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Saturday, 22 August 2015

Brendan Rodgers: Allowing Christian Benteke goal an 'excellent decision'

Unknown   at  19:16  No comments

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says the linesman that allowed Christian Benteke's goal against Bournemouth to stand made an "excellent decision".

Benteke's close-range goal at Anfield on Monday stood despite Philippe Coutinho attempting to play the ball while standing in an offside position. 

The Premier League have since admitted the goal should have been ruled out and have written to all top-flight clubs to clarify the interpretation of the new offside law. 

But Rodgers has praised the decision which ultimately gave his team victory over Eddie Howe's newly-promoted side. 

"The linesman has made an excellent decision. He is assessing very quickly that they may have been an attempt, but there's no way Philippe Coutinho will get to the ball and you can see that, though he's in an offside position," he said. 

"Of course the ball gets whipped in, goes towards the back post and the goalkeeper has made a slight movement, but I don't think the movement has really affected him. I think it's the quality of the ball in, the athleticism and the touch in the finish that has made it difficult. 

"But, of course, Eddie and Bournemouth are disappointed as we were all told a matter of weeks ago that is offside and shouldn't count. But, for me, we take the goal and we move on."

Rodgers added: "Over the course of the season, I think they'll be sending out quite a lot of images because it is very, very difficult to call. There's going to be lots of actions by which players will be standing in offside positions. It's a natural instinct, if the ball is crossed in, players will look to go for the ball.

"I thought the officials had done well over the course of the evening and the goal, with everything they have to assess in a split second, it is very, very difficult." 

Rather than spend too long discussing the controversial goal, Rodgers preferred to focus on a first Premier League goal in a Liverpool shirt for Christian Benteke. 

"From a coaching perspective we were very happy in relation to our short corner. It worked well. We wanted to create the corner to allow Christian to score and from him, it was a wonderful finish," he said.  

"There's been no mention of him and the timing of his run.  Bournemouth work the line well, so they squeezed up to clear the space in the penalty area. But Christian has timed his run perfectly. Great ball in and his athleticism to get up and finish was first class.

"He was the goalscorer and at absolutely no point of the move was he offside. I can understand the frustrations and, of course, the laws and how they are changing. "

Victory over Bournemouth maintained Liverpool's 100 per cent start to the new season following a 1-0 opening day win over Stoke, but Rodgers does not believe too many conclusions should be drawn if the Reds fail to make it three wins out of three when they go to Arsenal on Monday.

"It's important as you're obviously playing one of the rivals you'll be competing with at the top end of the table," he said. 

"They don't, however, give the full picture in how things will turn out. You can still win, draw or lose these games and go on and achieve what you want to achieve. 

"But, of course, for the confidence and psychologically it is important."





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