Suarez should have seen red, blasts Rooney after Liverpool striker's booking against Spurs

By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail
Updated:

Wayne Rooney claimed Luis Suarez should have been sent off to add more fuel to the fires that rage between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Liverpool striker Suarez was booked just four minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Tottenham at Anfield when he caught Scott Parker in the midriff with a kick as he competed for a ball.

And, ahead of United’s League clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday, Rooney tweeted: ‘If ref sees that kick from suarez and books him for it it should be red.’

Send him off: Wayne Rooney says Luis Suarez should have seen red for this

Send him off: Wayne Rooney says Luis Suarez should have seen red for this

That forced Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish to launch another defence of Suarez, who was making his return after missing eight games for racially abusing United’s Patrice Evra and one match for making an obscene gesture towards Fulham fans.

Sky TV pundit and former United player Gary Neville also said that Suarez was lucky not to be sent off but Dalglish, who led the defence of his forward over the  racism allegations, insisted: ‘He never saw him. I don’t have a view on what Wayne’s tweeted. Why don’t you tweet him back and give him your answer? Unless Gary or Wayne want to ask the question, I will plead the fifth amendment.’

Spurs assistant boss Kevin Bond, speaking in the absence of Harry Redknapp, whose flight from London to Merseyside was cancelled, admitted that he did not think it was a sending-off.

Not so mellow yellow: Suarez was booked within five minutes of making his return from suspension

Not so mellow yellow: Suarez was booked within five minutes of making his return from suspension

‘I don’t think so,’ said Bond. ‘It was a hard but fair contest.’

On the decision to keep Suarez on the bench until the 66th minute, Dalglish added: ‘Luis hasn’t played since December. It would be a wee bit unfair to throw somebody straight in.

‘We don’t think he should ever have been away but we are delighted to have him back.’

Hitting out: Wayne Rooney believes it should have been a red card

Hitting out: Wayne Rooney believes it should have been a red card

Dalglish, who has stoutly defended his player even after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, saw only the positives from his striker's cameo appearance.

'For me, Luis Suarez doesn't have anything to prove to anyone at Liverpool FC,' said the Scot.

'Every game he plays he is determined to make an impact. He is just that kind of person.

'When you see him getting on the ball, you always think he is going to do something that will be beneficial to the team.

'Other than that, I don't know what else I can say.'

But it was what else Dalglish did say, with a trip to Old Trafford at the weekend, which threatened to re-ignite the row over Suarez's punishment.

'We don't think he should ever have been away but we are delighted to get him back,' he added.

'We are looking forward to working with him. He has had half an hour and that will have done him the world of good - it is better than anything we could have done at Melwood.'

The draw was Liverpool’s eighth in 12 Premier League games at Anfield this season, and leaves third-placed Spurs seven points off leaders Manchester City after they failed to score in a League game for the first time since their opening match of the season.

‘It was an excellent performance,’ said Dalglish. ‘I’m disappointed with just one point.’


Wayne RooneyLuis Suarez

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