ROY HODGSON refused to be drawn into a slanging match with Alex Ferguson after the Manchester United manager accused Fernando Torres of cheating.

And Hodgson has dismissed claims from Ferguson that yesterday's 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford was a “catastrophe” for Liverpool.

Ferguson was left fuming at Torres for the incident that gave Steven Gerrard the opportunity to score his second and level the match at 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.

Torres was felled by John O'Shea as he began to chase down a throughball by Raul Meireles, with referee Howard Webb awarding the free-kick and giving O'Shea a yellow card.

However, as the last defender, O'Shea could easily have been dismissed and Ferguson said: “Definitely, Fernando Torres made a meal of it no doubt. He was trying to get the lad sent off.”

Hodgson responded: “I shouldn't get involved in that. Sir Alex is entitled to any opinion he wants to have.

“Should it have been a red? I have a very ambivalent attitude towards those type of things. I'm not a great lover of red cards for petty offences.