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Liverpool, England. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is in danger of a three-match ban after appearing to elbow Portsmouth’s Michael Brown in an off-the-ball incident during the Reds’ 4-1 victory on Monday.

The Football Association may yet take action after studying film of the clash, which happened in the second half at Anfield. A suspension would leave Gerrard off the field against Manchester United on Sunday.

Gerrard was substituted shortly after Brown was flattened. The incident was not punished by referee Stuart Attwell, who thought it was a “coming together” between the players.

“They were asking me about it, but I didn’t see it. I prefer to enjoy the game,” Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.

Portsmouth manager Avram Grant also said he missed the incident.

“I was told the referee was four meters away from it. I think he needs to see from four meters what I didn’t see from 40 meters,” he said. “He missed a lot of things.”

Gerrard had played a part in Liverpool’s comfortable win against relegation-threatened Portsmouth, with goals coming from Fernando Torres (2), Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani.

The victory keeps alive Liverpool’s hopes of finishing fourth and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool, facing a 1-0 first leg deficit against Lille in the Europa League on Thursday, move one place up to fifth, one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

It was Aquilani’s first goal for Liverpool since the Italian midfielder joined from Roma for 17 million pounds ($26 million) in August.

“I have waited a long time for the goal, so I am very happy,” he said. “Now we need to win a lot of games to finish in the top four.”

Goalkeeper Jose Reina said the victory was well-earned. “When we are playing well we can score every minute and we had an incredible spell in the first-half, but we have to make sure we do that again on Thursday.”

Grant said his side would fight to the end. Crisis-hit Portsmouth, crippled by financial problems, is rooted to the bottom of the table with nine games remaining.

“We did okay until the first goal. We lost our shape and conceded further goals,” Grant said.

“What has happened this year at Portsmouth, you could write a book about it. I cannot speak about this any more because I just end up repeating myself.

“We are fighting for this club and fighting for this city. But we need help. Never in my life will I give up and I won’t start now.”

 

Agence France-Presse