Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish ponders referee action

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says he will consult the club's owners over how to deal with what he perceives to be poor refereeing so far this season.

The Reds boss was unhappy with a number of decisions during his side's 1-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday.

And afterwards he said: "The first four games have had contentious decisions in them and every one has gone against us.

"We would like to be respectful to referees but more important is having respect for my football club."

He added: "If I feel the club is suffering in any shape or form I will need to go the same route other people go and see if we can gain some benefit from that.

"The first four league games have had contentious decisions in them and every one has gone against us.

"I'll speak to the owners first and see what they say because the last thing I want to do is for my behaviour to impinge on the club's success in any way."

Dalglish insisted he did not have a problem with Stoke's approach in the match at the Britannia Stadium, but admitted his frustration that Liverpool got nothing out of the game.

He also did not believe Jamie Carragher had fouled Jon Walters for the winning penalty.

"I think it is a bit of an understatement to say we deserved something from the game," added the Scot.

"We can only do what we can do ourselves, sometimes other things are taken outside your jurisdiction.

"If we continually get battered by things outside of our control we are not going to get much chance.

"We don't have any complaint about Stoke; they played hard and played well, they got the goal and defended courageously at times and maybe at times they got a bit of luck.

"But I just cannot see how [Stoke's winner] is a penalty kick."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis took a counter view to Dalglish, saying: "I think Kenny will be as biased [to Liverpool] as I am to Stoke.

"I respect his opinion and whether the decisions were (less than impartial) or not I don't know."