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1/?
I wasn't going to wade too much into the media's treatment of @MoSalah's last penalty. So many fans spoke out about this, and there were really good perspectives shared on the topic. Lineker's interaction with Si Steers, however, changed my mind: https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1323017591187800064?s=20
I wasn't going to wade too much into the media's treatment of @MoSalah's last penalty. So many fans spoke out about this, and there were really good perspectives shared on the topic. Lineker's interaction with Si Steers, however, changed my mind: https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1323017591187800064?s=20
2/?
Everyone has an opinion. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has bias, too, and there's nothing wrong with Lineker pointing that out, either. It's incredibly tone deaf, however, for Lineker to argue that the bias is the fans', not his, or that we're just protecting our own.
Everyone has an opinion. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone has bias, too, and there's nothing wrong with Lineker pointing that out, either. It's incredibly tone deaf, however, for Lineker to argue that the bias is the fans', not his, or that we're just protecting our own.
3/?
Allow me to digress for a second. One thing I like about commentators is the preparation they put in the game. Consider @arlowhite's boards: they have him ready to address interesting history and stats behind a given fixture. They provide context to what he'll comment on.
Allow me to digress for a second. One thing I like about commentators is the preparation they put in the game. Consider @arlowhite's boards: they have him ready to address interesting history and stats behind a given fixture. They provide context to what he'll comment on.
4/?
With that in mind, I don't expect Lineker to keep score on the manner in which Match of the Day pundits and guests talked about Mo Salah last month or last year. What I do expect is for them to approach a topic with context and nuance. I want them to do their homework.
With that in mind, I don't expect Lineker to keep score on the manner in which Match of the Day pundits and guests talked about Mo Salah last month or last year. What I do expect is for them to approach a topic with context and nuance. I want them to do their homework.
5/?
You can drag any fan out from a pub to launch into a rant about players staying up, or what their impression is of how often Salah goes down. I expect Lineker to know that, actually, Salah has to take 24-35 more touches than Kane, Rashford, Sterling, or Vardy, to get a foul.
You can drag any fan out from a pub to launch into a rant about players staying up, or what their impression is of how often Salah goes down. I expect Lineker to know that, actually, Salah has to take 24-35 more touches than Kane, Rashford, Sterling, or Vardy, to get a foul.
6/?
Likewise, Salah earns a penalty every 124 touches in the penalty area. Vardy gets one every 66 touches, Rashford gets one every 79, and Sterling every 81. Kane only gets a penalty every 147 touches, but his rate is skewed by his form going into crisis mode last campaign.
Likewise, Salah earns a penalty every 124 touches in the penalty area. Vardy gets one every 66 touches, Rashford gets one every 79, and Sterling every 81. Kane only gets a penalty every 147 touches, but his rate is skewed by his form going into crisis mode last campaign.
7/?
There's a top Premier League forward conspicuously absent, isn't there? It's Aubameyang, who needs 53 touches to Salah's 58 to get a foul. That's 18 to 31 touches more than the other top forwards. He has earned a single penalty in 411 touches in the penalty area. ONE.
There's a top Premier League forward conspicuously absent, isn't there? It's Aubameyang, who needs 53 touches to Salah's 58 to get a foul. That's 18 to 31 touches more than the other top forwards. He has earned a single penalty in 411 touches in the penalty area. ONE.
8/?
Few people in the media want to talk about the common denominator shared by Aubameyang and Salah and the treatment they get by referees. They're quite happy to ascribe Salah's propensity to go down to a moral failing, though--rather than a guy tired of getting nothing.
Few people in the media want to talk about the common denominator shared by Aubameyang and Salah and the treatment they get by referees. They're quite happy to ascribe Salah's propensity to go down to a moral failing, though--rather than a guy tired of getting nothing.
9/?
Nor is this just about Salah. Since the start of 2017-18, Liverpool have had 98,652 touches of the ball in Premier League action. That's second only to City, by about 2,700 touches, but far more than Arsenal's 84,120, Chelsea's 91,783, Spurs' 83,625, or United's 80,470.
Nor is this just about Salah. Since the start of 2017-18, Liverpool have had 98,652 touches of the ball in Premier League action. That's second only to City, by about 2,700 touches, but far more than Arsenal's 84,120, Chelsea's 91,783, Spurs' 83,625, or United's 80,470.
10/?
In that time, we have earned a foul every 97 touches--roughly the same as Spurs, whose stats were skewed last year. Only City have a meaningfully worse rate than us: a foul every 99 touches. Chelsea got one every 72 touches, Arsenal got one every 62, and United every 61.
In that time, we have earned a foul every 97 touches--roughly the same as Spurs, whose stats were skewed last year. Only City have a meaningfully worse rate than us: a foul every 99 touches. Chelsea got one every 72 touches, Arsenal got one every 62, and United every 61.
11/?
In that same time period, Liverpool have earned a penalty for every 229 touches in the opposing penalty area. Only Spurs had it worse, by 5 touches. Arsenal got one every 228 touches, Chelsea every 192, City every 183, and United got a penalty every NINETY-EIGHT MINUTES.
In that same time period, Liverpool have earned a penalty for every 229 touches in the opposing penalty area. Only Spurs had it worse, by 5 touches. Arsenal got one every 228 touches, Chelsea every 192, City every 183, and United got a penalty every NINETY-EIGHT MINUTES.
12/?
That's called context, @GaryLineker. It informes why Salah, who limped off the pitch the game before West Ham after being brought down from behind, will go down when a player literally kicks him in the Achilles. He does it because he knows he and his mates are awarded ...
That's called context, @GaryLineker. It informes why Salah, who limped off the pitch the game before West Ham after being brought down from behind, will go down when a player literally kicks him in the Achilles. He does it because he knows he and his mates are awarded ...
13/?
... fouls in general and penalty kicks at a demonstrably worse rate than other top sides. He knows referees are susceptible to bias, which is why Liverpool have won just nine Premier League penalties at Anfield since he signed for us. He knows "foreign player" is a thing.
... fouls in general and penalty kicks at a demonstrably worse rate than other top sides. He knows referees are susceptible to bias, which is why Liverpool have won just nine Premier League penalties at Anfield since he signed for us. He knows "foreign player" is a thing.
14/?
Basically, stop telling us it's our fault that we're biased and unable to see things as clearly as the pundits. We're watching, and the average fan has access to more information than ever. You can no longer act as if it's just an eye test matter, and that yours is better.
Basically, stop telling us it's our fault that we're biased and unable to see things as clearly as the pundits. We're watching, and the average fan has access to more information than ever. You can no longer act as if it's just an eye test matter, and that yours is better.
15/15
It should be abundantly clear right now that referees are running out of excuses given the advantages VAR gives them. Where do you think that leaves you and your colleagues, Gary? How much life do you think is left in "not enough of a pen for me"?
All the best.
It should be abundantly clear right now that referees are running out of excuses given the advantages VAR gives them. Where do you think that leaves you and your colleagues, Gary? How much life do you think is left in "not enough of a pen for me"?
All the best.
@threadreaderapp, please unroll for @IvanAlman.
