ALONSO - I'M NO DIVER

By Mighty Reds
January 8 2007

Xabi Alonso has hit out at people saying he took a dive in Saturday's evening's match against Arsenal to gain a penalty for Liverpool.

The midfielder was booked by referee Steve Bennet but TV replays shows that there was contact from Gilberto.

Alonso said:

"I felt the contact, that's for sure, and people who have seen the incident on television have told me it was a clear penalty. I felt that on the pitch," said Alonso.

"I spoke to the referee and to Gilberto and told them that there had been contact and 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."

On the match itself he says:

"We were expecting a good run in the FA Cup but we knew it was a tough tie.

"Even being at home against Arsenal, you know it is going to be difficult, and as soon as they got their chances to score they took them.

"They only had three chances during the game, which shows they were very effective.

"The first 30 minutes we pushed really hard and tried to get a goal, but towards the end of the half they went down our end and scored from situations that weren't even chances, really.

"In the second half we got a goal back, but as soon as they got the third it was always going to be really difficult for us."