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Manchester United crash as Fernando Torres takes the pressure off Rafa Benitez but surprise, surprise... raging Sir Alex Ferguson blames the ref
By JOHN EDWARDS Last updated at 11:22 AM on 26th October 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson risked the wrath of the Football Association again yesterday by accusing referee Andre Marriner of cracking under pressure and suggesting he was too inexperienced to handle this season' s biggest game so far.
The Manchester United manager is already facing disciplinary action for his 'unfit' attack on Alan Wiley after his side's draw against Sunderland three weeks ago, but it did not stop him turning his anger on Marriner after a 2-0 win for Liverpool at Anfield.
Biting back: Fernando Torres celebrates his goal at Anfield
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Seething at key decisions that went against United, when Michael Carrick was denied a penalty and Jamie Carragher escaped with a yellow card for hauling down Michael Owen on the edge of the area, Ferguson said: 'It is a very difficult atmosphere here. There was a wounded animal aspect to the game, and it was something we didn't overcome. I think it affected our players, and it affected the referee.
'This sort of atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience or not, I don't know, but he will certainly learn from it.
'We lost out to one or two major decisions. It was a clear penalty kick, when Carragher went right over the top of the ball on Carrick. The referee was only six yards from it, and it was a bad decision.
'But the one everyone will be talking about was when Carragher brought Owen down on the edge of the box. The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature. Carragher is their best player and captain, and if he goes, it is a different game.
'The referee was only four or five yards from that one, so he can't use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through and, with his pace, he is going to get away from him.
'Their fans were fanatical, and they put the referee under pressure all the time. With every decision, it was the same.'
Nemanja Vidic was sent off for a third successive time against Liverpool, and Ferguson was particularly unhappy at the first of his two yellow cards.
'That booking was the worst decision,' said the United manager, who has until November 3 to answer an improper conduct charge after accusing Wiley of being unfit.
'It is a foul, fine. But the player (Fernando Torres) played on, he (Vidic) won the second ball and knocked it for a throw in, then got booked! It put Nemanja under pressure.
Key moment: Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher challenges Michael Carrick in the box
'Liverpool were the better team and deserved to win, but there were so many controversial things that happened, we have to feel aggrieved at some of them.'
Carragher hit back at claims that he should have been dismissed for his 87th-minute challenge on Owen, saying: 'I actually thought Michael brought me down, but in that situation, you'll do anything to stop someone having a clear run on goal. I didn't think it was a sending-off, not at all.'
Match-winner Torres reflected on the significance of beating the champions after four straight defeats, and said: 'We needed to win to stay in the title race, so it was a massive result.
'We showed that, when we play as a team and work hard, we can beat anyone. We have to remember that and make sure we keep working well as a unit.'
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said: 'Beforehand we were talking that this was the perfect game to change our luck, against a good team.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1222946/Manchester-United-crash-Fernando-Torres-takes-pressure-Rafa-Benitez-surprise-surprise--raging-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-blames-ref.html#ixzz0V3b4wDVQ
By JOHN EDWARDS Last updated at 11:22 AM on 26th October 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson risked the wrath of the Football Association again yesterday by accusing referee Andre Marriner of cracking under pressure and suggesting he was too inexperienced to handle this season' s biggest game so far.
The Manchester United manager is already facing disciplinary action for his 'unfit' attack on Alan Wiley after his side's draw against Sunderland three weeks ago, but it did not stop him turning his anger on Marriner after a 2-0 win for Liverpool at Anfield.
Biting back: Fernando Torres celebrates his goal at AnfieldMore...
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Seething at key decisions that went against United, when Michael Carrick was denied a penalty and Jamie Carragher escaped with a yellow card for hauling down Michael Owen on the edge of the area, Ferguson said: 'It is a very difficult atmosphere here. There was a wounded animal aspect to the game, and it was something we didn't overcome. I think it affected our players, and it affected the referee.
'This sort of atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience or not, I don't know, but he will certainly learn from it.
'We lost out to one or two major decisions. It was a clear penalty kick, when Carragher went right over the top of the ball on Carrick. The referee was only six yards from it, and it was a bad decision.
'But the one everyone will be talking about was when Carragher brought Owen down on the edge of the box. The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature. Carragher is their best player and captain, and if he goes, it is a different game.
'The referee was only four or five yards from that one, so he can't use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through and, with his pace, he is going to get away from him.
'Their fans were fanatical, and they put the referee under pressure all the time. With every decision, it was the same.'
Nemanja Vidic was sent off for a third successive time against Liverpool, and Ferguson was particularly unhappy at the first of his two yellow cards.
'That booking was the worst decision,' said the United manager, who has until November 3 to answer an improper conduct charge after accusing Wiley of being unfit.
'It is a foul, fine. But the player (Fernando Torres) played on, he (Vidic) won the second ball and knocked it for a throw in, then got booked! It put Nemanja under pressure.
Key moment: Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher challenges Michael Carrick in the box'Liverpool were the better team and deserved to win, but there were so many controversial things that happened, we have to feel aggrieved at some of them.'
Carragher hit back at claims that he should have been dismissed for his 87th-minute challenge on Owen, saying: 'I actually thought Michael brought me down, but in that situation, you'll do anything to stop someone having a clear run on goal. I didn't think it was a sending-off, not at all.'
Match-winner Torres reflected on the significance of beating the champions after four straight defeats, and said: 'We needed to win to stay in the title race, so it was a massive result.
'We showed that, when we play as a team and work hard, we can beat anyone. We have to remember that and make sure we keep working well as a unit.'
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said: 'Beforehand we were talking that this was the perfect game to change our luck, against a good team.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1222946/Manchester-United-crash-Fernando-Torres-takes-pressure-Rafa-Benitez-surprise-surprise--raging-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-blames-ref.html#ixzz0V3b4wDVQ
Right decision: Carragher was correctly cautioned for his foul on Owen (left)
Good job: Andre Marriner got the big calls right
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