Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has warned that he thinks that the lack of disciplinary action from Premiership referee’s is putting players in jeopardy of receiving serious injuries, that could see some players miss out on the World Cup Finals.

The Spanish coach was upset at seeing some dangerous tackles go unpunished over the weekend after Reds keeper Jose Reina was suspended for three games for mildly shoving Chelsea's Arjen Robben.

The Dutch international left-winger embarrassed himself, and his team, by clearly making an over-exagerration of the slight contact from ‘Pepe’ Reina, and Benitez is still disappointed with the players reaction, whilst maintaining that tough tackles need to be clamped down on.

“I cannot understand why Reina cannot play three games for a red card because a player decides to dive,” said Benitez. “And then you can see the tackles of this weekend.

“I think we need to protect the players. If we want to protect players, maybe we need to show more yellow cards.

“Sometimes, we talk and try to explain, but it's better to show yellow cards, so then you can protect players.

"There's a World Cup in a few months. I think all players want to be fit. They don't want to be injured.

“If they (the players) see the possibility of the referee showing more yellow cards, maybe the players will be aware and it will be different.

“Maybe you'll see more football and less tackles like that.”

Benitez was keen to make the distinction between players diving whilst running, and those players who feign contact when tackled, especially in the penalty area. The Anfield boss felt the penalty Darren Bent was awarded in Charlton's recent win at The Valley is a separate issue, and wanted to clarify that.

“They are two different things,” said the Liverpool boss. “(With) Darren Bent, it wasn't a penalty. I cannot say anything as he was running and the referee made a mistake.

“It's different when a player dives, like in the case of Reina. They are two different things, and you need to know the difference.

“If he dives because he cannot stop, the referee needs to know. I always say to the players “don't dive, it's not fair”. Sometimes, you will see these things but the most important thing is the difference between one thing and the other thing. To dive is doing theatre, or that you cannot stop.

“I try to say to my players, not every day, but they know my idea that I don't like to see these things.

“It's important to protect players against these things and tackles are more important. You can see a lot of injuries during the season.”

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