Soccer:Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was left less than impressed by referee Phil Dowd - and claimed fourth official Stuart Attwell was "too young" after watching his side lose their opening Premier League fixture 2-1 at Tottenham.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto gave Spurs the lead before Steven Gerrard scored from the spot after Glen Johnson had been brought down by Heurelho Gomes to make it 1-1 early in the second half.

However, the Reds were not level for long as Sebastien Bassong, on his debut following an £8million switch from Newcastle, headed in what proved to be the winner.

Benitez, though, was more than a touch irritated when referee Dowd did not point to the spot after substitute Andriy Voronin appeared to be blocked by Assou Ekotto, and also when further appeals for a handball against the same defender during the closing stages were dismissed.

Assistant manager Sammy Lee was eventually sent from the dugout for taking his protests too far. Lee was particularly vocal towards Attwell.

Benitez said: "Everybody could see there was a penalty against Voronin. It was so clear, it is unbelievable.

"With this referee, I knew this (another penalty) was impossible."

Asked for his overall assessment of Dowd, Benitez went to his pocket and pulled out his glasses.

The Liverpool manager added: "We had a meeting the other day, and they said we cannot talk about the referee as a person or the decisions, but I think everybody today could see the situation."

Attwell became the youngest referee in the Premier League when he took charge of Blackburn's match against Hull in August 2008.

However, the 26-year-old was at the centre of last season's 'Phantom Goal' controversy involving Reading and Watford.

Discussing Attwell, the Liverpool manager said: "The fourth official is a young referee, and maybe he needs to calm down a bit.

"I do not know how old he is, but the fourth official is too young."