ref cannot see everything. Unfortunately unlike rugby, the game cannot be stopped whilst it is reviewed on TV. Man Utd do not get away with things - 7 yellows in the game against Spurs?? Ronaldo not getting the much deserved penalty against Portsmouth?? I agree there needs to be consistency with referees but maybe this is the start. To be all this arguing really seems a case of sour grapes on Liverpools behalf. All four teams played well on Sunday and Mascherano unfortunately let himself and Liverpool down.

Posted 11:19 26th March 2008

Mark Clyne says...

I think it would be a brave man to totally rule Arsenal out but its looking like a Man Utd v Chelsea race again. I think the sending off was justified aswell how many chances did mascherano get? He was lucky to stay on just after he got his yellow for a bad challenge why he disputed that I dont know. Rooney did a bad tackle in europe not a word to the ref bar a clap and was sent off. Did he deserve his sending off? Yes. Mascherano went on and on and on and on what do you expect. I think the scousers are looking for a scapegoat. Maybe if they actually showed up on Sunday and played football he might not have lost it the way he did.

Posted 15:01 25th March 2008

Lawrence Wilkinson (Arsenal fan) says...

I believe the sending off of Javier Mascherano was justified. he had no right to run 20 yards. yes a quick ref you have got that wrong would have been fine. not running 20 yards to have a real go. it also shows that children shouldn't do it either. stop it in the top stop it at the bottom!!!!

Posted 09:38 25th March 2008

Julius Johnson (Aston Villa fan) says...

The sending off of Mascharano is one of the most biased decisions I have ever witnessed. Sometimes I doubt if these referees have any conscience at all. If all complaints were to receive cards, then Rooney, Anderson and John Terry should have been sent off several times this season. Maybe the FA and their referees had decided that Man U should win the league hence they are being helped with poor officiating. If this had happened to a Man U player, Alex Fergerson would have been spitting fire now

Posted 08:16 25th March 2008

Ian Bridges (Chelsea fan) says...

Javier Mascherano's sending off may well have been justified, but do people not see that refereeing inconsistency is also to be blamed if not completely blamed for the current climate in premier league football? Had both teams been treated the same would Mascherano have reacted in the same way? Is he really the villain or just a victim trying to stand up for unjust decisions..... What is he meant to do? wait until after the game has finished and make his point then when it has no effect? There are many more issues here than 'respecting' referees..... For example if someone continues to make poor decisions anywhere in life do you not lose respect for them?! And where these poor decisions have such massive knock on effects is it not something that should be dealt with swiftly and as effectively as possible. It think that footballers would respect correct decisions rather than being told to put up with whatever is thrown there way without a chance of arguing there point, especially if it is a just one.

Posted 21:48 24th March 2008

Michael Clark (Manchester United fan) says...

Manchester got the better of the weekend thanks to a great effort. Chelsea certainly suprised me with that win but the Eduardo injury was the turning point in the season for Arsene Wenger's men. Ferdinand made a great display and Masch made a mess of everything for Liverpool. He sees Torres get a card for the least bit of a word but he storms on in and quite rightfully got another booking. You don't do that in as big as a game as it was unless you're the man with the band on your arm! Foolish! Great fixtures and even better results. Great time to be a football fan!

Posted 17:51 24th March 2008

Jamie Gilbert (Manchester United fan) says...

I think what everyone seems to be missing is that Mascherano was sent off for repeatedly harassing the referee, since his yellow card he was in the ref's face arguing every decision, and he ran 20 odd yards to shout at the ref for the Torres incident. I agree that players should be allowed to discuss decisions with match officials and therefore think the Torres booking was a bad decision but Mascherano deserved to be sent off, he just wouldn't stop.

Posted 16:26 24th March 2008

Joanne Foster (Liverpool fan) says...

As a Liverpool Fan I am disappointed with mascherano's behaviour after the second yellow was given, as a professional he should have walked away even if he didn't understand the ref's decision. We all would not be discussing this If the incident with Ashley Cole had NOT happened but when all said and done if referees had more consistency with their bookings some games would be played 9 a side. Mascerano was asking for trouble when has run 20 yards towards the ref if anyone should have been asking the ref a question it should have been Gerrard as captain where was he when it was all going on didn't see him until mascerano had been dragged off by other players, we can talk about this until kingdom comes but it has happened and we have to stay strong and get over it who knows what would have happened if it stayed 11 a-side we will never know, the most ridiculous yellow was the one given to torres but anyway the game is over and we must stay positive.

Posted 16:14 24th March 2008

Ajit Takalkar (Chelsea fan) says...

Chelsea deserved to win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea played some great football especially in the second half. Now the Blues hav a great chance to become champions and they will win the league.

Posted 14:39 24th March 2008

Andy Davis says...

