Lay off Suarez, says Liverpool coach Dalglish

23 October 2011 09:49

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish mounted a passionate defence of Luis Suarez after his Uruguayan striker was dragged into another Premier League controversy.

Just a week after Suarez was accused of subjecting Manchester United defender Patrice Evra to a barrage of racist abuse, he attracted more criticism in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Norwich when he tumbled to the Anfield turf under a challenge from Marc Tierney.

However, referee Peter Walton refused to penalise the visiting defender.

"I'll say something but won't add to it. People question Luis Suraez's integrity and it's their integrity that needs to be questioned, not his," said Dalglish.

Suarez had also been accused of diving by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in last week's game.

"On the football pitch he is exemplary. He's a fantastic footballer, we've got 100 percent faith in Luis Suarez and the way he conducts himself."

Meanwhile, Dalglish insists he is not concerned about Liverpool's home form despite them missing another chance to close on the Champions League places.

The Reds have managed just two wins from their five home games following Saturday's draw with Norwich.

They have not kept a clean sheet during that run, which has also included draws with Sunderland and Manchester United and a scrappy 2-1 victory over struggling Wolves.

Liverpool also seem to be struggling with lowly opposition, having lost four of their six matches against promoted sides last season.

They had 25 efforts on goal against Norwich but Dalglish maintains he is not worried about his team's lack of killer instinct.

"If you don't convert your chances, you will give other people a chance and they took it," said the Scot.

"We're disappointed with the result but I'm sure we'll play worse than that and win. You work to get the chances on the day and it's difficult to assess how you react when you get it.

"If we keep creating chances, we've got enough people there to take them. If they continue to play like that, they'll win a lot more games than they'll lose."

Making his first Premier League start since returning for a second spell at Liverpool in the summer, Craig Bellamy scored the first league goal since his move from Manchester City.

But Grant Holt equalised with his 55th goal in 100 appearances for Norwich to continue Paul Lambert's team's fine start to life in the Premier League.

Lambert feels John Ruddy's form has rightly pushed the goalkeeper into contention for an England call-up.

Former Everton goalkeeper Ruddy, who turns 25 next week, made a string of fine saves at Anfield and has reportedly caught the eye of England coach Fabio Capello.

He had saved his best to last when he parried away a well-struck Suarez volley in the fourth minute of injury time.

"When you play at a high level, big players in big moments will produce big performances and the save that he made at the end of the game was world-class," said Lambert.

"I hear England are looking at him and they could do a lot worse the way he's playing."

Norwich have now lost just once in five matches and Lambert feels performances -- even in defeat at Chelsea and Manchester United -- have given his players the belief that they belong in the Premier League.

Having been strong favourites for relegation at the start of the season, Lambert's side have 12 points from their first nine matches and are just three points adrift of Liverpool.

"Going to Stamford Bridge and playing the way we did, and doing the same at Old Trafford, that gave them the belief we can compete with teams," said the Norwich boss.

"And if you can compete you'll be fine. We're not just a hard-working team, we've got some really good players that are making a name for themselves.

"You're not going to come to somewhere like Anfield and play pretty football and not be under the cosh.

"But the players stick at it. You've got to do that at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge and we've shown we can do it."

Source: AFP