Liverpool's Xabi Alonso ensured Frank Lampard would not
escape the spotlight by re-igniting their row.
The Chelsea midfielder was controversially sent off during his
side's 2-0 defeat at Anfield last week and although the FA
overturned his red card on appeal, Spaniard Alonso insisted Mike
Riley made the right decision.
The bitter rivals could face each other again on Wednesday when
Spain play England in a friendly in Seville and Alonso said: 'As
far as I am concerned, Lampard's tackle was a hard and unnecessary
piece of play.
'He says he went for the ball, but I saw his leg going straight
towards my ankle. 'I don't think he was going for me but those sort
of challenges are always dangerous. Honestly, I was very lucky
because it could have caused me a serious injury. When I saw my
opponent's foot on my leg I feared another injury like the one in
that past season. Jumping saved my ankle.
'For me, the challenge was dangerous and received the card that
anyone, Lampard or any other footballer, should receive.'
The bad blood between Lampard and Alonso dates back to a Premier
League game on New Year's Day 2005 when Lampard's challenge left
Alonso with a broken ankle. And last week Lampard said: 'Ever
since, he has that look in his eye when we meet, and there is
always a bit of shoving and jostling'.