Sven Likely Unimpressed by Gerrard’s Lack of Discipline

In the run-up to this summer’s World Cup, England coach Sven Goran-Erikson will be keeping close track of two-dozen or so key players who he figures to include in his lineup when his team takes the field. Key among them will be Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard.

With this in mind, I was shocked to see the Reds’ team leader sent off for two cautions before even twenty minutes had been played in the 203rd Merseyside derby. What made Gerrard’s early exit even more unfathomable was that his second yellow card followed less than a minute after his first – and both of them WERE well deserved.

In the first instance, teammate Xabi Alonso recklessly clattered into a surging Evertonian and was rightly called for the foul (but surprisingly did not see yellow although Referee Phil Dowd had already made it clear that he would be doing his best to keep things tight). After Dowd’s whistle had blown a Liverpool defender kicked the ball back towards the spot of the foul for the Everton restart, but Gerrard foolishly knocked the ball more than thirty yards away over the goal line. Clearly unimpressed, the referee showed Liverpool’s spiritual leader the yellow card.

Moments later, with the ball back in play and Everton midfielder Kevin Kilbane (I believe) angling towards goal from about thirty yards away from the Liverpool goal, Gerrard needlessly scythed down his opponent with a pointless, witless challenge. Dowd had already cautioned players for less and was left with no choice but to show Gerrard his second yellow card.

In total, the referee issued at least ten cautions and two red cards – the second of which was a straight red to Everton’s midfielder Andy Van der Meyde who had only entered the match minutes earlier. The Dutchman, also likely hoping for a summer trip to Germany, could have little to complain about as his elbow to the face of an opponent was clearly deliberate as they raced shoulder to shoulder down the pitch.

Needless to say, I hope that both men learned a thing or two from their transgressions this past weekend. For if either of their countries have any hope of achieving success at the World Cup, showing greater discipline and character will be of paramount importance.

And those are today’s thoughts from the middle.

Until next time…