Liverpool's Lucas: Mark Clattenburg was right to not send me off against Chelsea

Disciplinary tightrope: Lucas avoided a second yellow card at Stamford Bridge
IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images
Sam Long1 November 2015

Lucas Leiva has praised the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg during Liverpool's 3-1 victory against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon.

The Brazilian midfielder was cautioned just before the hour mark and narrowly avoided a second booking for another foul just 10 minutes later.

The 28-year-old's dismissal could have changed the outlook of the game as the scores were locked at 1-1 at the time of his infringement.

Late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Christian Benteke secured victory for the visitors and Lucas is adamant Clattenburg's decision not to send him off was the right one.

John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

"Sometimes in my position you make fouls, more to stop the game," he told Liverpool TV.

"I think it was a good decision from the referee, he controlled the game very well."

A visibly frustrated Jose Mourinho refused to discuss the possibility that Lucas should have been given his marching orders during a tight-lipped post-match interview.

But Lucas has played down the incident and believes that Jurgen Klopp's men fully deserved their victory at Stamford Bridge.

"[The second foul] will probably be talked about. It's normal, especially when you lose a game.

"People will say this could change this game. In the end we were the better team."

Chelsea vs Liverpool - player ratings

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Victory in west London moved Liverpool up to seventh place in the table while Chelsea are languishing in 15th a huge 14 points adrift of pacesetters Manchester City.

Clattenburg was criticised by Alan Pardew for his decision to award Crystal Palace forward two yellow cards in quick succession during the Eagles' 3-1 defeat to West Ham on October 17.

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