Peter Crouch was sent off for a wild challenge at Chelsea

The England striker was dismissed for a two-footed lunge in the Carling Cup quarter-final defeat at Stamford Bridge, but claimed Mikel overreacted.

He said: "Foreign players have brought a lot to our game, but that's something you don't want to see.

"I didn't catch Mikel but he has gone down like he's been shot."

A lot was going their way and I think frustration got the better of me Liverpool's Peter Crouch

Crouch added: "What I'm thinking is if you go in on Frank Lampard or John Terry would they roll around like Obi Mikel did? I don't think they would have done.

"Would someone like Jamie Carragher have gone down like that? I think it's safe to say that he wouldn't."

The England striker will now serve a three-match ban over the holiday period in a season where he has struggled to earn a regular place in Liverpool's starting line-up.

And the red card from referee Martin Atkinson increased his frustration.

He said: "Mikel came in with his studs up and that was in the back of my mind. Then I thought there was another foul in there and obviously I've lost my head.

"There are no excuses for the tackle I made but if the referee had pulled the foul up when he should have done it wouldn't have happened.

"A lot was going their way and I think frustration got the better of me.