Wenger frustrated by Liverpool draw

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his team were unlucky not to beat Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The match finished 1-1, with Dirk Kuyt scoring a vital away goal for Liverpool, but Arsenal dominated the second half and they were denied a penalty when Kuyt pulled Alexander Hleb.

Wenger said: "It is difficult to understand how we did not win the game, because we had a lot of possession and a lot of chances.

"We were a bit unlucky as well with a big decision of the referee on the penalty. It's difficult to take, but we have to swallow it.

"Sometimes the referee is in a bad position but he was five yards away from Kuyt, and it was 100 per cent a blatant penalty."

Emmanuel Adebayor headed Arsenal in front, but Kuyt fired an equaliser in a packed goalmouth three minutes later.

At one stage it appeared Cesc Fabregas had scored a second goal for Arsenal, but his shot hit team-mate Nicklas Bendtner on the line and rolled clear.

Wenger added: "I feel we were not rewarded for what we produced and we had the chances to win it.

"Liverpool created very little, and the whole second half was played in one half.

"If you look at our amount of possession compared to Liverpool, it is frightening that we could only come out of it with a 1-1."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez praised his players for bouncing back soon after conceding and hanging on for a draw.

He said: "In the second half we were forced back, because Arsenal were attacking and attacking.

"They are such a good team, so we had to defend anyway we could. We had to play deep.

"It was important for us to hit back straight after they scored. If you do not do that you end up being 2-0 down very soon - and it is over.

"Always it is important to score away in the Champions League, always. Now we have the advantage of playing at Anfield in front of our own fans.

"Then if we score it will always be hard for them. It is a good situation for us, but still difficult."

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