Kuyt: no favours from referee

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has played down suggestions that there was a 'local bias' as Dutch referee Pieter Vink denied Arsenal a definite penalty. Kuyt appeared to bring down Alexander Hleb in the area - but the referee did not give the penalty.

“It was close, to be fair, but he didn't deserve a penalty,” he said. “I do know the referee. I played in Holland lots of times where he was the referee. We both come from the same area. It is wrong, though, to say that because I know the referee, he made decisions in my favour.

"He made a good decision with the penalty. There were no favours. Robin van Persie [the Arsenal forward] knows him better."