Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez offered no excuses for skipper Steven Gerrard after his dismissal in yesterday's 3-1 win over Everton.
Gerrard was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards inside 60 seconds in the highly-charged 203rd Merseyside derby - the second time he has been sent off in this fixture.
The game was littered with cards while Everton substitute Andy van der Meyde was shown a straight red for elbowing Xabi Alonso with 18 minutes left.
In the end referee Phil Dowd dished out 11 cautions - one of which became red fro Gerrard - and Everton, with seven, will now face a Football Association investigation.
But it was Gerrard's early exit - cautioned for kicking the ball away and the cutting down Kevin Kilbane - which concerned Benitez most.
"We must learn, Steven and all the players, that you can play with the brain as well as the heart," he said.
"It is important in every game. Steven is truly disappointed but happy for the team.
"He knows it created a difficult situation for the team and we must learn for the future.
"He gives to us a lot of things, he plays with passion but in this type of game you need to be calm. OK, we made a mistake but we must learn for the future."
Gerrard was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards inside 60 seconds in the highly-charged 203rd Merseyside derby - the second time he has been sent off in this fixture.
The game was littered with cards while Everton substitute Andy van der Meyde was shown a straight red for elbowing Xabi Alonso with 18 minutes left.
In the end referee Phil Dowd dished out 11 cautions - one of which became red fro Gerrard - and Everton, with seven, will now face a Football Association investigation.
But it was Gerrard's early exit - cautioned for kicking the ball away and the cutting down Kevin Kilbane - which concerned Benitez most.
"We must learn, Steven and all the players, that you can play with the brain as well as the heart," he said.
"It is important in every game. Steven is truly disappointed but happy for the team.
"He knows it created a difficult situation for the team and we must learn for the future.
"He gives to us a lot of things, he plays with passion but in this type of game you need to be calm. OK, we made a mistake but we must learn for the future."
