Benitez blames referee

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez implied he was unhappy with referee Phil Dowd’s performance but refused to criticise his own players after seeing his side crash out of the FA Cup to Reading.

The Royals produced a stunning third-round replay victory at Anfield as Liverpool’s disastrous season went from bad to worse.

Liverpool had led through a first-half effort from Steven Gerrard deflected home by Reading defender Ryan Bertrand. The Championship side equalised with a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty in injury-time to force the extra half hour, in which substitute Shane Long headed the winner.

Asked if the defeat was deserved, Benitez said: ‘‘It’s difficult to say, both sides had chances.

‘‘The penalty was a crucial decision. I think we can talk about this for one hour, there were too many things I didn’t like but I can’t change those things now and we have to accept the situation.’’ Asked if he was blaming Dowd, Benitez repeated: ‘‘There are too many things to talk about. I could see a lot of things I didn’t like but you cannot change the result.’’ Asked specifically about whether the penalty decision was right or wrong, he said: ‘‘Again I would say it depends on your point of view, but too many things I didn’t like.’’ Benitez revealed Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard – both substituted injured – will undergo scans today.