Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has blasted referee Howard Webb's "crazy" decision not to award them a penalty in the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas admitted after the match he had handled Gerrard's stoppage-time free-kick but Webb did not spot it.
Although television replays suggested the incident was outside the area, Gerrard was left fuming at missing out on a chance to salvage a point and maintain their unbeaten run.
As a result Liverpool's winless streak on Arsenal territory stands at a decade.
"The referee told the Liverpool wall in the first half that if anyone raises their arms above their waist he was going to give a penalty," said the England midfielder.
"So for some crazy reason he didn't give it. He told me after the game he hadn't seen it.
"It was unbelievable and I can't believe he didn't see someone raise their hands in the wall.
"We know over the course of a season sometimes you will get decisions and sometimes you won't, but something so clear as that was hard to take, especially with the referee being Howard Webb.
"I would say he is one of the best referees in the league so I am very surprised he didn't see it."
The ball undoubtedly struck Fabregas' out-stretched arm but the midfielder was not in the box at the time and had Webb given a foul would have most likely been another direct free on the edge of the box.
Gerrard has now set his sights on beating Manchester City in 10 days' time as the race for Champions League places heats up. They are level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool but have two matches in hand and the fixture list pitches the two together at Eastlands a week on Sunday.
"We have got to use a lot of positives from the (Arsenal) match," he said. "There are plenty of teams who go there and get played off the park. I certainly feel disappointed leaving with nothing.
He added: "But if we play like we did at Arsenal, then I fancy us to beat them.
"I feel if we are on our game and playing well, we are a match for anyone."
An eighth defeat of the season - six more than last year when they ran champions Manchester United a close second - is one of the most damaging statistics for Liverpool.
Seven of those came in the first four months of the campaign. By contrast, Manchester City have lost four and none so far at Eastlands.
The Liverpool captain knows their early form has cost them dearly but held up their seven-match unbeaten league run which came to an end at the Emirates Stadium as a yardstick for the remainder of the season.
"We are where we are in the table because we were very inconsistent earlier in the season," said the England international. "But look at Liverpool's performances over the last six or seven games - if we show that consistency, then we will challenge for the league."
Gerrard's form has, like the team's, been patchy this season with niggling injuries preventing him from putting in the kind of inspirational performances he has gained a reputation for.
He now feels he is close to getting back to his best but said it was little consolation if it was not benefiting the team.
"I am really happy with the way I played myself [at Arsenal] but I get nothing from that because we came away with nothing," added the 28-year-old. "But my form is improving."