Soccer:Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes if the reasoning behind the decision to deny Luis Suarez an added-time winner in the 219th Merseyside derby draw was replicated throughout the season the Premier League would be "in trouble".
The Reds striker's late goal was incorrectly ruled out by a linesman's flag at Goodison Park, having earlier seen Everton make it 2-2 from a throw-in which should have gone to the visitors.
"I've seen it (Suarez's disallowed goal) again and we can feel sorry ourselves because it was a clear goal," said the England captain. "We should have taken away the three points rather than just one. There is no offside and it's difficult for me to explain it. The only person who can explain it is the linesman.
"I asked him after the game if it was offside and he said 'I think so'. That's not good enough. If every decision in this league is based on 'we think so' then we're in trouble.
"The linesman got it badly wrong. The benefit of the doubt is supposed to go to the attacking player anyway.
"And for their second goal, it's a clear throw-in to us. The linesman (not the one who flagged Suarez offside) gives us the throw but the referee (Andre Marriner) saw something different. He gave Everton the throw and their second goal came from that."
The Reds striker's late goal was incorrectly ruled out by a linesman's flag at Goodison Park, having earlier seen Everton make it 2-2 from a throw-in which should have gone to the visitors.
"I've seen it (Suarez's disallowed goal) again and we can feel sorry ourselves because it was a clear goal," said the England captain. "We should have taken away the three points rather than just one. There is no offside and it's difficult for me to explain it. The only person who can explain it is the linesman.
"I asked him after the game if it was offside and he said 'I think so'. That's not good enough. If every decision in this league is based on 'we think so' then we're in trouble.
"The linesman got it badly wrong. The benefit of the doubt is supposed to go to the attacking player anyway.
"And for their second goal, it's a clear throw-in to us. The linesman (not the one who flagged Suarez offside) gives us the throw but the referee (Andre Marriner) saw something different. He gave Everton the throw and their second goal came from that."
Gerrard was also angered by Phil Neville’s dive just before half-time which earned the Blues skipper a booking and a rollicking from his manager at the break.
It followed David Moyes’s criticism of Suarez's theatircs before the game.
“I think Phil Neville badly let his manager down today,” added Gerrard. “His manager did every paper, every radio station and every TV channel talking about Luis Suarez and then his captain, who is meant to be setting an example, blatantly dives. If David Moyes is a real man and a real manager, which I think he is, then he will be speaking to Phil Neville about it.
“With what he said about Luis Suarez before, David Moyes was trying to get in the referee’s head, which is fine, that’s all part of the game stuff like that, but you don’t expect your captain to dive like that.
“Luis Suarez was fantastic for us again today. I can’t control what he does when he scores a goal, I was just happy to see it hit the back of the net. He doesn’t need David Moyes to fire him up. But if people want to try to get in Luis’ head and wind him up then it’s the wrong thing to do.
“You saw from today’s evidence that it seems to inspire him rather than go against him.”
