Liverpool ROB-bed In STYLE

Styles' Performance Overshadows Torres' Home Debut

English Premiership

LIVERPOOL 1 - 1 Chelsea

Scorers:
LIV - Torres (16min);
CHE - Lampard (pen 62min);

(Carragher says 'GO HOME YOU T**T')

Diabolical. One word to describe Rob Styles' handling of the high profile match between the 2 English giants. In a match where so much matters, he cracked under pressure and I'm fairly sure he will not escape scrutiny for the days to come.

We're probably used to some odd decisions here and inconsistency there but how can a referee who's taking charge of one of the biggest game in the English football calender lost the plot like he did?

Absolutely shambolic. Awarding the non-existent penalty that probably robbed Liverpool off all 3 points and what's more to come? Showing Michael Essien 2 yellowcards in a single match but failed to send him off. One has got to wonder what do the referees write on their cards. Do they even note down who they book?

Where's the professionalism? How did it happen at such a big stage such as this?

Before going off-track, I just want to say Liverpool probably did just enough to grab all 3 points just like they did at Toulouse 3 days ago but yet another controversial decision from the man in black changed the course of the game totally.

Chances were at its premium and that both teams know that they can't afford to lose this game. Leaving Anfield with no point would probably means an uphill task for any of the teams so as often as we've seen Liverpool vs Chelsea, it was a fairly controlled game with a few sparkles here and there.

Most pleasantly, Liverpool's record signing scored in his full home debut and it really didn't take him long to get off the block. Unlike what I've predicted previously, it took him only 16 minutes before scoring his first goal for Liverpool infront of the Anfield faithful.

The goal just showed us what we've lacked over the years. Sheer pace, power and composure. He took the ball past a static Tal Ben Haim before calmly slotting it past Petr Cech. It was a goal of the highest quality. Something which we've lacked all these while.

As Jose Mourinho is never afraid to make changes, he took off an ineffective Saloman Kalou in the second half and the introduction of Claudio Pizzaro did cause a few scares for Liverpool. His aerial prowess along with Drogba's doggedness meant that the defence marshaled by Carragher will have to hang on for the second period.

Chelsea looked extremely dangerous when it comes to set pieces yet they failed to capitalise while Torres and Kuyt were constantly harrying and pressurising the Chelsea defence with Gerrard roaming from the centre of the field.

Just when everything looked good for Liverpool, Rob Styles made an absolutely terrible decision in awarding Chelsea a penalty.

With the ball played well behind him, Florent Malouda clattered into Steve Finnan but it was the Irish defender who was penalised. Lampard stepped up routinely to slot the ball past Reina.

Then another point of controversy came when a heated argument between the Chelsea players and referee Rob Styles became a card waving ceremony for them as he went bonkers, giving out as many yellow cards as possible.

That includes the already booked Michael Essien.

Through his body language, you could tell he knew he was off. He had his hands on his head. But well, he just decided to be magnanimous and let him off the hook.

Oh yes, magnanimous is a fairly tame word to use. There are other more nasty ones but I for one, can't be bothered since I believe his performance will no doubt come under major scrutiny from the national press and also the football association.

For a man to take on the role of a referee in such a high profile game, Rob Styles really must have bottled it big time and if this shambolic piece of refereeing doesn't go under investigations, there must be something wrong up there.

Shame on you, Styles. Shame on YOU.