Wayne Rooney described Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool as a nightmare and one of the lowest points in his career after losing 3-0 to their rivals at Old Trafford.
Rooney’s side are now 14 points behind Liverpool, and are all but out of the race for the top four.
Rooney and strike partner Robin van Persie struggled to get into the game, whichs saw Steven Gerrard score two penalties, miss another, and Luis Suarez round off a perfect win for Liverpool
Rooney told MUTV: ‘It’s a nightmare. It’s one of the worst days I’ve ever had in football.’
United boss David Moyes lamented the concession of the second penalty, just moments after the second half began, as the key moment in his team’s demise.
Phil Jones barged into Joe Allen and prompted referee Mark Clattenburg to point to the spot.
‘It was a game littered with penalty kicks and decisions – some were right and some were wrong. It was a tough day for us,’ he said.
‘At half-time we were 1-0 down to a penalty kick, I didn’t think there was much in it. To give away one 20 seconds or so into the second half it made it a real upward climb for us after that.’
When asked if Liverpool were the better side, though, Moyes was blunt, saying: ‘Yep.
‘They played better than us. Some decisions that went for them, which were important at the right time with the penalty kicks that got.
‘But they earnt them at times, but on some occasions they didn’t earn them at all.’
Liverpool’s third penalty was the most contentious when Daniel Sturridge appeared to dive under pressure from Nemanja Vidic, who was handed his second caution and sent off.
Moyes preferred not to expand on his thoughts about referee Clattenburg’s decision making.
‘As you well know it would be better if I don’t talk about them,’ he said.
‘That’s up to the authorities.’
Moyes was more forthcoming on whether his side should have been awarded a penalty of their own for handball by Glen Johnson.
‘I thought we did,’ he said.
‘It hits his hand. It’s not an awful lot different to the one Rafa had (for Liverpool’s first penalty).’
Written by Steve MIlne
