Even now, more than ten years later, Liverpool supporters still talk about that particular incident.
In September 2012, Liverpool faced up against Manchester United. Before the game, touching sequences honored the Hillsborough victims and their families, making it a somber afternoon. As a manager, it turned out to be Sir Alex Ferguson’s final trip to Anfield.
The Reds played their first home game following the release of the report into the Hillsborough tragedy. The Hillsborough Independent Panel found South Yorkshire Police to be at fault for the 1989 tragedy, which ultimately claimed 97 lives, but cleared the club’s supporters of any wrongdoing.
Outside the Shankly Gates and by the memorial to the tragedy’s victims, flowers, clothes, and cards have been left. Both sides wore tracksuits with the number 96 as they came from the tunnel, and United great Sir Bobby Charlton gave Liverpool great Ian Rush flowers before Steven Gerrard and Ryan Giggs released 96 red balloons.
The game will also be remembered for an event that occurred during the first 45 minutes on the field. For a two-footed lunge on Jonny Evans with six minutes remaining before halftime, Jonjo Shelvey was given a straight red card by referee Mark Halsey.
Shelvey noticed Ferguson on the touchline as he left the field to get to the home dressing room.
The Red Devils were barely in the game for long stretches before Gerrard’s goal past Anders Lindegaard one minute into the second half gave the opposition the lead. Rafael Da Silva scored a fantastic equalizer for United, but nine minutes from time, Robin van Persie converted a penalty kick to give United the victory.
As a result, Liverpool fell into the bottom three of the Premier League and went five games without a league victory. However, Shelvey’s rage was all that was discussed in the national media after the game.
On a day when Liverpool had 96 additional reasons to hunger for victory over United, Halsey, the comic villain, departed the field to the sound of jeers over two hours later. Jonjo Shelvey, a midfielder for Liverpool, had been dismissed by Halsey in
Halsey will enjoy more leisurely days at work. The greater question was whether, as Brendan Rodgers believed, Evans should have also been given the penalty for the way he battled the challenge. By today’s regulations, he was correct to send off Shelvey for a risky lunge at Jonny Evans in the 39th minute.
He believed Glen Johnson’s mild challenge on Jonjo Shelvey after 39 minutes was no more justifiable than Mark Halsey’s decision to give United what turned out to be the game-winning penalty.
“In one respect, Liverpool’s manager was correct. Even after Shelvey’s dismissal, the hosts continued to play better football, but ultimately fell short. United lacked enthusiasm and inspiration, and they were uninspired. Was Halsey correct to dismiss Shelvey, though? Yes. Was that a punishment, too? Again, yes.
In fairness, Jonny Evans was also careless in the challenge with Shelvey, and Luis Suarez ought to have received a penalty as well. Rodgers also had a point. Evans did not, however, give the impression that he had lost control in the way Shelvey obviously had, as shown by the Liverpool midfielder’s finger-wagging criticism of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Shelvey spent three years at Anfield and played 69 times before moving to Swansea in the summer of 2013. The now-31-year-old left Wales and then made his way to Newcastle United before joining Nottingham Forest.
However, he left the City Ground during the summer transfer window after only seven and a half months, joining Turkish club Caykur Rizespor on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
