Fuming Reds accept Reina ban

LIVERPOOL have not appealed against Jose Reina’s red card for pushing Chelsea’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben in the face at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Reina was sent off nine minutes from time by referee Alan Wiley for the offence, which caused controversy because of Robben's theatrical reaction to the goalkeeper's tame push.

Liverpool lost the game 2-0 and many players and ex-players supported Reds boss Rafael Benitez in venting their frustration at Robben for his play-acting.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, ex-Leicester striker Steve Claridge and Newcastle's record-breaking goalscorer Alan Shearer all voiced their discontent, while Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho steadfastly refused to comment.

But the FA had received no appeal from Liverpool by the noon deadline today and Reina now faces a three-match ban for violent conduct.

The defeat left Liverpool trailing Chelsea by a massive 21-point margin.

Although Steven Gerrard came off second best to his England colleague Frank Lampard, Benitez maintains he has the best player out of the two.

"The key player for us has been Gerrard," said Benitez.

"You have to remember he was injured for three months last season, but now he's a real success. He's grown up but he can also improve. He can learn and go forward even more. If they say the best player in the world is Gerrard, then it is true."

Gerrard's Liverpool and England team-mate Jamie Carragher echoed the views of his manager claiming that Gerrard has been performing consistently at the highest level for much longer that Lampard.

Carragher said: "Steven is the best player in the world today. I wouldn't swap him for anyone, even Ronaldinho. Jose Mourinho will always say Frank Lampard is the best and Frank Rijkaard will say it is Ronaldinho.

"But I've seen enough of the top players. I don't see anyone with the all-round game he's got. The difference between him and the others is he's world class in so many positions.

"He's the best central midfielder in the Premiership and the best right midfielder too. If he was playing in the holding role every week, he'd do that just as well as Claude Makelele, who everyone sees as the best around.

"Lampard has been fantastic for the last two or three years, but Stevie has been like that since he came into our side six years ago."

Liverpool's clash with Chelsea was the first game in a punishing 36-day spell of 10 critical matches for the Reds.

The next month will test Benitez's side to the limit. Liverpool now face Charlton on Wednesday, then Arsenal and Benfica twice, plus an FA Cup tie with Manchester United as well as tricky games with Wigan, a return with Charlton, then Manchester City, all before March 12.