Reds beached?

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Reds beached?

Beached? Reina is beaten by Bent's effort

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez refused to blame the fluke goal which gave Sunderland their 1-0 victory - but has the defeat deflated the Reds' title hopes?

The only goal at the Stadium of Light arrived when Darren Bent's shot deflected off a beach ball and past the helpless Jose Reina.

Benitez admits the goal should have stood but do you agree? Should the referee have taken action after the inflatable was thrown onto the pitch?

The Spaniard admitted he could have no complaints about the result after a poor performance. Where do the Reds' go from here? Are they out of the title race at this early stage of the season?

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both missed the game at the Stadium of Light through injury. Benitez is hopeful that both will be fit to face Lyon in the UEFA Champions League but do you think Liverpool rely too heavily on the duo?

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Comments (105)

Charlie Hilden (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

i am pleased the goal against liverpool counted because sunderland aint the biggest team in the leaugue but this goal has given them 3 pressures points what may keep them up and confidents to there players and its about time miinows had bit of luck against 1 of the big 4. thats why we should not ve video technology this his what football all about OPIONS love it. come on you spursssssss.

Posted 12:48 19th October 2009

Cliff Ritson (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa's priority in the summer should have been to buy a top class striker, Ngog, voronin are not in the same league as torres and never will be, Hopefully Aquilanni will be ready to play soon but our chances to win the league are almost over, Its time for a change and though Rafa is a god at liverpool i think his days could be numbered

Posted 12:47 19th October 2009

Robbie Williams (Liverpool fan) says...

Sorry to my fellow fans,but Rafa has to go.I know we are loyal to the core but enough is enough.Rafa has spent millions on a mediocre team,some of his buys have been woeful to put it mildly.His team selection and tactics on saturday where an embarrassment to us all.His treatment of Alonso was nothing short of disgusting.He is living off the back of Istanbul and we all know that,so lets be honest we have not built on that we have gone backwards.I dont like the Americans anymore than the rest of you,but what was said last week by Gillette was true,you have to look at the managers results on the pitch.So come on Rafa you have taken us as far as you can,lets have changes in the board room and at the helm.

Posted 12:41 19th October 2009

Michael Matt (Liverpool fan) says...

Liverpool needs a new manager that does not support a rotation system.We also need another centre forward.

Posted 12:35 19th October 2009

John Stewart (Manchester United fan) says...

I have no issue with the goal at all, A liverpool fan threw it on a Liverpool player never disposed of the ball when he had a chance, the ball could just as easily rebounded out of play, would sunderland then have had a Corner/drop ball/Penalty because a liverpool fan disrupted play ? Im all for having fun during a game but items such as these are rediculous to be allowed into the game. The Keeper and the Ref should both have made sure the ball was removed from play at the first opportunity. Reina had ample time anytime the ball was out of play or far enough up the pitch All it takes is to hand it to a ball boy or a stadium official

Posted 12:35 19th October 2009

Van The man (Manchester United fan) says...

What if, instead, the ball was going into the net and stopped or diverted by the beach ball. Would the ref has given the goal ?

Posted 12:25 19th October 2009

Pork Chop (Bristol City fan) says...

I do have to laugh at the Liverpool fans who shout that Rafa needs financial backing in January to be able to compete for the title - this guy has wasted millions of pounds on average squad players over the last couple of seasons. Just this summer he spent the best part of 40million on a midfielder we're yet to see and a right back - that doesn't strike me as the type of money being spent by a manager with no backing! Liverpool are undoubtedly seen as a big club, but I think it is as much to do with their history than it is their team of today. I'm sure they'll get a result against United this weekend - but that will only paper over the cracks. I think wholesale changes are needed! In my opinion, last year was probably Liverpool's best chance because, these days, it's not just three teams they're fighting with but one of about eight who have a decent shout at the top four... could be an interesting season!

Posted 12:12 19th October 2009

Praveena Corera (Liverpool fan) says...

Are there any faithful Liverpool fans left who still think we will win the chapions league and the premier league??????

Posted 11:48 19th October 2009

Kegan Pillai (Liverpool fan) says...

I think rafa has had his chance! He has been at the club from 2004 and has had enough money and time to build a squad which can win the league. We keep saying that we don not have money but over 4 seasons i think rafa has spent +- 150m pounds. However if you look at our squad now you would not say that. Rafa needs to go,he has not won the league and now has a squad which has too many holes and not strong enough to challenge for league honours. I think it was Fergie which said that Liverpool peaked last season and does not see them matching it again, he could not have been more on the ball.

Posted 11:46 19th October 2009

Maliya Khan (Liverpool fan) says...

