Red dawn

Does anybody know any good recipes for humble pie?

Before the season started I thought Liverpool's chances of winning the Premier League were somewhere between slim and non-existent - about as likely as Paul McCartney remarrying Heather Mills with John Lennon as best man.

The truth is, up until this season all Liverpool have been under Rafa Benitez is a cup team. A side very capable of raising its game for one-off encounters but totally unable to maintain that level of performance over the course of a league season.

Once or twice under Benitez they have gone on runs which made you think they may have finally cracked it. But each time they have come up short, ultimately failing thanks to a combination of injuries, loss of form and a laughable rotation policy.

And, to be frank, I saw nothing during pre-season to indicate this year would be anything other than more of the same. One or two decent signings, like Robbie Keane for example, but not the major rebuilding I thought was necessary to make them genuine title contenders.

Well, it looks like I may have made a gross error of judgment.

Fair enough, we are only six games into the season and there is a lot of football to be played. But Liverpool have already made their intentions very clear and are playing like a team on a mission.

And that mission is to end their near 20 years of domestic hurt.

Before today's match away to Manchester City - the sort of game they need to get something from if they are to be taken seriously in the league - they are unbeaten in all competitions.

And, crucially, among their four league victories so far are a home win over Manchester United and an away victory over Everton - two results which serve as excellent barometers of how their season is shaping up.

The 0-0 draw with Stoke aside, Benitez's team has done something they have not done for many years and that is get off to a flying start. The players look up for it, Benitez looks up for it and even the fans - at least the ones who I have spoken to - are daring to start believing.

There is a buzz around Anfield the likes of which has not been seen for nigh on two decades and the confidence generated by their Premiership start has spilled over into Europe where they have made their best ever start in the Champions League.

All in all it makes my pre-season prediction that they would struggle to even make the top four look rather daft. Then again, as Liverpool fans will testify, there have been many false dawns before. So feel free to send those humble pie recipes in whenever you want. But I won't be baking it just yet...

About a boy

It's been one heck of a week for a young boy from Huddersfield.

The excitingly named Reuben Noble-Lazarus became the youngest player in English league history when he came on as a sub for Barnsley at the age of 15 years and 45 days - shattering the previous record by more than 100 days.

Described as a powerful striker with two good feet, he is too young to get paid for his exploits and he had to be back at school the next morning, despite only getting back from the match at 2 a.m.

His manager - Simon Davey - believes in the philosophy that if a player is good enough, he is old enough. And he is introducing him gently, giving him just six or seven minutes of the midweek match against Ipswich as a starter.

Personally, however, I think there should be an age limit on when players can play top class professional football. Maybe 17, or at least 16.

We have age limits on sex, driving, voting, drinking and many of those are less harmful than spending your time with adults whose main motivations in life are money, fast cars, women and bling.

Noble-Lazarus will have more than enough time over the next 20 or so years to hang around with the self-obsessed egomaniacs that make up modern football.

For now he should be allowed to concentrate on the things that matters most - like being young and having fun.

If the kid's got talent it will still be there in a year or two. No need to rush it.

Be kind, rewind

If there is one thing about football that will never change it's the passion with which supporters, players and managers blame referees.

The men in black get an incredible amount of stick and, while a lot of the criticism goes way overboard, there is an equal amount which is perfectly justifiable.

After all, these highly-trained, well-paid individuals are entrusted with the power to change and decide matches.

Unfortunately, there are some of them who use that power with all the skill, dexterity and foresight of an American mortgage broker.

Last week, Rob Styles became the latest Premiership referee to come under fire for what must have been one of the worst penalty decisions of all time.

He awarded Manchester United a penalty despite the fact that the tackle on Ronaldo was so perfectly timed it could have been sponsored by Rolex.

Obviously this caused widespread condemnation - not least from Bolton boss Gary Megson who pointed out it was hard enough playing against Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov without adding Styles's name to the list.

To his credit, Styles has since contacted Bolton privately to apologise for his error. A comendable move but one which won't turn back the clock.

True, chances are Bolton would have gone on to lose the game anyway. But there was always the chance they could have held on for another half hour and left with a point. Unlikely, but not impossible.

And, given their precarious position at the bottom of the table and the fact that they are likely to be involved in a relegation battle come the end of the season, how important might that point have been?

Some people suggest these things even themselves out over the course of a season. Well, that's just a pathetic excuse for not wanting to deal with a difficult situation.

Maybe they do, sometimes, even themselves out. Maybe you do get decisions which go against you and some which then go in your favour. But, with so much at stake, should we really be leaving this down to lady luck and the law of averages?

I think not. Bring on video replays.

Your say

Anthony Parnis writes:

"May I comment on your column of September 28, 'Technology can save football'. Despite any faults he may have, a referee is there to referee a match. Once he is chosen, that is it. It's his decision that counts. I accept that he can consult the linesmen, but ultimately it's his decision.

"Now we come to your argument about technology. Your article is flawed in the sense that you never mentioned at what level of the game you want this salvation of football to happen. It is obvious that you had in mind international and top level football. Are we going to stop there? What happens to the second, third and fourth divisions, as well as amateur and informal games? Do you realise what this involves? Or are you advocating that there should be one weight and ten measures?

"Football started as a kick about in a field for the enjoyment of 22 players. The fact that the game developed into a multi-million euro business worldwide is beside the point.

"My argument is that I can't imagine somebody taking up your suggestion to save football and install four cameras, mixer, monitors and other paraphernalia at Mosta ground where I often see young children battling it out.

"I follow rugby and I know that this technology is used in exceptional circumstances. I can also appreciate the use of technology for photo finishes in athletics. But please, not in football where the referee has always enjoyed the status of infallibility, warts and all."

Russell Shaw writes:

"Having read your article on the Watford vs Reading 'goal' I felt I had to contact you. Being a Watford fan all my life, it's a bit disheartening to lose three points like this. At the moment the club is walking a tightrope with administration and has half a dozen key players out with injuries, many long term and in all positions.

"To not win at home against Reading, who are definitely a firm favourite to go up to the Premiership this season, because of that awful mistake can count for so much at the end of the season. Like you said, the two lost points could could mean missing out on a Premiership place or even worse, not staying up.

"If we did get relegated this season and it was this decision that made the difference, what happens then? The club would definitely have to offload our higher-paid, better players giving us less chance of getting promoted back to the championship and causing attendences to drop.

"Could we then take the FA to court over it? Would that result in mass compensation like Sheffield United seem to be close to getting? And all this because a couple of bigwigs at Lancaster Gate say we can't use the TV screens.

"The ref and linesmen at Vicarage Road last week beggar belief as well, because if you've been to watch Watford play at home in the last 10 years you would realise there is a flat screen in one corner of the ground that is about the size of the one they put up in the car park under Ryan's Bar, St Julian's, from time to time.

"All they had to do was look up and realise that it wasn't a goal. I know they aren't supposed to do that, but come on. Sometimes the assistants should take the opportunity to look up and see what 14,000 other people are seeing and say, no that wasn't a goal. Let's hope I'm not supporting a League One team next year. Fingers crossed."

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com