Five of the worst refereeing performances in Liverpool history

It was just this week that referee Mark Clattenburg named former Liverpool man Craig Bellamy as one of the five worst players he'd officiated in his career.

And the former Premier League official didn't hold back in the assessment of the Welshman, labelling him a "nightmare" to referee.

But the shoe is often on the other foot and Liverpool have been on the end of some terrible refereeing performances throughout the years.

Everyone makes mistakes - but these were the games that left fans, players and managers raging with the man in black.

Inter Milan 1965

Largely considered one of the most controversial matches in Liverpool's history, the Reds missed out on the chance to clinch their first European Cup thanks to a performance that left Bill Shankly furious with Spanish referee Jose Maria Ortiz de Mendibi.

Liverpool led 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield but quickly went 2-0 down in Italy to two very controversial goals.

The opener came after Ron Yeats was penalised for a questionable offence on the edge of the box. Mario Corso then scored from a direct shot despite Liverpool claiming Ortiz de Mendibil had signalled for an indirect free-kick.

Then Joaquin Peiro challenged goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence while he was bouncing the ball to score before Giacinto Facchetti put the Italians ahead on aggregate.

Ian St John would also have a goal controversially ruled out for offside as the Reds were dumped out 4-3 on aggregate.

Inter Milan later faced accusations of match fixing.

It's a game that still rankles 55 years on.

League Cup controversy 1978

Liverpool had well recovered from the controversy of 1965 and were European Champions by the time 1978 rolled around.

The Reds would retain the European Cup at Wembley but things hadn't gone as well domestically for Bob Paisley's side.

They'd finish runners-up to Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough's side also got the better of them in the League Cup final - but not without some help from the referee.

After a 0-0 draw the match went to a replay at Old Trafford. Liverpool would lose 1-0 after referee Pat Partridge handed Forest a penalty despite Phil Thompson's foul on John O'Hare taking place outside the box.

Terry McDermott then had an equalising goal ruled out for handball - a decision the midfielder later branded a "diabolical decision".

Club World Cup final 2005

A match that saw Liverpool lose out to Sao Paulo despite having as many as three goals ruled out by referee Benito Archundia Tellez in Japan.

The Mexican and his linesman denied Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle for offside before Sami Hyypia's goal from a corner was ruled out after the ball adjudged to have gone out of play before falling to the Finn.

Mineiro would score the only goal of the game for the Brazilians to deny Liverpool the title and Benitez was so angry with the officiating - and the failure to water the pitch pre-match - that he marched over to inform Fifa president Sepp Blatter following the final whistle.

Sunderland beach ball

Not a terrible all round performance, but a Premier League decision that will live long in the memory.

And it was a decision that saw referee Mike Jones demoted following the game.

Darren Bent's low shot was trickling safely into the hands of Pepe Reina when it hit an inflatable ball thrown by a Liverpool fan onto the pitch and diverted into the net.

What had happened was clear for all to see but Jones and his assistant gave the goal - leaving Liverpool fuming.

The decision still annoys Reina to this day but Benitez was philosophical after the game, stating: "It's a very technical question. It could be a goal, it's difficult to say. In this case it has to be a goal."

Club World Cup final 2019

The only game of the five that Liverpool did not lose, the Reds would finally clinch the Club World Cup in Qatar back in December.

But what is it about the competition and referees?

32-year-old Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim turned in a very bizarre performance with Sadio Mane in the thick of the action.

First Mane was booked while Liverpool were trying to counter - after he was pulled back by Flamengo defender Rafinha.

And then in injury time Al-Jassim awarded a penalty for Mane only to overturn it after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Replays showed the offence was outside the area but the referee then decided not to penalise Rafinha for the clear foul, which would have seen the defender sent off. Instead, he gave the Brazilians an uncontested ball on the edge of their own area - leaving Liverpool players and staff flummoxed.

The Reds had another appeal for what looked like a foul on Jordan Henderson dismissed and four players were booked.

Roberto Firmino eventually scored in extra-time to win the game for Liverpool but Al-Jassim's performance left fans - and former player John Arne Riise - raging.

What do you think are the worst refereeing performances in Liverpool history? Let us know in the comments below: