By PHIL THOMAS
BRENDAN RODGERS has told all those putting the boot in on Luis Suarez to get their own house in order first.
The Kop striker has been labelled a cheat and a diver for constantly going to ground, with things coming to a head before last week’s Merseyside derby.
Yet Rodgers has launched a fierce defence of Liverpool’s star man — and insisted every club has players throwing themselves around to get the upper hand.
He blasted: “I believe this will be the ongoing debate, and now people will see that diving is an issue which is at every club — it is widespread within the game.
“It is ridiculous to single out one man, because every single club has an issue.”
Rodgers certainly has a point. Last week Goodison chief David Moyes claimed Suarez’s diving would drive fans away from the game — only for Everton skipper Phil Neville to be booked for a laughable tumble in the 2-2 draw.
The Kop boss added: “Just look at last weekend, and two players you would deem to be great professionals — Angel Rangel and Neville — almost above criticism.
“Rangel was booked against Manchester City for diving but I worked with him for two years at Swansea and he’s one of the most honest, genuine people I’ve come across in my life. But he got booked for diving. Neville is 35 and over the years you would consider him to be a really honest guy, an impeccable professional.
“But then he gets booked for diving after his manager has read the riot act to his players by all accounts. Then you have Fernando Torres booked for diving.
“So managers have made a criticism of Luis, but I can guarantee you they will have players who are criticised for diving.”
Rodgers, whose side face Newcastle tomorrow, has steadily gained a reputation as one of the most straight-talking, honest managers in the top flight.
Yet after Suarez was called a cheat, he came out fighting, and insisted it is ridiculous to begin a witch-hunt against the South American, because it is part of the culture among the hundreds of foreigners flooding the English game.
He insisted: “Hopefully people won’t continue to vilify Luis just because he was the easy target before, and look beyond themselves and their own players to see it’s part of the game.
“That does not mean you are a cheat, because people see it as part of the game in other cultures.
“In Spain and South America, for instance, it’s almost seen as an extension of a striker’s skills.
“Of course we don’t like it when it’s blatant and personally I believe we must continue to fight to eradicate that. But it is nonsense to suggest it’s just a problem with Luis Suarez.”
The criticism certainly did not affect the player himself, whose shot was turned into his own net by Leighton Baines for the first, before Suarez bagged the second.
A linesman’s error denied him a last-gasp winner, but Rodgers reckons the display proved anyone trying to get under the Uruguayan’s skin will find it backfiring.
He added: “I honestly don’t think you can wind Luis up, by having a go at him for diving or anything else. Others have tried to use it as a psychological tool to put him off and affect referees but it makes him stronger.
“Looking at his performance levels, consistency and goals he’s scored, they’d be better off saying nothing.
“He’ll always divide opinion. If he’s on your team people will love him but if he isn’t he’ll get a bit of stick, but that’s because he’s world class.
“When I was at Swansea and we played Liverpool, I told the players ‘This guy is a nuisance but for the right reasons because he’s a top player’.
“He’s a real threat in and around the box so you have to be careful. If people criticise him, they are wrong, and I guarantee if they do, the support he gets from me will grow stronger because of how genuine I see he is.”