Why are people just talking about the beach ball? The quality of our play was just not good enough. we need more than just Gerrard && Torres in our team. They aren't gonna be here forever.

Posted 11:22 19th October 2009

Craig Dazzler (Liverpool fan) says...

Anyone who says our form is because we sold Alonso is talking rubbish. Sure we beat man united 4-1 without him last year.

Posted 11:08 19th October 2009

David Fullam (Liverpool fan) says...

It is time for big changes at liverpool. The club is in a mess and the club is in so much debt. Hicks and gillet must sell the club and sell it to DIC. Rafa has spent a lot of money on average players as seen on saturday against sunderland. For to long he has blamed the owners but it is him who is buying the players. From my own point of view I would like to jose mourinho manage the team. He has got great man mangment skills and he is a winner. He would love the chance to win liverpools first premier league title. Another option would be guus hiddink who works wonders with every club he has managed. There is also good managers closer to home like martin o neill and harry redknapp.

Posted 11:02 19th October 2009

Imelda Gentz (Liverpool fan) says...

I am a Liverpool fan for the past 20 years, and it is a disgrace to see what is going on at the club at the moment. We need a quality attacking midfielder. If Stevie G and Torres don"t play then we look like a bunch of school boys trying to play football.

Posted 10:43 19th October 2009

Glen Robinson (Manchester United fan) says...

I can remember at the start of the season all the Liverpool fans writing how Manchester United wouldn't even be in the top 4 without Ronaldo. Could you have been more wrong??? Just about out of the title race before November!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha

Posted 10:37 19th October 2009

Joe Wilson (Liverpool fan) says...

Granted the goal should not have stood, but Sunderland completely outplayed us on Saturday. Reina surely had time to get rid of the beachball, but if there is an interfearing object on the pitch, the game should be halted and re-statrted with a drop-ball, simple. Have to agree with Low Richard, we were very lucky last year with decisions, red cards, and late goals; such luck seems to have deserted us this year (Diamante's pen should have been retaken as well) Also many people are correctly pointing out, Bent scored after 4 minutes, we had another 84, well 93 in fact to get one or two goals, the only side that looked like doing it was Sunderland, Rafa needs to sort it cause the squad players aren't good enough.

Posted 10:29 19th October 2009

Michael Joyce (Sunderland fan) says...

If Liverpool are so bothered about this beach ball, i suggest you get a grip of your fans and stop them throwing things onto the pitch!!! Lets face it, Liverpool were lucky to lose just 1-0. Unfortunately Bent did not take half of his chances or he would have been walking away from that game with the match ball.

Posted 10:27 19th October 2009

Colin Hanaghan (Everton fan) says...

Whether Liverpool were good enough or not; or whether Sunderland "deserved" to win or not are irrelevant in this debate. The laws of the game are very clear and unambiguous - the goal should not have been allowed. The referee is an embarassment. Having said that I am having great difficulty not laughing my head off!

Posted 10:20 19th October 2009

Sunny Fernandes (Liverpool fan) says...

I think the biggest mistake was we sold Xabi Alonso, without him we are no where

Posted 10:10 19th October 2009

Jamie Bishop (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm sorry but Liverpool weren't good enough on the day, I watched match of the day and Sunderland deserved the victory. Without Stevie G and Torres we arn't going anywhere special. Even though the goal should not have counted we had 90 mins to score a goal and a camera showed the beachball being in the back of the net before kick-off. As to Rafa well done in admitting that we didn't deserve to win. Us Liverpool fans better be hoping that Aquilani is a very good player who can adapt well, but anybody is better than Lucas. What amazes me is that the whole summer and we didn't buy a single striker, Ngog, Babel and Voronin are just not good enough for a "Top 4" team. Benitez needs to start putting Skrtel and Agger together because Carra is starting to lose it unfortunately. Apart from the dynamic duo, Reina, Kuyt, Mascherano, Benayoun and Skrtel when at his best the rest of is shocking.

Posted 09:53 19th October 2009

Paul Edwards (Liverpool fan) says...

You only had to take one look at the starting line up to see we wouldnt win the game. I saw the starting line up and switched off. What a farcical line up 3 centre backs playing in the back 4. A defender playing midfield. A player making his debut and Lucas. That midfierld might cut it in the Championship but not premiership. As for Mascherano - fit enuf to be on the banch then he should start. This is like the Houliier days! We need a new manager before we fall to far. GILLETE is and was right! Rafa is making too may mistakes already this season. His attitude is everyone will lose more games this season. No Rafa only Liverpool will and have!

Posted 09:52 19th October 2009

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