Scolari fumes as Lampard red card cost Chelsea dearly

LIVERPOOL: Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted referee Mike Riley was to blame for Chelsea's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday after Frank Lampard was sent off for a foul on Xabi Alonso.

A tight game swung Liverpool's way in the 60th minute when Riley ruled that Lampard's sliding tackle on Alonso, which won the ball but also caught the player, was worthy of a straight red card.

Chelsea almost held out for a draw despite their numerical disadvantage but Fernando Torres scored twice in the final moments to leave Chelsea five points behind leaders Manchester United.