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Cisse ready to apologise to Newcastle fans

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-21 09:15

LIVERPOOL, England, March 20 (Reuters) - Djibril Cisse is willing to say sorry after taunting Newcastle United supporters following his goal in Liverpool's 3-1 win on Sunday.

The French striker was spoken to by the referee for the hand gestures he made at the crowd in the Premier League game at St James' Park.

"I don't expect the FA to take any action against him," Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez told reporters on Monday.

"We talked after I saw the incident on television and he said he is happy to meet people from Newcastle and say sorry about what he did.

"I think he was under pressure because he had not scored a goal for a long time.

"So when he scored, the reaction he made was almost normal. It was a bad reaction but one made when he was under pressure."

Cisse's goal was his first since scoring against Everton on December 28. The striker is now in line to take part in Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final against Birmingham City.

Birmingham are in the relegation zone, three points behind fourth from bottom West Bromwich Albion with a game in hand.

"Their priority will be the league," Benitez said. "They will be thinking about the league for sure."