Mancini aggrieved by Liverpool opener

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini felt his side should have been awarded a foul in the build-up to Liverpool's first goal in the 2-2 draw between the sides on Sunday.

Edin Dzeko, scorer of City's opening goal, went down under a challenge from Daniel Agger but referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue and Daniel Sturridge drove home an equaliser from just outside the box.

A magnificent Steven Gerrard strike 17 minutes from time then put Liverpool ahead, only for Sergio Aguero to earn the champions a share of the spoils with a 78th-minute equaliser.

"Before their first goal, there was a big fault," Mancini told Sky Sports.

"If it happened against us it would be a red card, but instead the referee didn't see anything. But in the end, I feel that was the right result."

Sturridge, however, insisted Liverpool had been within their rights to play on.

"From our viewpoint, the referee said to play on and not to kick the ball out," he said.

"The referee said it's not our job to kick the ball out, it's the referee's job. If the referee had said to kick it out, we would have kicked it out.

"And if the referee says play on, we will do exactly what he says. We played on and we scored."

City midfielder James Milner, who teed up Dzeko's goal after 23 minutes, said the hosts should have been awarded a free-kick for Aggers' challenge but conceded it was not up to Liverpool's players to halt the game.

"The first goal was frustrating as it should have been a foul, but you have to carry on and we should have closed down quicker," he told BBC Sport.

"It is up to the referee to stop it and Liverpool were entitled to carry on."


 

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