Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Officials baffle irate Benitez

21 Sep 2008 - 11:10:14

Click To Enlarge

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez could not believe that the officials ruled out what he thought was a perfectly good goal in the goalless draw with Stoke City.

Steven Gerrard's second-minute free-kick was disallowed by referee Andre Marriner as a linesman's flag was raised.

However, television replays showed Dirk Kuyt, who followed the ball into the net, was not in an offside position.

The decision baffled Benitez, who said after the stalemate: "The disallowed goal was a key decision. If that had been allowed it would have been a much more open game.

"I have no idea why the goal was disallowed. The referee told Jamie Carragher that it had been his decision, not the linesman's.

"But it was a massive mistake. And nobody knows why the effort was ruled out.

"The players worked very hard. They tried everything, but maybe we needed a little more ability in the last third to make use of all that possession and all those shots."