McAnuff: Be fair with Suarez

19 October 2012 18:48

Jobi McAnuff has warned his Reading team-mates to be wary of Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, but fears divers are condemned too quickly.

Suarez is viewed as the worst culprit of simulation in the Barclays Premier League and was branded an "embarrassment" by Stoke boss Tony Pulis earlier this month. While the Uruguay striker has received strong support from manager Brendan Rodgers, he has faced heavy criticism from outside Anfield.

"With any player, especially in the box, you have to be careful, probably more so with him," McAnuff said."In the last game (Liverpool v Stoke) he was literally nowhere near him."

He added: "There's been some instances with Suarez that have been penalties which he hasn't got and of course on the other hand there's the instances that were dives.

"But sometimes it's not a penalty nor a dive - there is an in-between.

"You can be running at such pace that it doesn't take a lot to knock you off your feet or unbalance you."

Reading will face Brian McDermott's predecessor as manager when they attempt to secure their first Premier League win of the season at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers, who was replaced by McDermott in 2009, has endured a difficult start at Liverpool with the club sat in 14th place after securing a solitary victory.

McAnuff was signed by Rodgers in 2009 and insists the Royals have moved on since his departure.

"I've played against a lot of former managers because I've been around a bit. You can't get sidetracked with any other issue," he said. "I haven't looked at how Brendan is doing at other clubs because you can't be too romantic and overly friendly with people."

Source: PA