Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez fuming over Benfica referee Jonas Eriksson

Heady Heady HeadyLIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez was left fuming by the performance of referee Jonas Eriksson in the controversial Europa League quarter-final first-leg 2-1 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon.Defender Daniel Agger had put the visitors ahead by converting Steven Gerrard's ninth-minute free-kick with a clever backheel.However, Ryan Babel was sent off on the half-hour for pushing a hand in Luisao's face in a melee sparked by the defender's crunching tackle on Fernando Torres.In the second half two controversial penalty awards allowed Oscar Cardozo to score twice having earlier missed a host of chances.Benitez said he was disappointed with Babel for his response but felt Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson should have been stronger when he only gave Luisao a yellow card.'I was surprised because a foul from behind is more serious,' he said.'I would like to analyse the foul before. And after, when one player is shouting in front of the referee after he already has a yellow card.'It is a big difference when you kick a player from behind to a player touching another in the mouth.'It is difficult to understand and impossible to change but we have to move forward and think about Anfield.'Always decisions against your team you don't like but you cannot change them and the only way now is to try to be positive.'Half-time was a 1-0 game and we had confidence, I prefer not to talk about problems or incidents.'Torres, in particular, came in for some rough treatment but Eriksson was content to allow it - much to Benitez and his players' anger.Throughout the second half fireworks were thrown towards Pepe Reina's goal, resulting in two stoppages and a report to the UEFA delegate, which did little to improve the visitors' mood.

Source: Liverpool_Echo