DALGLISH: SUAREZ ROW IS OVER

Kenny Dalglish says now is the time to draw a line under the Luis Suarez affair.

Last Updated: 08/02/12 at 21:58 Post Comment   

Luis Suarez: Has returned to action for Liverpool

Luis Suarez: Has returned to action for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists now is the time to draw a line under the Luis Suarez affair and move on ahead of this weekend's visit to Old Trafford.

Saturday is likely to see the Uruguay international come up against United for the first time since his eight-match ban for racially abusing defender Patrice Evra.

The teams have already met, in the Reds' FA Cup fourth-round win at Anfield last month, but the encounter at Old Trafford has the potential to be particularly hostile atmosphere towards the striker who finally made his comeback in Monday's draw at home to Tottenham.

That game threatened to re-open the simmering tensions between the two clubs and sets of fans after United striker Wayne Rooney wrote on Twitter he felt Suarez should have been sent off and not just booked for kicking Scott Parker in the stomach.

Equally, Dalglish's assertion in his post-match interviews that he felt the player should never have been banned in the first place could have been viewed by some as antagonistic.

But the Scot, who confirmed Suarez would shake the hands of Evra and all the United players, has called for a "responsible" approach.

"Everyone involved, including the media, the supporters and both teams have a responsibility to ensure this weekend is remembered as a cracking game of football between two very good sides, rather than for anything else," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"I thought everyone involved in the FA Cup tie at Anfield played their part in making sure that the match was played in the right way, so let's make sure that happens again this weekend.

"I'm sure people will want to talk about Luis Suarez but he accepted his ban, served his suspension and returned against Spurs on Monday.

"It's time for all of us to draw a line under what happened and move forward.

"People are already speculating on the pre-match ceremony, but from Luis's point of view we have spoken to him and I know he will shake the hand of Patrice Evra and the other Manchester United players before the game."

There are no plans to abandon the pre-match pleasantries at Old Trafford, Press Association Sport understands.

A precedent was set when QPR hosted Chelsea in the last round of the FA Cup and the handshakes between the teams were cancelled in an effort to ease tensions due to John Terry's charge of racially abusing Rs defender Anton Ferdinand, an allegation the Chelsea captain denies.

Suarez, who was in the stands at Anfield for the cup tie with United and heard the chants aimed at him by the visiting fans, is under no illusions about what awaits on Saturday.

"I know against United it is going to be tense because I'm going to face Evra," the 25-year-old told the Uruguayan station Radio Sport 890.

"But I'm used to having fans whistle at me. I hope nothing unusual happens. I'll have to forget what happened for that moment.

"I do know Man United fans are going to try to make me feel uncomfortable but I have to tell them, they are going to spur me on if they whistle at me."

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here has only been 3 players who made me hold my breath in dread when they picked the ball up anywhere near our penalty area...in their prime Scholes and Giggs... and always Drogba. Awesome player who on his day was the best striker in the world in my opinion.

gunner14
Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

I

remember him scoring a 25-yarder, either the season just gone or the one before, against Bolton at the Reebok. I've never seen a ball hit that hard before in my entire life. You could almost feel the shockwave from his foot contacting it 40 yards away in the stands. Didier Droga. You might not have loved him, but you just had to be in awe of him.

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Farewell Big, Brutal, Big-Balled B**tard

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den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

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