Samuel Eto'o Admits He Deserved Red Card for Jordan Henderson Tackle, Apologises

Samuel Eto'o has conceded that his studs-up tackle on Jordan Henderson during Chelsea's victory over Liverpool on Sunday was deserving of a red card.

The Cameroon striker has also issued an apology to Henderson for an incident that marked a fractious match.

Eto'o's goal proved to be the winner after Liverpool took an early lead, but Reds manager Brendan Rodgers spoke out about the refereeing—particularly with regards to Eto'o's challenge—in the aftermath of the match, as reported by Sky Sports.

In quotes picked up by The Sun (subscription, also reported by Ben Burrows in the Daily Mirror), Eto'o said:

"

Maybe I should have been sent off. But I'm not the referee. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but we must respect decisions from the officials.

During the match in the first moments, the game was very passionate on both sides, but people know I'm not violent.

I was really sad to see Jordan on the floor - I want to take this opportunity to say sorry.

"

Another important incident in the game saw Eto'o make a rash challenge on Luis Suarez. Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reports that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hit out at Suarez for diving, but Eto'o here denied that a penalty should have been awarded, in quotes in The Sun (subscription, here via ESPN):

"

The ref did his job. He was two metres away from us. We can't all be the ref and it's easy for people to talk when they are far away. Yes, there was contact, but I didn't commit a foul.

"

The result ensured that Chelsea go into 2014 in third place on the Premier League table—and ahead of Liverpool, who have fallen to fifth after consecutive defeats on the road.