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Carra admits penalty award was wrong

Referee Kevin Friend was the centre of attention © Getty Images

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Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher conceded his side had been the beneficiaries of what was an incorrect first-half penalty award during their 2-0 win over Sunderland.

Sunderland were matching the Reds when John Mensah miscontrolled a ball and in attempting to remedy the situation pulled down Jay Spearing. The referee initially awarded a free kick, only to change his mind and award a penalty following advice from his assistant.

The decision did not meet favour with Sunderland and Carragher has admitted Liverpool were fortunate with the decision.

He told Sky Sports: "I thought it was a penalty, but then I looked at half-time and I don't think it was, was it? It was just outside.

"Everyone knows goals change games - up to then it had been pretty even and Sunderland had been putting a bit of pressure on. Every week you can look at different incidents and you can always say it changes the game. Maybe it has gone our way but thankfully we got the other (goal) to make sure so you could say we would still have won 1-0.''

That other goal came from man of the match Luis Suarez, who fired home a shot from an acute angle, beating Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet at his near post.

"Luis is a top player and he has given everyone a lift,'' Carragher said. "Luis looked a top player and we missed him this week in Europe.''

Steve Bruce was understandably upset about the penalty decision, although he admitted it probably would not have changed the result.

He said: "I have got no complaints about the result - it might not have affected the result, the way we played today. However, that was a really big, key decision for somebody 80 yards away - or 70 yards away at least - to overturn the referee.

"I knew and [fourth official] Martin Atkinson knew within five seconds that it was outside the box with the technology we have got. Surely it has got to be time for those sort of things to be brought into play with all the technology we have got today. But it was one of those horrible afternoons.''

Kenny Dalglish said: "There was a bit of dispute over whether the foul occurred inside or outside the box. From where we are, I couldn't honestly tell you, but if we have got a fortuitous one, then we have got a fortuitous decision in that instance. Overall, it was a great effort from our players.''

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