LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested that referee Craig Pawson and linesman Harry Lennard made an "excellent" decision to allow Christian Benteke's winner against Bournemouth -- even though the Premier League said it was wrong.
Benteke was onside when he scored at Anfield last Monday, but under a new interpretation of football's offside rule brought in this season, the goal should have been disallowed because Philippe Coutinho was interfering with play.
The Premier League took the step of writing to all 20 top-flight clubs after Liverpool's 1-0 win to clarify the rule, also sending out a graphic to aid the explanation.
Rodgers, though, has given his backing to Pawson and Lennard, who allowed Benteke's goal to stand.
He told a news conference: "There's been no mention of the timing of Christian's run. He timed it perfectly and his athleticism to get to the ball to finish was first class. At no point was he offside.
"I can understand the frustrations about the law and how it's changing. But I thought the officials had done well over the evening. If you look at everything they have to assess in a split second, it's very difficult.
"The ball's been crossed in and players will look to go for the ball. I think the linesman made an excellent decision. There was no way Philippe Coutinho was going to get the ball. The goalkeeper's made a slight movement but I don't think the movement has affected him."
Rodgers, meanwhile, said that he would assess the fitness of captain Jordan Henderson before deciding whether to play him at Arsenal on Monday.
The midfielder was forced off after 52 minutes of the Bournemouth game because of a heel problem.
He was able to start that match because of a painkilling injection, and he could have similar treatment in order to be available for the trip to Emirates Stadium.
But Rodgers is wary of aggravating the injury, and so will check with Henderson before making a final decision.
He said: "We're assessing Jordan day by day. He's had the problem with his foot. We'll see how he goes in the next 48 hours."