Teammates Right to Jump to Suarez's Defence

Luis Suarez has been defended by some of his Liverpool teammates and manager, Brendan Rodgers, after claims that he does not get free kicks or penalties because he goes to ground far too easily.

In the past, the Uruguayan has irked plenty with his 'ability' to go tumbling in the box after the slightest touch - or sometimes the lack of it - but, in recent weeks, the forward has had at least two legitimate penalties waved away. 

It is about time that referees judged each incident on its own and forget about his past misdemeanors. 

Plenty of other top players have managed to win penalties by going down under the slightest contact without too much criticism but, for some reason, Suarez is a marked man, and appears to have no chance of getting a spot kick at the moment, unless he is blatantly hacked down.

It is true that sometimes Suarez has been guilty of looking for penalties but, again, in only the same way plenty of other players, past and present, have done so. However, Suarez appears to be being singled out by refs who are deliberately ignoring his just appeals because of who he is.

The striker was somehow booked for simulation at Sunderland last week when he went down after clearly being caught in the area and, to compound the Reds' striker's misery, he was then denied a spot-kick against Manchester United at Anfield, when Jonny Evans clipped him.

Again, it is true that Suarez did throw himself down a tad too excitedly but, again, it was a legitimate foul - no more or less than when Antonio Valencia stumbled at the other end but, this time, referee Mark Halsey did point to the spot.

It has been an extremely frustrating start to the season for Liverpool, as results have failed to match plenty of positive, attacking performances. Against both Manchester clubs, Rodgers' side did more than enough to win after dominating last season's top two at Anfield but ended up with just a point out of both games.

But refereeing decisions have also gone against them at crucial times this term, with penalties and sendings-off hitting Rodgers' side hard. Daniel Agger and Jonjo Shelvey have both been rather harshly shown straight reds while three spot-kicks in five league games could all be placed in the 'soft' category.

Liverpool's luck must surely have to change soon. Suarez, regularly one of the most fouled players in the league, will hope his does too.

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