Rafa disappointed with defeat

But the Liverpool boss was also disappointed with Peter Crouch's sending off which he says affected the result.

"I am disappointed my team has lost but we played really well with 11 men," he aaid after the game. "We passed the ball well and created good chances but they had a very good goalkeeper."

"That decision finished the game. Mikel tried to kick Crouch twice.

"That is the reason Crouch lost his head. If the referee blows his whistle before, you avoid the sending off."