Football
ESPN staff 8y

Christian Benteke: 'I was fouled'; Alan Pardew: 'Crystal Palace were robbed'

Christian Benteke insists he was fouled for the controversial penalty that gave Liverpool a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Liverpool went behind to a Joe Ledley strike before having James Milner sent off for a second yellow card. The Reds got back into the game thanks to an error from Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy whose clearance fell to Roberto Firmino for the equaliser, then Benteke won and scored a penalty in the final minute.

Replays showed little contact between Damien Delaney and Benteke, but the Belgian striker insists the referee was right.

"I think he touched me otherwise I don't go down," he told BBC Sport. "The referee knows better than us and he took the right decision. You have to be ready when the manager needs you and I tried to do my best today."

Palace manager Alan Pardew, however, disagreed.

"[Christian Benteke] is looking for it. Our player is pulling out of it. If the linesman gives it for the touch of the knee in the last minute I think it is harsh," he said. "Damien Delaney literally pulls out of it and the follow through of his knee gets it. Blimey, that's tough."

"I feel like we've been robbed a little bit but again maybe we shot ourselves in the foot a bit. When we went down to 10 men maybe we should have pushed on a little bit."

Crystal Palace midfielder Ledley added: "Getting in a position like that it's devastating. Usually getting into a position like that at home we are okay at seeing things out.

"Second-half, 1-0 up and they are down to 10 men -- we should be seeing that out.

"The second goal was harsh I think. I don't think it was a penalty, but if you slide to ground like that in the box you are always going to put it into the ref's mind. The run is not ideal, of course. We need to get some confidence back within the camp and hopefully start winning games."

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