Premier League - Murphy: Liverpool row showed Carra passion

Eurosport - Wed, 20 May 08:21:00 2009

Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Danny Murphy has backed his former team-mate Jamie Carragher, but thinks Rafa Benitez should congratulate Fergie.

2008-2009 Liverpool Alvaro Arbeloa is confronted by Jamie Carragher as Xabi Alonso intervenes - 0

Jamie Carragher's confrontation with Alvaro Arbeloa against West Brom was a really good moment in many ways because it showed that, even after Liverpool had lost the title, they still had players like Jamie showing the passion and desire to win the match and make sure they finished second.

The passion in Jamie's play over the years has been evident but when he felt that Arbeloa wasn't working at full capacity, letting West Brom back into the game, he reacted in an uncharacteristic way. But it shows what it means to him to keep a clean sheet and finish as high as possible.

It was typical of his passion, but ideally you wouldn't want to show it in such a public way, and it is very unlike him in terms of how he channels his passion and determination.

Normally he would have a quiet word after the game but I think the frustration of losing the title that weekend, having been so close, spilled out. He is an emotional person but the majority of the time he shows it by being a wonderful defender.

I've argued with team-mates on the pitch plenty of times but thankfully it has only ever been words. It is easy to shake hands after and put these things behind you. It is rare for any animosity to carry over after the game.

I expect Jamie and Arbeloa have shaken hands and moved on. In the past when I have argued it has always been sorted out the minute you get in the dressing room.

I don't think the manager will be overly disappointed in him given that it shows that the players care about winning and it is a rare occurrence at Liverpool. I think they are one of the best disciplined teams in Europe. His disappointment will focus mainly on the fact that they lost out on the title after such a good run.

Rafa's reluctance to congratulate Sir Alex was a little bit sad. I think humility is a good quality and our manager at Fulham, Roy Hodgson, has it. He is always complimentary about other teams - players, management and supporters.

The pair may have had their words this season but Rafa should have acknowledged that the Manchester United team have pipped them to the post by playing quality football and now move on to fight another day rather than prolonging an argument between them. It is time to put that to bed.

I'm sure at the start of next season they will get out their swords and start fighting again for the title. I'm well aware of the rivalry between Man U and Liverpool but sometimes you have to show a bit of good grace.

Danny Murphy / Eurosport

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  1. Danny murphy is right, Jamie Carragher was upset­ because of losig the title after being so close, but i­ think next year liverpool will come out on top and win­ the title. Liverpool all the way!!! Kop that!!!!

    From carlmcnulty, on Wed 20 May 8:19AM

  2. Danny murphy is right, Jamie Carragher was upset­ because of losig the title after being so close, but i­ think next year liverpool will come out on top and win­ the title. Liverpool all the way!!! Kop that!!!!

    From carlmcnulty, on Wed 20 May 8:19AM

  3. one wonder people are going off football by the way­ managers are haveing ago at one another,there not­ playing the game the players are so watch the game not­ the managers, so grow up and see the players for what­ they are skilled men enjoying the game,upset some­ times,but thats what the refs for,managers are there to­ buy and sell and see how things go on and off the­ field,coaches for the men,mangers for doing all else so­ watch and learn enjoy the game dont think of good or­ bad,ITS ONLY A GAME.

    From PENOLOPE, on Wed 20 May 8:05AM

  4. Danny shouldn't that read "they still had ­ (HAVE A PLAYER) players like Jamie showing the passion­ and desire to win the match and make sure they finished­ second.

    30 miles down the East Lancs they have a squad­ of players (Berbatov Excepted) with the passion and­ desire to win the match and make sure they finish­ FIRST.

    Rafa has a cloud hanging over his head and it­ shows in his reactions to both winning and losing. I­ bet he would "Love it, really love it to beat­ United to the title".

