Source: Eurosport
Benitez officially unimpressed
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was left less than impressed by referee Phil Dowd - and claimed fourth official Stuart Attwell was "too young" after watching his side lose their opening fixture 2-1 at Tottenham.
The Reds, last season's runners-up, never really got going, and were fortunate to go into the break only 1-0 down following a stunning 25-yard strike from full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Captain Steven Gerrard equalised after 54 minutes from the penalty spot, after Glen Johnson had been upended by Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but Sebastien Bassong headed in what prove to be the winner three minutes later.
Benitez, though, was more than a touch irritated when referee Dowd did not point to the spot after substitute Andriy Voronin appeared to be blocked by Assou-Ekotto, and also when further appeals for a handball against the same defender during the closing stages were dismissed. Assistant manager Sammy Lee was eventually sent from the dugout for taking his protests too far.
Lee was particularly vocal towards Attwell.
Benitez said: "Everybody could see there was a penalty against Voronin. It was so clear, it is unbelievable. With this referee, I knew this (another penalty) was impossible.
"We had a meeting the other day, and they said we cannot talk about the referee as a person or the decisions, but I think everybody could see the situation. The fourth official is a young referee, and maybe he needs to calm down a bit. I do not know how old he is, but the fourth official is too young."
