Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers launched a scathing attack on referee Lee Mason and his fellow officials after his side slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Prior to kick off the clash was billed as one of the most important games of the season so far, and it certainly delivered in terms of excitement.

Philippe Coutinho combined well with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling to give the visitors the lead, before Vincent Kompany’s header and an Alvaro Negredo strike on the stroke of half-time sealed the three points for the Sky Blues.

Before the Reds’ opener, Sterling was adjudged to have been offside after being played through on goal, only for replays to reveal that the English starlet was indeed two yards from being in such a position.

Liverpool also has a late penalty call turned down after Suarez appeared to have his shirt pulled by Joleon Lescott.

After the final whistle Rodgers questioned the display and selection of Mason – who hails from the Greater Manchester area:

"Where do you want me to start?” he told Sky Sports.

"I thought we never got any decision. The linesman on the offside one - he wasn't even on the same cut of grass.

"If you're working at this level you have to get it right. It's not even a difficult one.

"It is a perfectly-timed run and he is given offside when he is through one on one on goal. These are big moments in big games.

"There is another incident when Luis (Suarez) doesn't get a free-kick when Joleon Lescott went right through him.

"It is arguable it is a penalty at the end. Luis Suarez can't jump because he is tugging at his shirt.

"I thought it was throughout the evening. Hopefully we don't have another Greater Manchester referee again on a Liverpool-Manchester game."

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