Reds denied 'cast-iron penalty' - Houllier

Gerard Houllier claimed Liverpool were denied “a cast-iron penalty” during the 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough.

Substitute Florent Sinama-Pongolle went down under Franck Queudrue’s challenge but referee Phil Dowd waved away Liverpool’s appeals.

Houllier said: “We had more chances than them and we had a cast-iron penalty. Queudrue did not touch the ball at all – if he had it should have been a corner.

“In fact he just tackled the standing leg – and the player is now injured, he has a swollen ankle and I don’t know whether he will be fit for Thursday.”

Houllier did give credit to Middlesbrough’s organisation but insisted that overall Liverpool had shaded the contest.

He added: “It was a very strange with not many chances, but we probably had more than they had.

They were very difficult to break down, and seem to have found a new balance playing 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1.

“There are two plusses from the game – one that we have kept a clean sheet for the first time in a long time and two that Michael Owen played for an hour after only coming back to training on Wednesday.”

Houllier insisted he had only dropped Jerzy Dudek because he had played two internationals in midweek and Chris Kirkland was fresher.

Meanwhile, Steve Finnan is expected to be out for Liverpool’s UEFA Cup match against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday after picking up a calf injury.

Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren hailed his side’s fourth consecutive clean sheet.

McClaren said: “I thought it was a good performance by our team against a very, very good Liverpool side – there’s no doubt they should be a top four team in this league when you look at their forward six players.

“That’s our fourth clean sheet in a row and that’s some going in the Premier League, it gives us a great platform.

“We have to be pleased with the result, it continues our revival and it is important for people to know you never get an easy game at Middlesbrough.”

Michael Ricketts got little change out of Liverpool’s defence and Boro’s best chance came when Gaizka Mendieta was through on goal only to be tackled superbly by Djimi Traore.

McClaren added: “Michael did very, very well in the last match against Villa and did his job again today. It’s not easy being up there on your own but he gave Juninho a bit more space and a smaller forward might have struggled.

“He’s getting fitter, will continue to work hard and really it’s up to Michael what he wants to do.”