FA Premiership: Rafael Benitez last night accused Arjen Robben of deliberately feigning injury to precipitate Jose Reina's dismissal. With this win Chelsea stretched their Premiership lead to 15 points but the main talking point was the goalkeeper's sending off and Robben's "crazy" reaction that led to it.

Chelsea were 2-0 ahead when Reina executed a bad challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen, for which he was booked. In the melee that followed Reina pushed the Holland international winger's cheek, prompting a straight red card from the referee Alan Wiley.

"The injury for Robben is so serious that maybe he will be in the hospital for one week," Benitez said. "It's crazy to see. Reina has made a mistake because Robben was talking with him, provoking him; [ Reina] turns and touches his face. But [ the reaction was as if] he might have broken his neck.

"I don't know why you can kick everyone during the game, and maybe you will concede a yellow card, but you touch a player, you concede a red card and you are suspended for three games. What kind of professional can you be against another professional if you leave another player not playing for three games?" Benitez refused to elaborate on what the "provocation" had been but did not reserve his ire for Robben alone. Wiley's overall refereeing of the match also became a target of the Liverpool manager's displeasure; he will appeal against the red card, something the Football Association have agreed to look into.

"I have a clear idea of what to do but it depends on the FA," he added. "In this case the referee must have more experience, see the situation and control the situation."

That Liverpool were unable to capitalise on the numerous knock-downs won by Peter Crouch was due to their lack of a poaching goalscorer on the pitch; Benitez explained that Robbie Fowler had not played due to a lack of fitness.

"We need to score more goals because we are creating chances," said Benitez. "We created chances in the first half and controlled a lot of things but we conceded a goal and they played at what they are good at, counter-attack."

Benitez evaded the question when asked to confirm whether this result had effectively ensured another title for Chelsea. "I don't worry about Chelsea. I promise you," he said.

However, the champions were bullish about their chances. "Maybe we have put an end to this Premier League," said Hernan Crespo, for whom the victory was vindication after last season's disappointment in the Champions League final against Liverpool, where his two goals for Milan could not prevent defeat.

Chelsea's manager, Jose Mourinho, was asked for his thoughts on the title race now that Chelsea could afford to lose four matches and still lift the trophy. "Five," he instinctively responded. "We need eight victories. Now when we get the next we go to seven and to six and five. This was a game that gives us 50 Premiership victories in the last 1.5 years. A game that proved we are the best team in the country. "

When asked to predict when he believes the title will be won - something he contrived to do with accuracy last season - Mourinho demurred. That might reflect concern about complacency in his squad whereas last season he sought to instil confidence in a team that had not won the league in 50 years.