Football blog: Your matchday views

The main talking point of Grand Slam Sunday will no doubt be the sending off of Javier Mascherano in Liverpool's clash with Manchester United.

Having been yellow-carded early on for a reckless challenge on Paul Scholes, Mascherano later launched into a diatribe of dissent aimed at Steve Bennett, who had just booked Fernando Torres.

Mr Bennett promptly produced a second yellow for Mascherano, and off the Argentine went amid the usual flurry of controversy.

So was the ref wrong? Or is Mascherano the daftest player in the Premier League for what he did, coming so soon after Ashley Cole's antics during Chelsea's 4-4 draw with Tottenham?

Later on in the day, Chelsea perhaps ended Arsenal's challenge thanks to a late brace from Didier Drogba, after the Gunners had taken the lead. Is it now a two-way battle for the title between United and Chelsea?

We want to hear your views. Using the boxes below, send in your opinion. You can also view pictures from today's games by clicking here.

Comments

[ADAM]

GERRARD SEEMS TO GO MISSING WHEN THEY PLAY UNITEDI SUPPORT LIVERPOOL BUT I MUST ADMIT THEY ARE STILL A FAIRWAY BEHIND UNITED USUALLY ABOUT 20 POINTS BEHIND.FAIR PLAY TO FERGIE AT LEAST HE HAS QUITE A FEW ENGLISH PLAYERS.

he got what he deserved after what happened between him and Aliadière

[Andy McL]

Mascherano is a fool an deserved all he got. He was out of control and should be punished severely for his behaviour.

Just another childish rant by a spoilt premiership brat.

[Alan]

Just got in after a good day/night - looks like England will beat New Zeland - good stuff.

About Utd v Lpl - I've got to agree with the point made by David 'mascherano deserved his red! infact he asked for it!'

Please tell me who has ever asked to be sent off more than Mascherano did today?????

Steve Bennett was pushed to the edge and Mascherano gave him no option.

[TraceyH]

May all the refs take Steve Bennett's lead. Then we can watch great football instead of watching 4 or 5 overpaid moaners having ago at the ref on EVERY decision.

Mascherano - what a little girl he is.

[ManCity fan]

Liverpool haven't scored against United in over 10 hours play. Grow up - Utd know how to do LPL it's not the refs it your game plan that Utd have sussed.

The way to beat Utd is to have passion - If you've got the desire and passion you can do it (twice in a season) even if you're not a 'top 4 side'.

Mascherano deserved to go - if you don't see that then try staying off the booze etc for a bit.

I reckon Everton will do LPL next - unless the ref fixes it again.

[David]

mascherano deserved his red! infact he asked for it!! united should have had a Rooney pentalty! Torres and Gerrard overated, tough luck scousers!

[lfc-red]

Torres won't have long to wait for a trophy - just till may when we lift the european cup for the sixth time!

We may even face the mancs again - lets see how they fare with proper european refs - who dont pander to fergie and the red mob , and their constant cheating/diving/penalty claims

Bring European referees to the premier league - see how the mancs go on then!

[Neil]

mascherano dumb - but bennet dumber - either no talk to the the ref or allowed - bot spoilt a game and the title race

[neil]

mascherano deserved to be sent of he was at the ref from the first whistle , utd deserved to win and carrick is the unsung hero

[RON_7]

"Jamie Carragher has backed Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to continue their goalscoring double act at Old Trafford this afternoon. "

haha where were they, torres was a no show :O all the talk about him before the game,it's a joke,

RONALDO,NANI and WES showed him how its done

there is no excuses about the sendin off on 3 occasion he was swearin at the ref, and then he got involved in something that had nowt to do with him.

MAN UTD for the title :D:D:D

[mark jones]

This was Liverpools cup final,big stadium,big crowd,and yet again they could not beat the mighty reds,wake up scousers you are simply not good enough,you may have a quality strike in Torres,but how long is he going to wait to win a trophy,not long...

[t.c]

liverpool beaten fair and square ,by the champions.

[LFCGUY]

RE Billy bulls**t

we might have not played well, but unlike utd who also played poor , utd can always rely on the Referee to tip the balance of play in their favour by a harsh sending off of an opponent, a dubious penalty - from a Rooney/Ronaldo dive or 10 added 'Fergie-time' minutes added on only when utd are drawing/losing - its the same story every game.

[helen, manchester]

mascherano had been abusing the ref from the start, it was nothing to do with fergie. even rafa was shouting at him to stop and the incedent was nothing to do with him anyway so he should have got involved. everyone told him to stop and he ignored them and then had to be dragged away. its a disgrace.
at the end of the day liverpool were beaten, they did not lie down and give up they were just beaten, get over it and move on.

[Billy]

Re; LFCguy
Typical scouser trying to blame other people, wake up to reality, L-pool were crap and deserved to get beat, you still have not beaten one of the top three.

[paul]

another very poor offical, our game is spoilt week after week talk about best league in world!! keith hackett should be ashamed ,go straight across board back chat ref yellow card. grab hold of a player in box penalty . book players for diving. keep managers out of
trying to influencing officals

[enquiring mind]

Steve bennett has got to be in the same masonic lodge as SIR alex has'nt he? liverpool sadly uotplayed and outclassed on the day , but that does'nt take away from ever increasing dubious decisions .The reason why we will never have video evidence , you cant influence a video .

[Martin]

How stupid is Mascherano?

[pete]

it was clear to everybody that mascherano was abusing the ref constantly after being booked.Well done steve bennett hope all players take note! come on you reds

[john theaker]

Once again we had a premiership game spoiled by a very poor ref. when are these people going to be made to stand up and explain their decisions instead of being able to just scuttle off into the distance with the full backing of the fa. If youd performed like that in any normal walk of life you would soon be out of a job!

[LFCGUY]

Yet again robbed by a Referee at Old Trafford this Referee should be sacked the red card was nothing to do with what happened.

will there ever be a NEUTRAL referee there?
it all comes down to Ferguson influencing the match officials yet again. after his rant at them for utd's loss at portsmouth in the cup. -Instead of united being docked points and ferguson getting a season long touchline ban - the officials cower in fear at the thought of having him whinging about their performance whilst officiating utd's games - as a result they always look for the simplest of reasons to give utd the advantage, be it a disputed penalty or sending an opposition player off.

Mascherano wouldn't even have been booked if he had been a utd player thats for sure.
will utd get booked for contesting every decision against? no i dont think so they will continue to get more dubious decisions awarded in their favour as a reward instead.

[Bobby]

Mascherano was asking for it from the start. Ater his booking he gave Bennett 3 or 4 chances to give him a 2nd yellow.

10/10 for Bennett.

Mascherano you have let everybody down by being a muppet

[tonyp]

KEEGAN is the king , simple plain truth ,going down ? dont be silly !! thats SUNDERLAND ! black & white army toon toon !

[G Cook]

Strange that you (the press) also realise that the so called newspapermen of the UK have tried to bring Keegan and others down!

Once you start to report the news instead of trying to make it, then I will begin to buy your papers.

So for heavens sake do a real press man's job and find some real news instead of starting rumours from "reliable sources"