Fergie: Key Decisions Went Against Man. United

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes key decisions went against Manchester United as they lost to Liverpool.

Ferguson conceded Liverpool deserved their 2-0 win but felt his team and referee Andre Marriner struggled with the intimidating atmosphere at Anfield.

"All in all Liverpool were the better team but I think it affected our players and the referee," he said.

"There were so many controversial things that happened we have to feel aggrieved at some of them."

Fernando Torres and David Ngog scored second-half goals as Liverpool took the spoils in a match where they created the majority of the chances.

But Ferguson, recently charged by the Football Association following remarks about the fitness of referee Alan Wiley, thought that three crucial decisions went against his team.

United had a first-half penalty appeal turned down when Jamie Carragher challenged Michael Carrick and Ferguson added: "He has gone right over the top of the ball.

"If it is outside of the box it is a free-kick and maybe a yellow card but it was inside the box and the referee was only six yards from it. It was another bad decision."

Nemanja Vidic was sent off after picking up two yellow cards, but by then Carragher had avoided instant dismissal when bringing down United substitute Michael Owen.

With Liverpool clinging onto a 1-0 lead and four minutes plus injury time remaining, the former Liverpool striker appeared poised for a clean run at goal - but Carragher was only booked by Marriner.

Ferguson said: "Every decision, the crowd put the referee under pressure all the time.

"The most controversial decision was Carragher bringing down Michael Owen. He was clear through.

"The laws of the game were altered to prevent professional fouls of that nature and if Carragher goes off, he is their best player and their captain. It would have been a different game. They would have been under pressure.

"The referee was only four or five yards from it so he cannot use a covering defender as an excuse. Michael was clean through. With Michael's pace he is going to get away from him.

"The first Vidic booking was the worst decision. It is a foul, fine, but the player has played on, he won the second ball and knocked it for a throw in and got booked. It put Nemanja under pressure.

"The atmosphere is hard to handle for a referee. Whether he had enough experience, I don't know."

Ferguson also expressed disappointment with the ability of his own players to come to terms with the noise inside Anfield.

"There was a wounded animal aspect to the game and it was something we did not overcome," commented the Scot.

"It was a disappointing performance by us, in the first half in particular. We did not handle the decisions against us."

United created precious few chances during the match and Ferguson added: "Liverpool created the better chances and I have no complaints. We were not good enough but we will always react to defeat - that is the most important thing about this club."