Liverpool Football Club

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Brendan Rodgers

• Ground:Anfield
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Poll: Penalty a mistake

20 Aug 2007 - 10:42:40

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Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has accused Rob Styles of 'messy' decisions and making an error by awarding Chelsea a controversial penalty during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

The Blues were handed a lifeline when Styles ruled that Steve Finnan had impeded Florent Malouda in the penalty area and Frank Lampard tucked away the 62nd minute spot-kick.

But Poll, who retired from professional refereeing at the end of last season, has questioned the decision of his former colleague to award the spot-kick.

"It was a big mistake," Poll told BBC Radio 5live.

"What Rob will do, I would venture to suggest, is have next weekend off.

"I would be happy to have a weekend off to lick my wounds and regain my confidence."

Meanwhile, Poll has backed Styles' stance that he did not book Michael Essien twice during the contentious clash at Anfield, but conceded the referee's explanation that a second-half yellow card for John Terry looked "messy".

"At the first look I definitely thought he had booked Essien a second time," said Poll, who himself infamously booked Croatia's Josip Simunic three times during a match at last summer's World Cup.

"Having looked I can see that as Rob raises the yellow card he points over to John Terry and says that it is John he has cautioned."