Rodgers lost the plot and must be charged for referee outburst at Man City

Rodgers lost the plot and must be charged for referee outburst at Man City

On a pretty mad Boxing Day it was disappointing to see Liverpool turning nasty as they strived to stay top of the most competitive league I can ever remember.
Traveling to Manchester City this season has been a pointless exercise for all teams and so when you start well and have a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside there are grounds for complaint.
However, from 1-0 up Liverpool capitulated as all before them had done but employed some dark tactics during and after the game.

Outburst: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers appeared to blame referee Lee Mason for his side's defeat

Keep a lid on it: Jordan Henderson vented his frustrations at referee Lee Mason and his assistant

As usual Luis Suarez was the main culprit on the pitch, going to ground very easily to win free kicks or even a penalty that Liverpool's approach play deserved but could not achieve.
Glen Johnson resorted to an ugly kick at Aleksandar Kolarov as the full back advanced down the pitch away from him – a really cynical challenge.
Worse was to follow as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers appeared to take leave of his senses and blame the referee, Lee Mason, for the defeat and suggest that where Mason lives was a factor.
There was no mention of Simon Mignolet allowing soft goal to creep in, or Raheem Sterling missing a sitter to make it 2-2 and nor should there be that kind of criticism in public. 

Rodgers blasts 'horrendous' Greater Manchester officials

Going down: Luis Suarez felt he warranted a penalty following a tackle by Man City defender Joleon Lescott

 

 

The same must apply with regards to the integrity of the match officials. Mason had a reasonable game, although he was far too lenient on the open and obvious shirt pulling at set pieces; he is not alone in doing that.
Martin Skrtel was outrageous on many occasions merely wrestling his opponent and showing no interest in the ball and for Rodgers to highlight one pull on Suarez was the kind of bias he inferred Mason showed throughout the game because he lives in Bolton.
Referees declare any club they cannot referee impartially every season and in these sensitive times of match fixing the authorities check that list carefully.
That Mason lives close to Manchester is not coincidence as the PGMOL regularly try and keep referees and particularly those with young families, relatively close to home on Boxing Day.
I am afraid Rodgers lost the plot, as so many do when striving to achieve against established teams which is a real pity given the excellent progress he has made with Liverpool.
The FA must charge him and worse could follow. He is up against Chelsea and Jose Mourinho next and if anyone can exploit a weakness it is the Portuguese.