Materazzi didn't do it!

but

Frank de Bleeckere knows Materazzi's reputation, the whole world does. But did the Belgian referee know of Torres' reputation? Tiny but quick and smart and a prolific diver. Torres ran past Materazzi and when he saw that the ball would end up behind the line, he fell. You can always try. It was a badly executed dive, but De Bleeckere, who couldn't see it well and his assistant who could but didn't, presumed it was one of Materazzi's tricks. The same happened a few minutes later. This time Materazzi touched Torres' shoulder but though better of it - oh no I already have a booking and this little guy falls all the time. A second or so later Torres dived again. Another booking, thus red.

hands ball

There were a few hands balls in the box in this match, but the one by Vieira was definitely a penalty. This and Materazzi's first yellow showing De Bleeckere's assistants aren't very trustworthy.

match

Liverpool was not very good, had no idea what to do against ten players, until the coach decided to bring Crouch, another forward. What everybody would have done, but why wait that long?