Dalglish blames cups and TV for Red’s defeat

LIVERPOOL Kenny Dalglish suggested his team are paying the price for success as Liverpool lost to Wigan at Anfield for the first time in their history, the manager explaining that progress in both domestic cup competitions has caused fatigue among his squad.Dalglish said that problem was compounded by television schedules stipulating that the Carling Cup winners had had to play three matches in six days, starting with the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Stoke last Sunday and followed by league defeats by Queens Park Rangers and now Wigan.“We looked a wee bit tired,” Dalglish said following the 2-1 loss. “We gave the ball away quite a lot in vital positions and that’s not because the players can’t play it’s because of tiredness. You play on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday and it is going to take its toll. We’ve not had enough players at our disposal to give them adequate rest. That’s the problem put on the club by the television schedule and the fact that we’ve done well in two cups.”Dalglish also complained that a decisive point in the match was referee Lee Mason’s refusal to award Luis Suárez a second goal when the sides were tied at 1-1, the official ruling that the Uruguayan had put the ball into the net with his arm. “There was no rhyme or reason why the second goal should have been chalked off, it wasn’t handball,” said Dalglish, who thought the ball had come off the striker’s shoulder.The Wigan manager also praised his own team’s character, saying: “I don’t think we played as well as we played in the previous five games but I was pleased in the manner we coped after we conceded the goal.”

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Dalglish blames cups and TV for Red’s defeat