Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Rodgers - The Best Team Lost

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was unhappy with some of the decisions that went against his 'heroic' side as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Anfield.

The Reds contributed a battling display on an emotionally-charged afternoon which marked their first home match since the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report which exonerated fans in relation to the 1989 disaster.

They were reduced to 10 men late in the first half when Jonjo Shelvey was handed his marching orders after a foul on Jonny Evans, but still took the advantage through Steven Gerrard when the influential captain scored soon after the break.

United managed to scrape their way back level through Rafael before Robin van Persie converted from the penalty spot after Antonio Valencia went down in the area following a Glen Johnson challenge.

Rodgers thought the result was unfair on his side and bemoaned some of the decisions made by referee Mark Halsey, particularly Shelvey's sending off.

The Reds boss feels the official was wrong in dismissing the Liverpool player but not Evans after the United man appeared to take both feet off the ground.

He told Sky Sports: "I thought the best team lost. I thought the players were heroic in terms of their performance and their spirit.

"Some of the decisions, I wouldn't want to go on too much, but if Jonjo Shelvey gets sent off then Jonny Evans has to go as well. I think both players' feet were off the floor.

"That was out of our control. I thought the players were brilliant and didn't get what they deserved."

Rodgers was also unimpressed by the penalty awarded to United, particularly after Luis Suarez was clipped in the box but nothing was given.

He added: "It was never a penalty and then Luis Suarez goes down the other end, gets a toe to the ball, the defender doesn't touch the ball, he goes down and it looks a penalty."

No comments: