Everton manager David Moyes couldn't contain his anger after Jack Rodwell's harsh red card helped Liverpool to a 2-0 victory in the 216th Merseyside derby.
Moyes' side were forced to play for more than an hour with 10 men after England under-21 midfielder Rodwell was given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson for a challenge on Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.
It was an extremely harsh decision as replays showed Rodwell clearly won the ball.
Liverpool went on to make the extra man advantage count as goals by Andy Carroll and Suarez earned the visitors a fourth league win in six games.
Rodwell is the 19th player to be sent off in the last 27 league and cup meetings between the neighbouring clubs.
"I'd have been disappointed if the referee had given a free-kick for that," Moyes said after his side lost back-to-back league games for the first time in nearly two years.
"And if he had given a yellow card you would still have asked 'what has he given that for?'
"But at the end of the day it wasn't the referee that lost us the game. It was ourselves because we made a couple of defensive laspes.
"It would have been hard playing Liverpool with 11 players. It was a really tough game for us and in the end it became tougher.
"I thought the players kept at it. We made a couple of defensive lapses which cost us. We were beginning to grow into the game. At 11 against 11 it wasn't a bad game and we were doing quite well."
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish refused to get drawn into the debate over Rodwell's red card, but he was delighted with the way his side took advantage of the extra man.
"I've not seen the incident and I don't know whether he deserved red or not," Dalglish said.
"After they went down to 10, we were very professional, composed and thorough in what we were trying to do.
"Sometimes it's difficult to play against 10. You know what you're going to get from Everton. They put on a great effort to try and keep it at 0-0, and even try and win it for themselves."
Dalglish was also coy over Steven Gerrard's comments on the eve of the game concerning a possible England call up.
Gerrard came on as a second half substitute against Everton, his third brief appearance since returning after six months out after undergoing groin surgery.
But the Liverpool captain is reluctant to feature in England's Euro 2012 qualfifier with Montenegro next Friday as he is yet to make a start for his club.
England coach Fabio Capello is set to name his squad on Sunday and there is a strong possibility Gerrard's name will feature.
"I don't know (the situation with Gerrard and England). But he's taken another step forward, coming on in the derby and getting a few more minutes under his belt," said Dalglish.
"I think Steven aired his views yesterday and I don't think there's anything I need to add."
Dalglish, who was impressed with the partnership between Carroll and Suarez, had special praise for Dirk Kuyt after the Netherlands international missed a first half penalty.
"What was more pleasing was the reaction of Dirk Kuyt after missing the penalty," added Dalglish. "It didn't seem to affect him which is a sign of a strong character.
"We said when we signed them Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll that is was a great bit of business for the club and there's no reason for us to change that opinion.
"We're delighted with them, the big one has worked really hard in training and he's getting his reward on the pitch."
Source: AFP
