Watch Liverpool

• Midfielder annoyed with official following 1-0 defeat to Arsenal
• Did not spot Fábregas handball in stoppage time

Steven Gerrard has described referee Howard Webb’s decision not to award Liverpool a penalty during their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last night as “crazy”.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fábregas admitted after the match that he handled Gerrard’s stoppage-time free-kick and although television replays suggested the incident was outside the area, Gerrard was left fuming at missing out on a chance to salvage a point and maintain the club’s unbeaten run.

“The referee told the Liverpool wall in the first half that if anyone raises their arms above their waist he was going to give a penalty,” said midfielder. “So for some crazy reason he didn’t give it.

“He told me after the game he hadn’t seen it. It was unbelievable and I can’t believe he didn’t see someone raise their hands in the wall.

“We know over the course of a season sometimes you will get decisions and sometimes you won’t, but something so clear as that was hard to take, especially with the referee being Howard Webb. I would say he is one of the best referees in the league so I am very surprised he didn’t see it.”

The defeat means Liverpool have now lost eight league games this season and face the potentially pivotal visit to Manchester City as their next fixture.

Steven GerrardLiverpoolguardian.co.uk