Benteke goal 'clearly offside', says Howe

Following his side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool, the Bournemouth boss claimed the big decisions went against the Cherries

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe bemoaned the confusion surrounding changes to the offside rule following his side’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Monday.

Christian Benteke scored the winner for Liverpool in the 26th minute but – under new regulations introduced this season – Philippe Coutinho should have been flagged offside for his own attempt to connect with Jordan Henderson’s cross.

The incident followed an earlier situation where Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick had a goal disallowed after being judged to have impeded Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren.

“It is hugely frustrating,” he told Sky Sports. “We were in the game, the big decisions have gone against us.

“The first was a goal by Tommy. If that is a free-kick then we will see free-kicks every time there is a corner.

“The new offside rule is a grey area. Under the new rules that is clearly offside. Our goalkeeper was affected by the player in front of him.

“We had a few chances tonight but the big positive is overall our performance. We know if we perform like that the results and goals will come.

“The players are winners and this is an experience we don’t want to get used to.

“I am very proud of the performance and the players. You can’t beat the decisions and the two big ones have cost us points. It is unforgiving.”

Iniesta: Pique red card made sextuple impossible

The midfielder pointed towards the moment at which Barcelona went down to 10 men against Athletic Bilbao as when they gave up on the Supercopa

Bet

=

Athletic BilbaoATH

Draw

FC BarcelonaFCB

Bet365

Bet

=

Athletic BilbaoATH

Draw

FC BarcelonaFCB

WilliamHill


Andres Iniesta believes Gerard Pique’s red card was the point at which Barcelona realised their sextuple dream was over as they lost the Supercopa de Espana to Athletic Bilbao.

Luis Enrique’s men went into Monday’s match knowing they needed to turnaround a 4-0 deficit from Friday’s first leg at San Mames, when an Aritz Aduriz hat-trick left their hopes of a fifth trophy in 2015 looking unlikely.

Iniesta had proclaimed before the match that Barca had every confidence they could complete a shock comeback at Camp Nou and Lionel Messi’s first-half goal kept the European champions’ dream alive.

However, the odds were stacked against the hosts when Pique was sent off for dissent in the 56th minute and Aduriz scored his fourth goal of the two-legged Supercopa to secure a 1-1 draw on the night and a 5-1 win on aggregate.

“It was over two games, so it was difficult to come back but not impossible,” Iniesta told reporters after the match. “We tried everything but the expulsion of Pique made everything even more complicated.

“These refereeing decisions happen. We don’t know what was said. Today we were infinitely better but it wasn’t just one match.”

The Barca midfielder, 31, does not think the clash between the Liga winners and Copa del Rey finalists casts a shadow over 2015-16 for a side which swept all before them in the latter half of last season.

“I am convinced this will be a great campaign,” he added. “We must not get things confused – we’ll go for the Club World Cup, our fifth title of the year, but for now we’ll focus on La Liga which restarts for us on Sunday.”

Sportingbet
Open an account today and get up to £50 Matched Bet
WilliamHill
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Bet365
Sign up with bet365 for a 100% deposit bonus up to £200
PaddyPower
Matched Bet £50

Benteke delighted to open Liverpool account

The Belgium international scored the controversial winning goal as Brendan Rodgers’s side claimed a 1-0 win over Bournemouth to go joint top of the table


Liverpool striker Christian Benteke was delighted to open his account for the club in Monday’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth, despite the controversial circumstances surrounding his goal.

The Belgian – signed from Aston Villa during the close-season – latched onto a Jordan Henderson cross to convert after 26 minutes, but Philippe Coutinho should have been flagged for offside having made his own failed attempt to connect.

“It’s a great [home] debut for myself and for the team,” Benteke told Sky Sports. “The most important thing, though, is the three points.

“[For the goal] I just said in my mind to keep going and you never know the ball can come into your feet.
“I was there in the right position and I am happy.

“It’s a great feeling and it’s important for the confidence for the next game.”

Rodgers hails ‘outstanding’ Benteke after Liverpool win

The Reds boss says his new signing was a handful against Bournemouth and admits he was relieved to see his goal given

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed new signing Christian Benteke after his first goal for the club secured a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield on Monday.

The striker tapped in a Jordan Henderson cross in the 26th minute although there was more than a hint of controversy about the goal with Philippe Coutinho appearing to be offside.

However, Rodgers was full of praise for the Belgium international and says Benteke showed why the Reds spent £32.5 million to bring him to Anfield.

