Despite the best efforts of certain members of the press, perhaps one in particular, Liverpool’s Peter Crouch has now been officially confirmed as the scorer of his goal against Newcastle. After earlier in the season trying to turn his Wigan goal into an own goal the same thing happened again when Crouch got the ball past Shay Given against the Geordies. The Premier League’s dubious goals panel awarded the Wigan goal to Crouch, and did the same again yesterday over the Newcastle goal. Originally awarded as a Shay Given own goal the panel had no doubt that it really should have been awarded to the Reds striker.
Why this individual sees fit to keep trying (and failing) to take Crouch’s goals away from him is really unclear, but the panel is usually sitting on either goals that should have been awarded as own goals, or goals that went to the wrong team-mate. The other two goals they looked at yesterday were changed from goals to own goals. Park Ji Sung of Manchester United has had his goal against Fulham taken away from him and awarded as a Carlos Bocanegra own goal. Everton’s Leon Osman meanwhile has seen his effort against Portsmouth amended to an own goal by Andy O’Brien.
Other news yesterday saw Liverpool’s planning permission for the new stadium confirmed. Liverpool had to resubmit the plans due to changes in planning laws, but no problems were found and the plans were re-approved. Despite earlier reports, no alterations were needed to the original plans, but with the stadium move subject to such opposition by those in the city who are fans of the bitter blues it was no surprise that “leaks” would come out that later proved to be incorrect.
The cost of building the new 60,000-seater stadium is currently estimated at £160m and Liverpool are still looking for investment. Sunday newspapers tried to make out Liverpool had missed a deadline for £11m of funding, but although the club are cutting it fine the deadline has not actually passed yet.
Liverpool have made it clear on numerous occasions that they will not share with Everton, but Everton still seem to be holding out hopes that they will be able to join in with Liverpool’s plans.