A game is not won or lost because of one refereeing decision. Referees are fallible too and everyone in the game should take a leaf from Claudio Ranieri who accepts that these are part and parcel of the beautiful game. A match is played over 90 minutes and if a team whinges and whines over a moment of lapse and forgets about the time they had to win it, then that team and its players are not worth talking about. A team if it is good enough should take stock and go on to win it, that if they have it in them.

Ranjeya, kuala lumpur, malaysia

Mourhino's constant referral to the "ghost goal" in the first Euro semifinal really has become tiresome. I wish the linesman had not thought it had crossed the line - because then Liverpool would have been awarded a penalty and Cech would have been sent off - that's what the referee said, so Chelsea got off lightly with the award of a goal.
The way Chelsea's players surround the ref after every decision which goes against them is a disgrace. It was this badgering which led to Stiles losing the plot, and to the rediculous decisin in awarding the penalty. How much longer can they get away with this? Stiles should not handle another premiership game. His capitulation was amazing - he needed to stand up and be a man. 10 yellow cards in a game where there was not really a bad challenge!

John Davies, Liverpool,

Benitez doth protest too much. Two phantom goals in two champ league semis have been answered. How about Gerrard drawing a phantom foul against Villa..he was tackled, ran into the Villa defender and gave the decision on behalf on the ref...two points stolen..how about that for pressure on the ref. If Lampard hadn't buried the penalty Chelsea would have been penalised as the ball would have reached Drogba, unmarked and ready to bury it! Arbaloa and Torres are learning how to dive and draw cards...bring back Graham Poll? he's making a nice living poking fun at ref's still dealing with pressure cooker atmospheres.

Ian Scott, Wokingham, england

On one hand we have Liverpool playing up on the intimidating atmosphere of Anfield claiming that no team likes going there and then we have Gerrard moaning that Chelsea influenced the referee.

Dropped points for Liverpool and Chelsea will have benefited from Man Utds disastrous start

chuck wilson, Stockport,

First, let me come clean: I'm a Chelsea 'lifer' , so clearly biased.
Second, let me tell you how I saw it (in a pub, live on TV, with lots of London scousers): usual messy Liverpool-Chelsea clash, with Liverpool playing the better football most of the time, but never quite looking like they would kill the game. Chelsea a bit disconnnected, not linking well between midfield and attack, usually second to the ball.
Third - the penalty. Not a penalty, but in conceding that - surely not a calculated act of deception by Malouda - who was clearly (and I've now watched it five times) clobbered accidentally.
Fourth - Essien second booking (not) . I think this incident is being overplayed by the Media. Styles got the penalty horribly wrong, but watching this back, his only error was probably in forgetting he'd raised his card to Terry already.
My conclusion - 2 points lost for Liverpool who will (in my opinion) once again, fail to disrupt the Chelsea, Manchester United monopoly!

Fraser Southey, London,

The number of 50/50 decisions that go in favour of the big three in tight situations leads one to wonder if the powers-that-be have something to do with it. They want Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U in Europe so it is hinted to the refs that 50/50 decisions in close matches should go in favour of those teams. I think stats would support this theory.

It was quite obvious that Styles was going to book Essien and then realised he already had. He changed his mind so that Chelsea were not reduced to ten men. The way they physically harangued him there should have been at least one red card.

Roger Tilbury, Worthing, England

Short scouse memories...

You won the CL because of this type of officiating.

Some you win, some you lose.

Take it like men...

J.Smith, Sunderland,

Even the most blinkered of Liverpool fans would have to admit that over the years referees have had a tough time at Anfield (well those who've been to Anfield that is as opposed to the pot hunting bulk of them who've never left the far east or London suburbs) so it's quite refreshing to see the intimidation coming from the visitors for a change. And let's face it Chelsea dropping 3 points to Liverpool is only going to aid Manchester United in the long run. Anyway, just watching it on Sky and it's a definite penalty :o).

Mark, London, England

Get a grip. Gerrard won the game for Liverpool last weekend after gaining a free kick by tackling himself. What goes around comes around, even for arrogant scousers

john, Royston, herts

Liverpool were the stronger team yersterday. Deserved a better reward than a point. Rob Styles needs to take a good hard look at how he refereed that game. 9 (or was it 10???) bookings suggests he lost control. And that's not to mention the penalty - I an still having flashbacks of disbelief!
I realise it's early days, but Torrez has the makings of an Anfield hero and this team has the makings of a Championship side.
C'mon you mighty Reds!!!

Grant Crawford, Dubai, UAE

i do not know what jose's agenda is, he must think that we are all stupid. one can admire his support for his team (possibly confused for support for himself) but he is not fooling anyone. he is the leader of a team of cheats, and he can try to pull the wool over our eyes but unfortunately, for him, it is plain for all to see.

on the subjetc of the refereeing performance, i thought styles was chelsea's best player. i am amazed jose hasnt tried to sign him.

liverpool should have won, the result was a total injustice

Dave R, Oxford,

Rob Styles certainly lived up to his name yesterday. If he is allowed to referee another match in the premiership, it will only raise the need for video technology in the game. Football should follow the example of tennis. The manager should be able to challenge up to 2 times in a match, the referees' decisions and use video playback. Then Rob will have no choice but to first award Liverpool the freekick instead of a penalty against them and secondly send off Essien for the 2nd yellow card. I don't think Styles was bent, but he certainly is too inept not to accept technological help.

