Rodgers laments disallowed goal

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has lamented the decision to chalk off a late goal to his side in their 2-2 draw with Everton on Sunday.

Rodgers’ side shot out of the blocks at Goodison Park, leading 2-0 inside of 20 minutes thanks to an own-goal from Leighton Baines and a Luis Suarez strike.

But the home side came roaring back into it, and had tied things up before half-time with Leon Osman and Steven Naismith getting on the scoresheet.

Both sides had chances to win the match, and Rodgers thought his men had done just that in the dying stages when Suarez appeared to score – but the Uruguayan was incorrectly ruled offside by officials.

Rodgers, who has made a difficult start to his tenure as Liverpool boss, was disappointed by the decision.

“I think everyone has seen it was a clear goal, fantastic header by Sebastian (Coates) and obviously he has timed his run perfectly Luis, but sometimes it happens like that,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.

“It was a wonderful game and I am very, very proud of the team today. Everton are a strong side and they have started very well and we are still getting together and defining how we play, but I thought we were fantastic today.

“Oviously we would have preferred three points, but a point was the least that we deserved.

“I was very proud of the team. I thought the young players were fantastic and showed great courage.”

Everton boss David Moyes agreed with Rodgers’ assertion that the goal should have been awarded.

“I think we were a little fortunate with the goal,” Moyes said.

“The goal is not offside, but I don’t think it was a foul on (Steven) Gerrard by Osman in the middle of the pitch, I think the referee got that wrong.”

“But overall I think the referee had a pretty steady day considering the atmosphere and what goes on here.”

Moyes said he was not angered by Suarez’s celebration of his first-half goal, which saw him dive in front of the Scot – a reference to comments by the Everton manager about the ease with which Suarez goes to ground.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “I would probably have done the same if I had been the player, but he is going to have to dive in front of a lot of managers then I think.

“I might have done the same to him, if we had won 3-2 I might have done one in front of him as well.”