Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says his side were “poor” and got lucky in Sunday’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over 10-man Liverpool at Anfield in the Premiership.
Steven Gerrard had put the Reds ahead, after Jonjo Shelvey’s 39th minute red card, before Rafael da Silva’s spectacular leveller and Robin van Persie’s controversial winner from the spot.
Ferguson admitted prior to Shelvey’s sending off, United were second best.
“We were very poor. Liverpool dominated the first half and we were lucky,” Ferguson said.
“In the second half, we had better statistics in terms of possession but we were playing against 10 men so that was disappointing.”
Meanwhile, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers fumed with the referee’s decisions for Shelvey’s red and the penalty, when contact appeared minimal between Glen Johnson and Antonio Valencia.
“We are bitterly disappointed but the best team lost. We could control our players’ performance but what we can’t control is decisions by the referee,” Rodgers said.
He added: “Everyone who saw it will say it is never a penalty. Glen Johnson has made a fantastic recovery run and I don’t know why Antonio Valencia goes down to be honest.”