Liverpool Football Club News

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Rafa rues Crouch dismissal

20 Dec 2007 - 07:43:46

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez was unhappy with the dismissal of striker Peter Crouch during the 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Crouch was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson for a two-footed challenge on Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel just after Chelsea took the lead, but Benitez felt that the England frontman was harshly treated.

He said: "If you watch the replay where Mikel was trying to kick Crouch, then you blow your whistle and avoid the sending-off. Sometimes the referee must be a little bit quicker.

"Mikel kicked him twice and that was the reason Crouch lost his head. I have seen more dangerous tackles in the last month and sometimes it is a yellow card and sometimes it is nothing. Unbelievable.

"The timing is the key for me. After this decision you finish the game.

"I am disappointed because we have lost. The team has played really well, I am really pleased with their performance.

"I thought we had chances and when we had 11 players, we were playing really well, passing and defending well. Chelsea are still a good team, like they were before."

However, Blues boss Avram Grant was content that the decision was the right one, adding: "I didn't see Mikel kick Crouch, but even so he didn't need to do what he did.

"This game is a wonderful one. It is one you need to play aggressive and you need to play fast. It is not easy for the referees."