Rafa rages as Gerrard gifts winner to Henry
Benitez was left flabbergasted after Alonso was shown a second yellow card in the 81st minute of his team’s 2-1 defeat against Arsenal when he slid into a challenge on Cesc Fabregas.
Video evidence clearly shows referee Steve Bennett was looking in the opposite direction when Alonso made the tackle but still opted to send him off with the score at 1-1.
It proved to be a crucial decision because Arsenal, who had gone ahead through Thierry Henry only to concede an equaliser to Luis Garcia, went on to win the match when Henry punished a terrible Steven Gerrard back-pass two minutes later.
In truth, Arsene Wenger’s side more than deserved their victory, but the normally placid Benitez was struggling to hold his temper after watching footage of Alonso’s dismissal.
He said: “It was clear. From the video you can see. It was unbelievable, I can’t understand it, it’s the turning point in the game.
“We didn’t play as we would want in the first half but we were controlling the game in the second half and we were creating more chances. We felt we could win. But then the referee decided to send someone off.
“The referee was looking the other way and then he blew the whistle and gave a yellow card. The linesman had his flag down so I don’t understand it - but maybe they are telepathic, I don’t know. The crowd shouted and maybe they have telepathy with the referee as well.”
Bennett’s performance is certain to be the main talking point of the match, but Arsenal’s revival is just as worthy of discussion and in particular the performance of Fabregas.
He was certainly not to blame for Alonso’s dismissal and produced a wonderful display from midfield, creating goals, playing killer passes and keeping Arsenal’s attacking momentum moving in the right direction.
In contrast, Liverpool’s negative tactics are becoming both wearisome and predictable, and here they again opted for only Peter Crouch up front, a tactic that cost them dear.
Arsenal have no problems scoring goals, not with Henry on the pitch, and most of their difficulties have stemmed from injuries in defence and the disposal of Patrick Vieira in midfield.
They were hit again when Freddie Ljungberg limped off after only 10 minutes, to be replaced by Robert Pires, but they remained the only team on the field looking to score goals.
The opener came after 21 minutes and it was a classic Henry finish. The Frenchman ran onto a beautifully-weighted ball from Fabregas, opened up his body and curled a trademark finish into the far corner of the net.
Liverpool did enjoy a purple patch in the build-up to half-time, with Gerrard thumping a 30-yard effort narrowly wide and Crouch astonishingly missing an open goal when, unmarked, he headed a Steve Finnan cross tamely wide of the target.
But there was no question that Arsenal were the better team, even if at times their intricate passing became mistake-ridden in the centre of the park.
After the break Liverpool, though, improved and equalised against the run of play in the 76th minute. As Arsenal waited for referee Bennett to give what seemed a clear foul by Alonso on Fabregas, Gerrard fired in a thunderous effort from fully 35 yards, and when Lehmann could not hold it, Luis Garcia headed home the rebound.
But Liverpool’s hopes were dashed when Alonso headed for the dressing room early - and then when Gerrard inexplicably sent a back-pass straight into Henry’s path. The Frenchman rounded goalkeeper Jose Reina with ease and was only denied a hat-trick by a wonderful save from the Spaniard in injury time.
“It was an important win,” said Wenger. “I think we can catch Liverpool in the table now.”
: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Flamini, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva, Ljungberg (Pires 15), Adebayor (Bergkamp 67), Henry.
: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Warnock, Kromkamp (Kewell 45), Hamann (Fowler 73), Alonso, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Crouch.
: 38,221
: S Bennett (Kent).
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