Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on Luis Suarez. Rodgers came out fighting on Suarez's behalf and pointed out his first 50 league games for Liverpool yielded only one less goal than Ian Rush managed.

In 51 league games for the Reds - three off the bench - Suarez has hit 20 goals.

Rodgers insisted: "Luis is certainly not playing in the team Rush was.

"You look at his record, he's nearly a goal every two games and yet everyone focuses on what he misses.

"There's a slant towards Luis, probably more negative than positive. For example, nobody talked about his run against Stoke, going past three players and into the box.

"He gets himself in positions and provokes tackles and rashness out of players.

"But sometimes mud gets thrown at a player and it sticks no matter what they did."