WHAT BRENDAN RODGERS SAID

‘My feeling is that the game was decided by the officials, on the field and outside of the field. ‘You guys will know me long enough to know that I don’t really comment on officials. ‘But, today, that felt like really, really poor officiating. The first one is the sending-off, when there is no force. Don (Robertson) got it actually right on the field. It was a high boot, so it’s a yellow card — no malice or force. ‘For John Beaton to actually look at that in VAR, supposedly under no pressure, and say that was a sending-off? I find that incredible. ‘The second one is worse. If you have a penalty go against you for that, then there will be penalties every single weekend and midweek. ‘I don’t know what he (Iwata) is supposed to do. Tomo is jumping, he got a nudge, he is coming down, the ball falls on to his arm and there is no intention to move. ‘Then you get the penalty against, and he gets the chance to look at it and see it. ‘That really left us with an uphill task in the game and, credit to my players, they kept going. Their keeper has made a few good saves. But it was a poor day for the officials. ‘I spoke to him (Robertson) in the tunnel just briefly, but it’s a waste of time if I’m honest. There is no change and I also think as well that VAR is not the problem here. That’s clear. It’s competence. And I think the first one is a great example of the game being refereed outside of the pitch. ‘The referee made the decision and someone outside made another decision to say it was a sending-off. So that’s the game being refereed outside of the field and, in big games, that costs you. ‘I’m not one who comes crying about referees, be it here or the EPL, because I understand there will be mistakes made. ‘But I think when I see that level of — incompetence is the only word I can use then that makes me worry for the game. ‘In such a tight title race, which it is and it’s fantastic and great to be involved in, that can make the difference.’