Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is furious with referee Mark Clattenburg after the official awarded Stoke a contentious penalty at the Britannia on Saturday, resulting in the Merseyside outfit’s first defeat of the season.
Jamie Carragher was penalised for a foul on Jonathan Walters after 20 minutes, with the victim converting the resulting spot kick to give the home side a 1-0 win.
The Scottish coach was incensed further as Clattenburg turned down a Reds penalty claim, as Matthew Upson appeared to handle a Luis Suarez cross late in the second half, and Dalglish feels this was unfair.
“If we keep playing like that, we’ll be OK, but if we keep getting battered by things outside our control and jurisdiction that’s different,” the manager told reporters after the defeat.
“Our first four games have had contentious decisions and every one this season has gone against us. It’s important to respect referees but it’s more important that referees respect my football club, the owners’ football club, Liverpool football club.”
Liverpool are now considering lodging a formal complaint regarding the referring decisions, but Dalglish has not confirmed this as yet.
“I don’t want anything impinging on the club’s chances of success in any shape or form, so I will speak to the owners first,” he concluded.
The defeat will be a frustration to the Anfield club, as all of the other sides in the top six recorded victories on Saturday. Liverpool travel to White Hart Lane next weekend to take on Tottenham in what should be an exciting game.
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