Xabi Alonso has dismissed suggestions that he dived against
Arsenal on Saturday, with the Spanish midfielder of the opinion
that he should have won a penalty during Liverpool's FA Cup defeat
at Anfield.
With the tie evenly poised at 0-0 after 25 minutes, Alonso tumbled
to the floor under challenge from Gunners midfielder
Gilberto.
Referee Steve Bennett felt Alonso had dived as he brandished a
yellow card to the Spaniard, but the midfielder is adamant he was
sinned against rather than sinner.
"I felt the contact, that is for sure," said Alonso. "People who
have watched it on TV have said it was a clear penalty and I felt
that on the pitch.
"I was talking to the referee and Gilberto and I said to them there
had been contact, that I didn't cheat.
"I was trying to play with the ball and I fell down because of that
contact - I was not cheating."
The Reds, meanwhile, have offered a testimonial to long-serving
defender Jamie Carragher.
The Bootle-born England international has risen through the ranks
at Anfield and has established himself as a firm favourite on
Merseyside since making his debut against Middlesbrough in
1997.
