Meireles Flips Off Lucas, Capello Eyes Kelly, and Other Monday Notes

By: Noel | August 21st, 2011

It may be Monday, but at least there’s midweek football to look forward to. And also you don’t have potentially painful, season defining trips to Udine, Italy, and Manchester to worry about after less than two weeks of action. So with the mood suitably brightened (unless you’re an Arsenal fan), have some of the day’s Liverpool miscellany to help waste the minutes until Wednesday rolls around…

* After Lucas played a key role in the build up to Liverpool’s second goal, drawing out the Arsenal defenders before putting Raul Meireles in on goal to set up Luis Suarez for an easy tap-in, Meireles appeared rather heated. In fact, he seemed downright angry next to the smiling, celebrating Luis Suarez, shouting and raising his middle finger at somebody just out of frame.

This lead to a brief flurry of speculation. Was the anger aimed at an Arsenal defender? Perhaps at a fan who was giving him abuse? Maybe even at the Liverpool bench if the Portuguese midfielder was unhappy with his situation at the club?

In the end, then, it was directed at somebody with Liverpool: It was aimed at Lucas. But it wasn’t meant in anger, instead being a reference to Emmanuel Frimpong, the Arsenal player who had earlier planted his studs in Lucas’ shin in an incident that probably should have seen the Gunners’ young defensive midfielder given a straight red. Instead he only received yellow, but as it was his second of the match he was subsequently dismissed. Which meant he had to give Lucas the finger for daring to try and clear the ball when Frimpong was flying in studs up.

Or something. Since with Arsenal, if it’s not the officials screwing you over, it’s players getting you sent off by having the nerve to not cower in fear when you come charging in with a late, dirty, and potentially dangerous tackle.

* One of the people pretty much nobody thought Meireles was flipping off on Saturday was Fabio Capello, though the English manager was in the stands and it’s hardly beyond the realm of possibility that at some point in the ninety minutes of the match somebody at the Emirates gave him the finger.

Capello was there to watch England regulars Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing, but he also had some interest in Martin Kelly, who first began to receive national team buzz back in the spring before injury quickly put an end to such speculation. But with Glen Johnson out and Kelly putting in a strong shift against Arsenal on Saturday, it might be time to start it up again:

I see some players [that are] interesting for me, some new players like Kelly the right-back, he is really interesting.

He is young and he played a good, good game.

Right, so Kelly played a good, good game. That’s good to know. Now to try and figure out if, now that Capello has noticed him, his eventual inclusion at the national level will help his continuing development or result in a slew of injuries that stunt it.

* Brand value! Synergy! Smoked ham! It’s the Joe Cole promotional brochure, making its way by registered mail to the management of QPR, Wolverhampton, Tottenham, and anybody else foolish enough to give Joe Cole’s agent their mailing address. So if you own a professional football club and would be interested in the opportunity of a lifetime, well, you might just want to give Joe Cole a shot.

Heck, it’s even just about believable after the leaked Michael Owen promotional brochure of a few years back that somehow got the washed up turncoat a cushy spot on the Manchester United bench.

We’ll be back with more in a bit, but in the meantime, since we somehow didn’t get around to a proper time wasting Sunday post this week, have the Match of the Day highlight package from Liverpool v. Arsenal…

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: Miscellaneous, Premier League, Team News

« Liverpool 2, Arsenal 0: Leaving it Late | Home | Juggling Fitness and Expectation »

NotTooXabi

Soto is no mo? Our Hair Quota just took a hit. But best of luck to the Greek - he stepped up with some wonderful performances during the Dark Days.

Please, please, please let this be a sign that we're about to sign another CB.

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news...
Thomas Hoppe

Rory Smith from The Telegraph is saying Dalglish is confident of signing Sebastian Coates. And it fits with the needs of the depth at centre back. He is 6' 6" and Uruguayan, that is all anyone needs to know
Ismael Jawad

"Which meant he had to give Lucas the finger for daring to try and clear the ball when Frimpong was flying in studs up."

Actually, Flimpong gave Lucas the finger way before that. It was in the 44th minute of the first half when Flimpong was rushing towards goal and Lucas nudged him to stop his run.
Noel

Everywhere seems to be talking about it as something that happened in the wake of the second yellow, but given I never saw Frimpong flash the finger at that point it'd make more sense if it came earlier in the day when I might not have been quite so intently staring and cursing at the television.
redtrev73

Well then, that was fun on Saturday wasn't it? My two cents on our lot on the day....

Pepe was as excellent as you would expect from the Prem's top 'keeper.

Kelly was fantastic. Energetic, pacy, strong and efficient on the ball. Stay away Fabio!

