Mido piles the pressure on Rafa

Presented with the opportunity to jump to second place in the Premier League and nip on Manchester Utd’s heels, it was vital that Liverpool secured three points at the JJB last night. The first half went exactly to plan, but Wigan’s brand new Egyptian forward messed with the script in the 83rd minute by slotting home a penalty equaliser.

Robbie Keane - who in recent weeks has seen less action than Amy Winehouse’s toothbrush - was thrown on as a last minute act of desperation, but even his impromptu appearance couldn’t save the game.

To make things even worse, even Alan Shearer could have made a better attempt at post-match analysis than Senor Benitez*:

We didn’t kill the game in the second half, it was a crazy game.

And when it is a crazy game you cannot control things. Why was it crazy? Because it was crazy.”

Rafa’s mental tautological thoughts aside, Liverpool have yet to win a league game in 2009, and are certainly not showing the consistent brilliance required of champions. Have they already blown their chances of securing their first Premier League trophy? Let us know your thoughts below…

*We don’t really mean that, Rafa. No one is worse than Shearer

[Video: 101GG]

Wigan owner makes humble appraisal of manager

Wigan owner Dave Whelan last night showed he isn’t afraid of beating a man when he is down, by taking a pop at sports retailer arch nemesis Mike Ashley:

“He is a very good retailer, but at managing a football club, no. Especially with him being a Tottenham supporter and then going up to Newcastle, a club that is a different kettle of fish to most in the land.”

He went on to heap praise on Wigan gaffer Steve Bruce, who is currently fifth favourite to take the reins at St James Park. Whelan said he would support Bruce in any career decision, but alluded to the man from the north east being destined for bigger things than the Magpies:

“One day he will get a big-four job - I realise that, and I think the whole country realises he is one of the best four managers in the world.”

Does the whole country realise that? Yes, he helped Birmingham get promoted twice and kept Wigan away from the danger zone last season, but does he deserve to sit among the Mourinhos and Fergusons of the game?

If you have any thoughts on Whelan’s comments, or know who take up the other three spots in the top managers list, let us know with a comment below.

Supporter expresses love through the majesty of groping

Sure, Johnny Football Fan is punching above his weight, and has no qualms about validating the awesomeness of his girlfriend’s breasts in public. However, if he knew the Setanta cameras were more interested in his sexy fumbling than the Wigan/ Chelsea game, he might have waited until he got home.

[The Offside]