    From Menace, on Wed 20 May 7:50AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SO, YOU (LIVERPOOL FANS)WALK ALONE AGAIN THIS­ YEAR...... HOW GOOD...
    AS FAR AS THIS GENIUS SIR ALEX­ IS HERE , THERE'S NO WAY FOR ANY CUPS FOR YOU ,
    SO­ YOU WILL ALVWAYS WALK ALONE...

    From the_simple_mind, on Wed 20 May 7:47AM

  6. grafter0917 Rocks!! You'll never walk alone, bro..

    From mike, on Wed 20 May 7:34AM

  7. MOHD H, u sick!!!!

    From mike, on Wed 20 May 7:16AM

  8. Idiot, Manchester united are the most supported team...­ and the most hated!!!

    From lukenods, on Wed 20 May 7:07AM

  9. Get the HELL out of here dirty Man Utd fans, this site­ is for the best supported club in the world, Liverpool.­ Ya, laugh your stinking head off but this is true as­ Man Utd are the most hated team in the world...

    From Naren7, on Wed 20 May 6:57AM

  10. Well done on a good article.
    Man United are not really­ worried about the little spanish waiter Manuel who­ mreally works for Basil Faulty.

    From steve m, on Wed 20 May 6:43AM

  11. Why should Rafa congratulate fergufson, they hate each­­ other, besides Rafa`s already congratulated man ure,­­ it`s the media who`s hyping this up !!!

    From Bike 69, mabaho ka !, on Wed 20 May 6:19AM

  12. rafa is pissed not bcos he lost the title but the way­ and manner it was won by the manure and old geriatrix­ by relying on favors from the refs,and geriatrix's­ lack of respect for rival managers by indulging in­ distractive mind games.he did this to­ keegan,wenger,mourinho and now rafa,it was only­ mourinho who bit off his red nose and spat it on his­ face.

    From Ifeanyi, on Wed 20 May 5:59AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    LIVERPOOL LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER....
    RAFA ALSO­ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER....
    NO TROPHY THIS SEASON..­ HAHAHAHAHA..
    RAFA JEALOUS BCOZ THEIR TEAM ARE A BIG­ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER... HAHAHAHA..

    From Ahmad, on Wed 20 May 5:37AM

  14. Jaime ? The Passion and desire to win the Game? Yet No­ Passion or Desire to play for his Country,even going to­ the lengths of slagging England down.Disgusting­ behavior.

    From Don R, on Wed 20 May 5:36AM

  15. Jaime ? The Passion and desire to win the Game? Yet No­ Passion or Desire to play for his Country,even going to­ the thengths of slagging England down.Disgusting­ behavior.

    From Don R, on Wed 20 May 5:31AM

  16. I can't believe the stupendous amount of poor­ quality communication here. Is this English or some­ other derivative language that I have yet to come­ across?

    From Corey, on Wed 20 May 5:30AM

  17. err...wilsonian, how can you say all that and then­ spout racist slurs about the Spanish? If you ask me,­ you're just a typical Man Utd fan.

    From Robert, on Wed 20 May 5:09AM

  18. Wigan 1-2 MU
    Fergie: Wigan's playing good­ football

    MU 1-4 LFC
    Fergie: We were the better­ team

    RESPECT???

    From c, on Wed 20 May 5:06AM

  19. Mohd H YOU SUCK

    From c, on Wed 20 May 5:03AM

  20. Why do you let this rubbish onto your website, no­ wonder the standards of life and education in the UK­ are what they are today if this is an example of a­ cross section of the populace, who monitors the content­ of these emails. Anyway Benetiz is a typical Spaniard,­ he has no graces or humility, you lost the title so­ just accept it and show you are above it all and say­ well done Sir Alec, or quit your job if you can't­ take it and go and manage a rubbish club in that 2 team­ Spanish league, instead of one of the great teams in­ the best league in the world, Liverpool don't need­ someone with your bad manners and rudeness.

    From wilsonian_1999, on Wed 20 May 3:31AM
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