Carra was strong as ever defensively and curbed the hoofball somewhat.

Agger is our best defender. End of. Just quality.

Enrique makes the hyperbole flow from this Redman. A class act. You are NOT getting past this guy Theo!

Adam was tidy in possession for the most part but not the force he was in the 1st 45 of the season. Worry about his defensive ability/interest.

Henderson improved a lot on his poor opening fixture form and enjoyed being free to buzz around the centre of the pitch. Would expect more attacking force SOON.

Lucas is a dynamo and with the exception of the time he was left for dead by Nasri, the guy was immense and a real attacking threat as well as a superb defensive shield. Is there a better tackler in the Prem?

Downing is a real addition and looks likely to justify his price tag. Always looking to receive the ball and make an attacking impact. I wish the guy would stay left for 90 but who am I to argue tactics with Kenny?!

Kuyt is Mr Liverpool but played as though last week's demotion rattled him rather than encouraged him to greater heights. Solid, but not himself. My guess is that this is a blip and we'll be back to the usual excellence next time out.

Carroll is being unfairly critiqued by many whose eyes are jaundiced by the artificially huge amount LFC forked-out for the kid. Lazy pundits reckon he's "not fit" and will "come good". He IS good, he is fit and is doing very well. His goal last week should have stood and his touch and running off the ball are excellent.

Suarez and Meireiles.....possibly our two best footballers (Stevie included). Sheer class and automatic starters when fit, at least in my little mind.

Manager-watch: Hard to criticise even if you were so inclined. Had quality in reserve, used it, won the game. End of.

So curb your cynicism gents. We'll have plenty of time to wallow in self-loathing if things do go tits-up. Meantime load up on happy, I know I been gittin' me some....
JPR

Really enjoyed that. Can we have one of these after each game?
redtrev73

Cheers JPR. here's hoping they can all be as upbeat, eh?
JPR

No worries about that. We do have a REALLY good team. It's going to be a fun year. And I've noticed, you are a cut above at finding the silver lining even on those (few) bad days. And you should give us a player/manager write up at least every few games.
Suarez from the car park...

Imagine if Raul (or Gerrard) was in the hole where Henderson played. We would have scored far earlier. It was a bit of an unused position on the pitch. We would have done more than route 1 footy but Hendo went missing.
Should have left Hendo with Sunderland for another year and let them sort him out. If his form didn't pick up we would have got him for Ngog prices.I appreciate KK wanting to develop him, but he's too far from being 1st 11 for a team chasing top 4.
Latortillablanca

you had me at imgaine raul or gerrard in the hole...
Antonio

Meireles (to the bench) : F... U ! You should has start me earlier!!! Now give me the pay raise !

Lucas or rather Suarez seem to wrestle down his finger to continue celebrate the goal.
Lucas(whisper into Meireles) : Don't worry, after Aquanman and Joe Cole are gone, Boss will give u a pay raise, just be patience, brother.

Alternate version:-
Meireles (to Lucas) : F... U! You should have place the ball earlier, I will score myself, instead of squaring to Suarez.
Gryffin

I wish I had a time machine and could just fast forward to next weeks match.
ReadLiverpoolFC

One of the best things about Meireles is the whole team looks so happy/friendly/jokey around him. Smiles and laughs, the lot. It might be because of the goals he's always involved in, but either way, great morale around ol' Raul.
alcatrazzledazzle

Totally agreed. I'd just add, thank god for internet commenting, because the phrase "morale around ol' Raul" is nearly impossible to say out loud in the real world
Latortillablanca

"the whole team looks so happy/friendly/jokey around him." - its cos of the ridiculous junior high school threads he insists on wearing: trucker hats, skinny jeans, scratchy sweaters, novelty tees, etc. ol boy dresses like an 18 yr old freshman at UConn... gods bless him, though, we need him this year, ed hardy shirts an all.
CheekyFellow

Honestly, though, that is a common attire among some Europeans. It has been around for a while. In America, it started to get big like 4-5 years ago, and instead of actually buying the clothes from a store, they get them from thrift shops.
Latortillablanca

yeah... i get it. still ridiculous.
PDubz18

He probably drinks a lot of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Brianadelbert

meireles is world class,keeping in mind he is always in the portugal national team...without a doubt,we have a strong midfield with good players such....shevley,spearing,meireles,cole and even aquilani and poulsen... am quite sure this season we will win atleast 1 domestic cup
Andy

I'm not sure what's sadder/funnier, Joe Cole's fake selling brochure or the actual 30+ page brochure of Michael Owen performing bicycle kicks in Armani suits, hoping that that would somehow convince prospective owners to buy him...