Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez refused to criticise his own players after their FA Cup shock defeat by Reading. The Royals produced a stunning third-round replay victory at Anfield as Liverpool's disastrous season went from bad to worse.

Liverpool had led through a first-half effort from Steven Gerrard which was deflected home by Reading defender Ryan Bertrand.

The Coca-Cola Championship side equalised with a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty in injury-time to force the extra half hour, in which substitute Shane Long headed the winner.

Asked if the defeat was deserved, Benitez said to ITV1: "It's difficult to say, both sides had chances.

"The penalty was a crucial decision. I think we can talk about this for one hour, there were too many things I didn't like but I can't change those things now and we have to accept the situation."

Asked if he was blaming ref Phil Dowd, Benitez repeated: "There are too many things to talk about. I could see a lot of things I didn't like but you cannot change the result so we have to move forward."

Asked specifically about whether the penalty decision was right or wrong, he said: "Again I would say it depends on your point of view, but too many things I didn't like."