Ferguson questions Marriner experience
The United manager suggested that Marriner made an error in sending off Nemanja Vidic, insisted that the official should have sent off Jamie Carragher for bringing down Michael Owen and that United should have had a first-half penalty for a foul on Michael Carrick.
Ferguson has already been charged by the FA over comments he made about referee Alan Wiley following United’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland last month.
He later apologised to Wiley for describing him as “unfit”.
“There were so many controversial things that happened we have to feel aggrieved at some of them,” said Ferguson after his side’s 2-0 defeat.
“Michael Carrick got a clear penalty kick as far as I was concerned. Jamie Carragher has gone right over the top of the ball.
“If it is outside of the box it is a free-kick and maybe a yellow card. But it was inside the box and the referee was only six yards from it. It was a bad decision I think.
“It is 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. Whether he had enough experience, I don’t know. He will certainly learn from it.
“You take the booking of (Patrice) Evra on (Fernando) Torres and Torres had actually clipped his own heels, but in the atmosphere surrounding this game, he books him.
“The Vidic booking was the worst decision. It is a foul, fine. But the player has played on, he won the second ball and knocked it for a throw-in and got booked! It put Nemanja under pressure.
“That was the wrong decision. The most controversial decision was Carragher bringing down Michael Owen. He was clear through.
“The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature and if Jamie Carragher goes off, he is their best player and their captain. It would have been a different game. They would have been under pressure.
“The referee was only four or five yards from it. Michael was clean through. With Michael’s pace he is going to get away from him.”
Despite his side’s defeat, Ferguson admitted that Liverpool deserved their victory which breathes new life into their season.
“Liverpool were the better team and I am not taking anything away from them at all,” he added. “They deserved to win the game.
“But we didn’t have any luck in terms of decisions. We are disappointed with some of the decisions but we have to hold our hands up we were not good enough.”
Liverpool also finished the match with 10 men, Javier Mascherano being shown a red card after clattering into Edwin van der Sar moments after Vidic had been dismissed. But that failed to take the gloss off Liverpool’s best performance of the campaign.
Manager Rafael Benitez is now urging his players to kick on after bending a four-match losing run.
“We needed to win for the confidence,” said Benitez. “I think it will be a big boost for the team and the fans. Hopefully this can kick-start our season. If we can keep the momentum going then it will be good.”
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