SAMMY LEE admitted Liverpool had missed an opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League after being held by 10-man Arsenal.
Robbie Keane’s equaliser three minutes before half-time earned the visitors a 1-1 draw at the Emirates after Robin van Persie had given the Gunners the lead midway through the first half.
But the game’s main incident came in the 63rd minute when Emmanuel Adebayor was controversially dismissed by referee Howard Webb for a second bookable offence.
With Rafael Benitez having not travelled as he recovers from last week’s operation to remove a kidney stone, assistant manager Lee assumed control at the Emirates.
And he revealed Liverpool’s players were disappointed not to have made their numerical advantage tell and open up a four-point lead on second-placed Chelsea.
“We’d have settled for the point beforehand, but the way the game went the lads are a little it disappointed,” said Lee.
“Part of the disappointment was that we couldn’t open them up when they went down to 10 men. Arsenal, to their credit, made sure they couldn’t succumb to our control we had at the time. They kept their shape and stayed compact.
“We tried to make the most of the numerical advantage and we don’t think that we did that, which is why we feel disappointed.
“We had to make sure we went forward without getting caught out at the back. Our lads did well. Arsenal are very well organised but so are we.
“There’s no question we weren’t trying to win. This is Liverpool and we try to win every game.
“Great credit must be given to Arsenal for the way they responded to going a man down. But credit must also go to our lads who came from behind and made sure that we got a point out of the game,” Lee added.
The result means Chelsea can leapfrog Liverpool and go a point clear at the top of the table at Christmas with victory at Everton this evening.
A convalescing Benitez watched the game on television at his Wirral home, and kept in constant contact with the dugout through the mobile phone of goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero.
And Lee added: “Rafa was in contact throughout the game, so he’ll have run up quite a big phone bill! The way technology is these days, there was never going to be a problem staying in touch.
“He was in contact before and during the game. It’s a great testament to his professionalism. He has been in a lot of pain. I hope he can settle down now and get himself ready 100% for the games over the Christmas.
“He said he was pleased for the boys, and was very, very positive. He realised what a good point it was because we consider Arsenal to be a very, very good footballing team.”
Keane’s goal was only his third league strike of the campaign, and came just a week after contentiously being kept on the bench as Liverpool laboured to a 2-2 draw at home to Hull City.
And Lee said: “Goals always give you confidence. But Robbie has not been lacking in confidence, and if you saw him today you could see he wasn’t lacking in any confidence.
“We’ve mentioned it before, but when Rafa and ourselves sit down and pick a team, we do so taking into account everything for every single game.
“We are fully aware of the programme ahead of us and we have to use all out players. It’s a long arduous season, a gruelling campaign and we have to make sure we have everybody ready.”
Of Adebayor’s sending-off, Lee said: “I haven’t seen it since. It might be Arsene Wenger’s line but it’s not bad to copy him.
“It was a foul, to be honest. However that was translated is down to the referee.”
Robbie Keane’s equaliser three minutes before half-time earned the visitors a 1-1 draw at the Emirates after Robin van Persie had given the Gunners the lead midway through the first half.
But the game’s main incident came in the 63rd minute when Emmanuel Adebayor was controversially dismissed by referee Howard Webb for a second bookable offence.
With Rafael Benitez having not travelled as he recovers from last week’s operation to remove a kidney stone, assistant manager Lee assumed control at the Emirates.
And he revealed Liverpool’s players were disappointed not to have made their numerical advantage tell and open up a four-point lead on second-placed Chelsea.
“We’d have settled for the point beforehand, but the way the game went the lads are a little it disappointed,” said Lee.
“Part of the disappointment was that we couldn’t open them up when they went down to 10 men. Arsenal, to their credit, made sure they couldn’t succumb to our control we had at the time. They kept their shape and stayed compact.
“We tried to make the most of the numerical advantage and we don’t think that we did that, which is why we feel disappointed.
“We had to make sure we went forward without getting caught out at the back. Our lads did well. Arsenal are very well organised but so are we.
“There’s no question we weren’t trying to win. This is Liverpool and we try to win every game.
“Great credit must be given to Arsenal for the way they responded to going a man down. But credit must also go to our lads who came from behind and made sure that we got a point out of the game,” Lee added.
The result means Chelsea can leapfrog Liverpool and go a point clear at the top of the table at Christmas with victory at Everton this evening.
A convalescing Benitez watched the game on television at his Wirral home, and kept in constant contact with the dugout through the mobile phone of goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero.
And Lee added: “Rafa was in contact throughout the game, so he’ll have run up quite a big phone bill! The way technology is these days, there was never going to be a problem staying in touch.
“He was in contact before and during the game. It’s a great testament to his professionalism. He has been in a lot of pain. I hope he can settle down now and get himself ready 100% for the games over the Christmas.
“He said he was pleased for the boys, and was very, very positive. He realised what a good point it was because we consider Arsenal to be a very, very good footballing team.”
Keane’s goal was only his third league strike of the campaign, and came just a week after contentiously being kept on the bench as Liverpool laboured to a 2-2 draw at home to Hull City.
And Lee said: “Goals always give you confidence. But Robbie has not been lacking in confidence, and if you saw him today you could see he wasn’t lacking in any confidence.
“We’ve mentioned it before, but when Rafa and ourselves sit down and pick a team, we do so taking into account everything for every single game.
“We are fully aware of the programme ahead of us and we have to use all out players. It’s a long arduous season, a gruelling campaign and we have to make sure we have everybody ready.”
Of Adebayor’s sending-off, Lee said: “I haven’t seen it since. It might be Arsene Wenger’s line but it’s not bad to copy him.
“It was a foul, to be honest. However that was translated is down to the referee.”
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