Bosses baffled by Anfield decision

Managers Rafael Benitez and Arsene Wenger have both expressed their dismay at the decision to postpone the Carling Cup quarter-final between Liverpool and Arsenal scheduled to take place at Anfield tonight.

The decision was made by referee Martin Atkinson after a second inspection of a fog shrouded Merseyside pitch at 6.45 pm.

Atkinson assessed the conditions on the pitch at 6.15 pm and said if the fog had not worsened in 30 minutes the game would be on.

However, on his return conditions had deteriorated and visibility was so poor and unlikely to improve that the match was declared unplayable.

Both Liverpool manager Benitez and counterpart Wenger wanted to play and Atkinson said he did all he could to keep the match on but felt the conditions could compromise safety.

"We are all disappointed the game could not go ahead," said the Yorkshire official. "It is a massive game and from an official's point of view we want to be officiating.

"From the situation we can't do that. For us to start the game and then have an assistant not being able to see an offside decision would bring the game into a farce."

Benitez was unhappy the match could not go ahead.

"I think we could play. I was surprised because this morning we were training in worse conditions," he said. "You cannot change the decision. You must respect it but we don't agree."

Arsenal manager Wenger admitted he had been keen to see how his side, which was to have included a number of fringe players, would cope against an expected host's more experienced line-up.

"It is very much disappointing because the young players had a good opportunity to play tonight," he told Radio Five Live. "We had a good mixture of experienced and young players and I think it would have been very interesting."

Wenger said he would have happily played the match tomorrow but there was not enough time to put everything in place.

"It is impossible in 24 hours to rearrange a game," he added.

Anfield stadium manager Ged Poynton explained: "You need 10 days' notice minimum to inform Merseyside Police for their requirements."

Poynton added that after discussions with the police he was satisfied from a safety point of view the match could go ahead but the final decision rested with the official.

"The police and I have no issue over safety, we could see all the spectators through the CCTV," he told Sky Sports.

The fog had earlier caused problems for Arsenal with their plane having to be diverted to Blackpool airport because of conditions in Liverpool.