Rodgers voices ref complaint

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has voiced concern over some of the refereeing decisions that have gone against his side this season.

The Anfield club are languishing in 18th position, still to record a win from their five matches, and Rodgers believes they have been on the wrong end of some contentious decisions.

“I am more concerned that in the opening period of the season we haven’t had any rub of the green whatsoever from officials – I rang (FA referees boss) Mike Riley this morning,” Rodgers said on Thursday.

“I always set my teams out to be sporting and respect everything that we have about the game, ask players not to dive and stay on their feet.

“But us being a sporting team and going by the letters of the law and the rules, it just seems to pass us by in terms of decisions.

“We have had a few sending offs, a few penalties given against us and absolutely nothing that we’ve been given at all, so I hope that changes.

“I just wanted to ask the question and put my point across. And Mike was excellent. He’s doing a terrific job, because being head of the referees is not easy.”

Another manager unhappy with officials is Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who has called for players to receive a three-match ban if they are found guilty of diving.

And Rodgers, speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Norwich on Saturday, said everything must be done to encourage players to stay on their feet.

“We have to be careful that we don’t discourage people and players that are trying to respect the game because it’s how we work, it’s how I ask the players to play,” he said.

“We want to win the game but we want to win it by fair means. To me, in this opening period of the season, that hasn’t worked for us.

“I think we just need to be careful that by diving onto the floor, and going down it doesn’t mean you may get the decision. Whereas if you try and stay on your feet, you may not (get the decision).”