Suarez has reputation - Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers thought Luis Suarez, pictured, should have been awarded a penalty against Norwich
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers fears Luis Suarez has acquired a reputation for diving that will haunt him for the rest of his career.
Suarez put in a dazzling performance at Norwich on Saturday, scoring three goals and setting up another in the Reds' 5-2 win at Carrow Road. But one thing tarnished the Northern Irishman's first victory - yet another refusal by the match officials to award Liverpool a penalty after a foul on Suarez.
"I could tell you about three or four strikers who go down in the box with very minimal contact, and all of them have had penalties this year," Rodgers said. "Everyone in the ground saw it was a penalty. Apart from the referee."
Leon Barnett clearly barged Suarez over and brought his elbow down on the forward's shoulder in the box, but referee Mike Jones did not give the spot-kick despite strong protests from the away players.
Last week Suarez was denied a penalty despite being fouled by Jonny Evans and the week before he received a yellow card for simulation against Sunderland, although replays confirmed the penalty shout was legitimate.
Rodgers' frustration with officiating in Liverpool's games so far this season came to a head earlier this week when he called referees' chief Mike Riley to complain his team were not getting enough correct decisions.
He insists he cannot ponder on the matter for too long, however.
He added: "We just have to concentrate on building our game, developing our football, and hopefully these penalties that we don't get won't come back to haunt us."
Unlike Liverpool, Norwich never looked like ending their winless streak. But Norwich have performed better after their 5-0 hammering of Fulham on the opening day of the season and defender Russell Martin thinks the defeat was not a true reflection of the talents at Chris Hughton's disposal.
"The real Norwich is what you saw in the last three or four weeks - not what you saw against Liverpool," Martin said. "We are deflated at the moment, but we have a work ethic in that dressing room that has got us to where we are over the last few years and it remains the same."
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Suarez hasnt helped the reputation he has but it was a definite pen on Saturday, the guy clearly fouled Suarez and if it had been anyone else they would have been awarded a penalty,
It matters not though, we got the points we are out of the bottom 3, and now we can look forward to the rest of the season and who knows what may happen between now and May, this diving thing will not go away until the footballing authoroties grow a pair and make some proper decisions on the matter, it effects every team
If Suarez has a reputation he only has himself to blame. However i'm guessing that the refs met up before the new season started to discuss strategy among other things. I'm also guessing that Suarez, among others, was singled out for 'special' attention. (If you think this is a conspiracy then remember it came out that Peter Crouch had been singled out by European refs when he played for Liverpool.....so not so far fetched)
Last weeks penalty claim aside, which i think was a 50/50 shout, Suarez has had some legit penalty decisions go against. Fair enough it happens but Saturdays denial of a clear penalty was one of the worst i have seen. He was nearly physically asaulted by Barnett who then protested to the ref that Suarez dived. If that challenge had taken place in the street then Barnett would've needed the number of JT's clever legal team to get him off.
If refs have colluded to deny him penalties then surley this shows a clear bias and, at worst, a form of cheating?
If he dives book him.
If he is fouled give a penalty.
It really is as simple as that.
No player should be singled out, if they repeatedly dive they will repeatedley be booked or even sent off. A foul is a foul regardless of a player's reputation and if a referee is worthy of officiating a top Premier League game then he should be able to make the right call.
Suarez and Nani had good shouts for penalties on the weekend, both turned down. Hope the Refs will put a stop to the cheating, and use video evidence after the games as well. Didnt like crouches handball goal against City last week, no honesty in football anymore. lastly, trying to get fellow players sent off has got to stop.