I am absolutely disgusted with the behaviour of the Liverpool player yesterday. The referee is in charge and deserves the respect of all the players, he shouldn't have to put up with anti social behaviour like this. Additionally this disease is spreading across the country. Only yesterday did I see a young referee being targetted for doing a decent job with an under 12 match by idiotic adults and parents, questioning any decision made and arguing, shouting, disputing. An incredible comparison of our beautiful national game. What an embarrasment for all involved. Put a microphone on the ref and let the world hear the obscenities these so called professionals use. I listened to the referee at the rugby articulating his decisions so well without a murmer from any player. Now that is respect! Lets learn from the professionals!!!

Posted 14:11 24th March 2008

Jonathan Roberts (Stockport County fan) says...

How on earth does Mascharano get sent off for causing no injury to anyone and okay gives the ref a bit of lip, yet Ashley Cole doesn't get any punishment for a disgusting tackle and then is so disrespectful. Well done ref you take the headlines. Surely after 44 minutess of play, the ref should say to the player, go into the dressing room at half time and calm yourslef down. Should it carry on into the second half, then i will look at punishment!!

Posted 14:09 24th March 2008

Keith Lawson says...

Will all the Liverpool fans stand back and look at what Mascherano did, it was a late tackle and deserved yellow, then on 3 occasions fouled again each time mouthing off at the ref, then when Torres got booked (a little harsh but did you see what he did with his hands?) Mascherano ran 20 yards through Alonso to get to the ref, he was told to go away and didn't, ermmm?? why?? The ref had no choice but to give the 2nd yellow.

Posted 11:15 24th March 2008

Andy Brough says...

This action only becomes useful if all referee badgers are booked or sent off. I am a Liverpool fan, but agree with the referee's decision, only sincerely hope that Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea players are treated as strictly in the future.

Posted 11:06 24th March 2008

Gary Meadows says...

Once again the referee is the main talking point of what should have been a great game! The game was obviously too big for the ref! How can players be allowed to persistantly foul a player and get away with it and when the player dares to complain and ask for protection he gets a yellow card? Pathetic refereeing! He lost control of the game and looked scared stiff! Man Utd deserved their win and good luck to them but I do feel that Liverpool have a right to feel a little hard done by!

Posted 09:27 24th March 2008

Gary Taylor says...

I am a dissapointed Arsenal fan. My question is why over the past month has so many decisions gone against Arsenal? For example, the penalty at Birmingham, Middlesbrough offside goal last week, Drogba offside goal yesterday.

Posted 09:16 24th March 2008

John Thorpe (Liverpool fan) says...

As a Liverpool fan I can agree with most people here, Man Utd deserved the win, their game plan was working and they set about in the right manner. I do feel the ref spoiled it though, Mascherano in the first yellow card pulled out of the tackle, yes he was late, but honestly and how the ref judged other late tackles surely its only a warning, he only mouthed off because he got a yellow. Late tackles that followed resulted in a warning. If this is the benchmark for all other refs to follow we are going to see teams finish with 9 or 8 players every week. Well the benchmark has been set and as long as all other refs do the same there can be no complaints. I remember Rooney, Terry, Ronaldo and the likes mouthing off before, lets see what happens

Posted 09:13 24th March 2008

Phil Holt (Manchester United fan) says...

Great result for United and also Chelsea. We were winning before the sending off. I think it was right for him to go, after his first challange which he got the yellow he was giving the ref grief straight away and then gave away two more free kicks and both times gave the ref more grief(one of those times putting his hand in his face virtually) and not all of it looked to pleasant. I think Torres was a bit hard done by but I think it was his hand gesture which made the ref give him the card and then Mascherano runs 20 yards even with Alonso trying to stop him and gives him more grief even when the ref warned him not to, even Rafa Benitez saw it coming when you saw his reaction. If United can get at least a draw at Chelsea they should be fine.

Posted 09:07 24th March 2008

Justin Bryant (Manchester United fan) says...

What comes around goes around. Did Mascherano not push/slap Aliadiere in the face, provoking a red card response and 4 game ban for the Boro player? Did he not get away scot free for that? Did Liverpool not benefit from a soft red card to Materrazi? It's all sour grapes anyway, they weren't even in the game. Liverpool fans should be glad for the sending off, otherwise you'd have to face reality. Your side simply isn't good enough, but go on and keep blaming the refs.

Posted 22:28 23rd March 2008

Ian L says...

Perhaps the time has come for referees to be wired up for sound during the game like in Rugby. Then we will hear exactly why decisions are being made and not have to speculate. It will also allow us to hear if there is any favouritism and the like so we won't end up spending yet another weekend talking about what they were thinking, we'd know, and then they could be judged better on their performance as the FA would be able to hear them.

Posted 22:25 23rd March 2008

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