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Boateng under fire

Boateng lucky to escape serious injury

Boateng was fortunate not to sustain any serious injury after England international Gerrard made an ill-timed lunge to win the ball.

But the Liverpool boss, who saw his side slump to a 3-1 defeat, was unimpressed by the Villa player's reaction to the tackle.

"The referee's position was from behind the incident, it may have looked different there, so I don't blame the official," said Houllier.

"But Stevie actually won the ball and then caught the player.

"Boateng overdid it a bit, he did that a number of times, he's a good actor."

Aston Villa captain Paul Merson dismissed Houllier's view of the Gerrard tackle, insisting: "It was nasty and Steven got what he deserved.

"Even Stevie admitted to us that it was not the best of tackles.

"Gerard Houllier may have said things about George, but I bet he wouldn't have said them if he had won 3-1."