“I thought he was a real handful tonight. I think you’ve seen all facets of his game,” Rodgers told reporters.

“His hold-up play is outstanding and he’s got a wonderful touch for a big guy.

“He can help the ball on into areas, he can take the ball in, control the game, switch the game, his touch was good and you could see him linking and combining.

“There was one moment when the ball came into the box, which was one of the reasons we looked to bring him in, and as the cross came into the box because of his strength and power he tried to make the contact with it but it dropped and made a chance for Coutinho to shoot.

“In my time here that’s never really happened. The ball’s come in and then maybe been cleared out.

“But because of his physicality and his contact, he keeps the ball alive in the dangerous area of the field and that will really help.

“Once the players get used to seeing that and working with that, that will offer us more opportunities to score goals.”

There was further controversy in the game with Bournemouth having had an early Tommy Elphick goal ruled out and Rodgers admitted he was relieved to see Benteke’s strike given.

“I haven’t seen either of them again. I think we obviously had a good period of pressure leading up to the goal,” he added.

“The most important thing is that it was given.

“Of course, the offside ruling has changed again, so it adds complication for people.

“At our managers’ meeting it was said that the advantage was looking to be with the team attacking.

“Thankfully the goal counted and we’re happy to get the win.”

Messi can't save Barcelona this time as Luis Enrique fails to emulate Guardiola

The Argentine gave his side hope with a goal just before half-time, but was stifled over two games by Athletic Bilbao as the Catalans’ sextuple dreams went up in smoke


GOALCOMMENT By Ben Hayward


The miracle never materialised. Barcelona came flying out of the blocks against Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on Monday night, but it was too little, too late from the Blaugrana. They were well beaten over two legs and not even Lionel Messi could save them this time.

Messi lit up the final of the Copa del Rey in May with one of his greatest goals as he ran from the right flank, beat three men, cut inside past another and netted with a sublime finish inside the near post. But in this Supercopa series, he was well marshalled by the Basque defenders and unable to influence the game as he so often does. 

He was still involved. At San Mames on Friday, the Argentina attacker struggled for support in an experimental line-up but tested Gorka Iraizoz with a dangerous free-kick and a low shot from the edge of the area. And on Monday, he found himself crowded out by defenders every time he received the ball, pushed deep into the centre circle and firmly tackled. Athletic had done their homework.

Less effective without Neymar alongside to drag defenders away from him, Messi still provided the moment of inspiration that made Barca believe when he scored just before half-time. Psychologically, it was an ideal time to strike and set up a a grandstand second half. That soon fell flat, however, as Gerard Pique was harshly sent off for angrily protesting what looked like an incorrect offside call.

Even after that, chances came and went for Barca as Ivan Rakitic kneed the ball wide at the far post when it seemed easier to score and Andres Iniesta also failed to hit the target from close range. And at the other end, Aritz Aduriz then hit home at the second time of asking to net his fourth in the tie and seal a first trophy in 31 years for Athletic.

The Basque outfit have been waiting ever since 1984, when they claimed La Liga and the Copa del Rey in the same season. The winners of those two competitions qualify for the Spanish Supercopa, but as Barca won them both in 2014-15, the Leones made it through by default. Nevertheless, they deserved to win this tie over two legs – and the damage was done for Barca in Bilbao.


FULL STORY | Athletic hold Barca to claim Spanish Supercopa


Luis Enrique’s rotations ended up costing his side at San Mames and, even though they had a good go on Monday, it was always going to be a tough ask. The Asturian coach had claimed after the loss in Bilbao that he would pick the same side again if he could, but surely there is some regret at his choices for Friday’s game.

Either way, there is work to be done. Pique looked excellent while he was on the pitch, but Jeremy Mathieu was woeful on his return to the team at the back, Dani Alves may as well still be on holiday and the continued absence of both Neymar and Jordi Alba remains a concern for the coach. Pedro, meanwhile, is expected to leave in the coming days and new signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal are unable to feature until January due to the transfer ban.

Barca now have six days off ahead of their opener in La Liga against Athletic again on Sunday. So time for some rest and also for a little revenge as the Catalans return to San Mames, scene of their painful defeat on Friday, with Luis Enrique already facing question marks after missing out on a fifth title.

Unable to emulate former coach Pep Guardiola’s six trophies in 2009, Luis Enrique now needs some quick fixes after his team conceded nine goals in their last three matches. For the 45-year-old, the hard work starts all over again.