STEVEN GERRARD hit out at referee Howard Webb after claiming Liverpool were denied the chance of a last-gasp equaliser at Arsenal.

A 72nd-minute header from Abou Diaby consigned Rafael Benitez’s side to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates last night. But there was a controversial ending to the match when Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, standing in the defensive wall, appeared to handle Gerrard’s free-kick in the final minute of injury time.

Television replays suggested the offence had taken place inside the area, leaving the Liverpool players fuming as the final whistle sounded seconds later.

And a clearly unhappy Gerrard revealed referee Webb had already warned Benitez’s men not to raise their hands when facing free-kicks around the penalty box or risk giving away a spot kick.

“It’s a penalty,” said the captain. “The referee told the Liverpool wall in the first half that if anyone raises their arms above their waste then I’m going to give a penalty.

“So, for some crazy reason, he has not give the decision. He said to me that he hadn’t seen it. But it’s unbelievable if a referee can’t see someone raise their arms in a wall.

“He told the Liverpool wall ‘nobody raises their hands’. Surely there should the same rules for Arsenal?

“Over the course of the season, sometimes you don’t get decisions, other times you get decisions that you don’t deserve. But something so clear like that, when a referee is looking straight at the wall, you would expect it. Certainly Howard Webb. I’d say he is one of the best referees in the league, so I’m very surprised he hasn’t seen it.”

Gerrard added: “If we get a penalty and score, it’s 1-1 and we are still hunting Arsenal for third place. But now Arsenal have taken the three points and it’s that bit harder for us.

“I thought the way that we played we certainly deserved a point. We have put in all that effort and come away with nothing but sometimes that happens.”

Fabregas himself admitted the ball had struck his hand, and said: “I maybe touched it a little bit with my hand, but I would have touched it with my head anyway. Maybe yes. But there have been so many incidents that he (the referee) got wrong, maybe one more isn’t anything more. A lot against us, a lot against them.”

Jamie Carragher limped off shortly after half-time with an adductor injury, although Benitez described the problem as “not serious”. However, the defender is already a major doubt for Liverpool’s next game, the first leg of their Europa League tie against Unirea Urziceni next Thursday.

Last night’s defeat marks the end of Liverpool’s seven-game unbeaten Premier League run, although the failure of Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa to take advantage last night means they remain in fourth place.

Read the article on Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard hits out at referee Howard Webb’s decision no to award a penalty in injury time

STEVEN GERRARD hit out at referee Howard Webb after claiming Liverpool were denied the chance of a last-gasp equaliser at Arsenal.

A 72nd-minute header from Abou Diaby consigned Rafael Benitez’s side to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates last night. But there was a controversial ending to the match when Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, standing in the defensive wall, appeared to handle Gerrard’s free-kick in the final minute of injury time.

Television replays suggested the offence had taken place inside the area, leaving the Liverpool players fuming as the final whistle sounded seconds later.

And a clearly unhappy Gerrard revealed referee Webb had already warned Benitez’s men not to raise their hands when facing free-kicks around the penalty box or risk giving away a spot kick.

“It’s a penalty,” said the captain. “The referee told the Liverpool wall in the first half that if anyone raises their arms above their waste then I’m going to give a penalty.

“So, for some crazy reason, he has not give the decision. He said to me that he hadn’t seen it. But it’s unbelievable if a referee can’t see someone raise their arms in a wall.

“He told the Liverpool wall ‘nobody raises their hands’. Surely there should the same rules for Arsenal?

“Over the course of the season, sometimes you don’t get decisions, other times you get decisions that you don’t deserve. But something so clear like that, when a referee is looking straight at the wall, you would expect it. Certainly Howard Webb. I’d say he is one of the best referees in the league, so I’m very surprised he hasn’t seen it.”

Gerrard added: “If we get a penalty and score, it’s 1-1 and we are still hunting Arsenal for third place. But now Arsenal have taken the three points and it’s that bit harder for us.

“I thought the way that we played we certainly deserved a point. We have put in all that effort and come away with nothing but sometimes that happens.”

Fabregas himself admitted the ball had struck his hand, and said: “I maybe touched it a little bit with my hand, but I would have touched it with my head anyway. Maybe yes. But there have been so many incidents that he (the referee) got wrong, maybe one more isn’t anything more. A lot against us, a lot against them.”

Jamie Carragher limped off shortly after half-time with an adductor injury, although Benitez described the problem as “not serious”. However, the defender is already a major doubt for Liverpool’s next game, the first leg of their Europa League tie against Unirea Urziceni next Thursday.

Last night’s defeat marks the end of Liverpool’s seven-game unbeaten Premier League run, although the failure of Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa to take advantage last night means they remain in fourth place.

Read the article on Liverpool Daily Post

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