http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Liverpool-boss-Kenny-Dalglish-Luis-Suarez-should-never-have-been-banned-article862463.htmlAfter an explosive contest against title-contenders Spurs, his manager Kenny Dalglish stoked old flames - and sparked fresh controversy - with a fresh attack on the injustice of the striker's eight-match.
And if that wasn't enough, the combustible row with Manchester United was fuelled even further as both Wayne Rooney and former Old Trafford hero Gary Neville argued the South American should have been dismissed within minutes of his appearance as a 65th minute substitute.
Suarez was booked for a wild kick at Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker that caught him in the stomach as he headed the ball. Immediately, United star Rooney tweeted: "If the ref sees that kick from Suarez and books him for it, it should be red."
Dalglish was unimpressed by that comment and later ones from TV pundit Neville which suggested Suarez only escaped a sending off because he had just returned from suspension.
But the Reds boss courted yet more criticism as he once again voiced his opinion that the forward should never have been banned for what the FA deemed was racial abuse of United defender Patrice Evra.
Speaking after the game, Dalglish insisted: "It is fantastic to have him back, but he should never have been out in the first place. We don't think he should ever have been away, but now he's back we're delighted because every time he gets the ball he causes problems."
Liverpool have been heavily criticised for their defiant support of Suarez, even after the FA verdict which found him guilty of using a reference to Evra's colour in a derogatory way.
The striker eventually apologised and the club issued a statement saying they accepted the ban and wanted to move on, but the manager's comments suggest he has far from accepted the punishment.
It will fan the flames of a volatile showdown with United at Old Trafford at the weekend, where Suarez is likely to make his first start since the ban.
And so too will the comments and Rooney and Neville. The challenge on Parker was misjudged in the extreme as the Uruguayan missed the ball by fully two feet to kick his opponent fiercely in the stomach. But Dalglish insisted it was accidental when he added:
"Luis just never saw him, I really don't think he saw him. I don't have a view on what Rooney and Neville said - why don't you tweet him back! I think I'll just plead the Fifth Amendment."
Spurs were without their boss Harry Redknapp, whose plan to make a dash from his court case in Southwark to the game were dashed by a technical fault with his flight.
And in his absence assistant Kevin Bond accepted that neither Suarez nor Martin Skrtel - who was booked for a wild studs-up challenge on Gareth Bale that left the Welshman with a huge gash in his leg - should have been dismissed.
"No I don't think there should have been a red card, they weren't really red cards. Gareth took a knock but I don't know - I don't like to see anybody sent off. It was a hard but fair game."
The controversy surrounding Suarez's return overshadowed the game itself, which was ignited only when the striker came on.
But Spurs left Anfield rueing a missed chance from Bale that would have snatched victory five minutes from time, when he was clear through on goal, and that may have dashed their title hopes.
"It was a different type of display from us, we really had to battle and defend well, but we had the best chance of the game, and all credit to their keeper, he made it difficult for Gareth," said Bond.
Suarez too, missed a glorious chance with seconds remaining but Dalglish insisted he has no worries about his side's poor conversion rate - which is the worst in the Premier League.
"Yes we would like to take more chances like any team, but we are creating more chances than anyone, and defending better than anyway, and we are in a much better position that this time last year, so two out of three ain't bad."
Last edited by Chris on Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:26 am; edited 1 time in total
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