Houllier perplexed by Poll penalty decision

Last updated : 09 November 2003 By Chris Maxwell
With the deficit narrowed to just a single goal thanks to Harry Kewell's sixth strike of the season, young live-wire Florent Sinama Pongolle appeared to be impeded by Rio Ferdinand as he strode into the Manchester United penalty area.

However, much to the dismay of Houlier and over 40,000 Reds fans at Anfield, referee Graham Poll decided that the troubled £30m defender's challenge was entirely fair.

"We should have had that penalty, although I am not blaming referee Graham Poll, said Houllier.

"He was probably seeing it from a different angle, but I have now seen it on TV and it is clear to me. At Old Trafford, I feel it would have been a penalty."

Despite the vocal protestations of the Anfield crowd, the Liverpool players failed to appeal to the referee following the controversial incident - a situation Houllier insists he is more then happy with.

Houllier added: "I do not like my players chasing referees, it means they lose concentration. And he is not going to change his mind, Mr. Poll obviously saw it differently."