Diving claims take a plunge

TV replays later showed the Liverpool playmaker clearly being fouled in the box, although referee Steve Bennet failed to spot the infringement, instead presenting a yellow card to Alonso for diving.

Alonso said, "I felt the contact, that's for sure, and people who have seen the incident on television have told me it was a clear penalty. I felt that on the pitch."

"I spoke to the referee and to Gilberto and told them that there had been contact and that I didn't cheat. I was trying to play with the ball and I fell down because of that contact, I was not cheating," Alonso added.