Craig K, London, UK

Settle down. This will all be so irrelevant by Christmas when Liverpool are 20 points off the pace.

Peter, Wellington, NZ

These Liverpool fans moaning about the penalty were notable in their absence last week after Villa were denied a clear penalty, and then Gerrard scores from a free-kick that never was.

Typical of them really.

Steve, Maidenhead,

I hate the surrounding of refs, and we were told that only the captain could approach, yet that has gone out the window. It is boring Chelseas strategy, that once they are level, or ahead, to foul, waste time, and dive, thereby disrupting and killing the game. If the referee is so weak that he can't tell the players to back off, or to card them if they don't then they should not be in charge, and Styles is a the perfect example of a weak man. To give a penalty like that from 6 yds is a disgrace, and he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself, unless of course that is what he was paid to do.

Kam Rai, London, UK

Seems to me the ref made it hard for himself early in the game when he (first?) booked Essien for his first real tackle. This was followed by two Liverpool players very clearly being given two to three warnings before being booked. As to Chelsea players complaining about decisions to the ref - what was it that Pennant was doing when he got booked? As far as the incident in the second half, Styles at first indicated that there was no foul against Torres, but Ben-Haim was clearly aggreived at yet another dive from Torres. It looked as if Styles was going to book Ben-Haim - already booked, then changed his mind to book Terry. He then awarded a free kick to Liverpool - for what? Either way a bit of a mare for the ref.

Draw probably about the right result though.

Dave, Twickenham,

Thought the game was a little more 2-sided than the report, and certainly the ratings, describe. And liverpool criticising anyone for talking too much is priceless. They present the most vocal insular polarised view of any club on the planet. And on recent history these opinions are definitely not merited.

Ian Richards, Redcliffe,

I support Chelsea, proudly too. If their behaviour is to be criticised then look at the past record of all teams; it isn't a pretty picture for any of the clubs. The referee has a thankless task, he is human not an electrical device. Perhaps a general change in behaviour is required starting with the baiting that goes on off the field, then make the referee's word law. Take the rugby punishment of sending a player off the field for five to ten minutes for decent.

Celia, notts, UK

Sweet Jesus, what a ridiculous overreaction to the events. Where was all this when Gerard dived and got a 'penalty' against Sheffield Utd, a point that eventually cost them their Premiership status? This is a laughable attempt to play victim and attract sympathy - yes, it was a wrong decision, but it was about time Liverpool were on the receiving end of one. End of.

As for Liverpool now being the 'genuine challengers' (yawn...), a bit of perspective here. Liverpool's ability to play well on any given day was never in question, it's their inability to keep it going over the whole season that was the problem. Correct me if I am wrong, but that still remains the case.

Finally, Torres scored a nice goal, but I remember anyther Spaniard named Reyes scoring 2 great goals on his debut for Arsenal. And we all know how that turned out...

Steve, london,

Gerrard/Benitez weren't complaining when Gerrard conned the ref last week at Villa to get a free kick in which he scored the winning goal. So things have evened themselves up already.

mike, Liverpool,

if refs dont want to be called cheats then perhaps they should stop reffing like they have been bought...

2 teams get away with murder in this league...18 teams get screwed week in week out

Mark, Brisbane, QLD

Styles was a disgrace.
The fact that people are talking about his performance above those of the players - the real 'talent' in this show, once again reinforces the belief that there are egotistical men in black who strive to be leading men rather than extras in the greatest show on earth.
Why is he not facing a disciplinary panel this morning, or paying a heavy fine for bringing the game into disrepute?
After all, this would be the fate of any player who performed so badly and changed the outcome of a very important game for both clubs.
The point Chelsea were gifted could yet prove crucial for them, whilst the two points Liverpool were 'robbed' of will no doubt serve as an additional handicap to their long awaited title challenge.

As for the game itself, Steven Gerrard once again proved beyond arguement that he is the greatest midfield player in the world, while Torres began to justify his £20million transfer fee.
Chelsea, well, they do talk a good game - mostly to the referee

Peter Gosling, Cardiff,

I remember when being at home was meant to be some sort of advantage !!!! and love frank lampard after the penalty- puching the air- one could almost forget he'd been anonymous up till them. why dont you sign your contract instead of kissing that cheesy badge

christian brett, manchester, uk

Sadly when a manager such as Mourinho supports and voices assent to what must rate as some of the most inept refereeing decisions alongside a very poorly and distinctly antagonistic approach to what is supposed to be "impartiality" the name of Chelsea is severely diminished and reduces Mourinos credibility further.

S Thomson, Cester, UK

Visitor in NOT being robbed on Merseyside shock.

Bill Radford, london,

Mourinho makes me physically sick. If Chelsea are naive and clean then Jose is St Raymond Nonnatus (falsely accused people)

livid, Sydney,

This Ref should never be allowed to take charge of another premier game of such importance It was quite clear that he had lost control early on and when he awarded Chelsea a penalty it was clear to me that the Redmen of Merseyside were up against 12 men . It is time that Refs become accountable for their actions instead of hiding in there dressing rooms after the final whistle .
Managers are expected to do interviews to the media and TV audience and show should refs . As for yellow cards he lost count of what he was doing however I do believe that he may well have brandished 2 yellows to the same player . On a final note all I can say is BRING BACK GRAHAM POLL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ossie, koh phangan suratthani 84280, Thailand