Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1: Brendan Rodgers fumes over penalty decision

Brendan Rodgers was left fuming by referee Howard Webb’s decision not to award Liverpool a second penalty after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup at Arsenal.

Goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski had given the Gunners a 2-0 lead before Steven Gerrard converted a second-half penalty to halve the deficit.

Going forward we were a real threat and played with real confidence and belief

Brendan Rodgers

The Reds were angry after Webb failed to point to the spot for a second time when Oxlade-Chamberlain clattered Luis Suarez in the box, before Arsenal held on to book a quarter-final clash against Everton.

“We’re bitterly disappointed not to get something and another penalty – it was a blatant penalty,” Rodgers told BT Sport.

“It was probably clearer than the first one. It was clear and I’m not sure whether it was because it was just after the first penalty. But it was certainly a clear penalty – Alex has just taken him out inside the box. It was a strange decision.”

Rodgers, whose side beat Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield in the Premier League last weekend, felt the visitors did more than enough to earn at least a replay.

“I think the best team lost,” he said. “The very least we deserved was a replay in the game and probably should have been 2-0 up inside those first six or seven minutes.

“We were outstanding and created so many chances. Going forward we were a real threat and played with real confidence and belief.”