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Glen Johnson claims that Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is being unfairly targeted by officials because of his reputation as a diver.
Glen Johnson claims that Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is being unfairly targeted by officials because of his reputation as a diver.
Johnson is convinced that Suarez's past misdemeanours are counting against him after the Uruguay international was at the centre of a controversial penalty claim for the second successive weekend.
Suarez was booked for an alleged dive in the area at Sunderland 10 days ago and appeared to be fouled by Manchester United defender Jonny Evans in the second half of the 2-1 defeat on Sunday. But Suarez's appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Mark Halsey and Liverpool's frustration only increased when the visitors were awarded a contentious spot kick late in the game, after Johnson's foul on -Antonio Valencia.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers conceded earlier this month that Suarez had to be "careful" with his discipline, after picking up three bookings already this season, but Johnson suspects officials are being influenced by Suarez's reputation.
He said: "Everybody has to do their job and they have to forget who they are looking at. They just have to make the decisions. They can't let anything from the past affect their decisions. They have to call the shots at the time, regardless of who it is.
"I almost guarantee that if you flipped the situation, if Luis was in the position of Valencia, he wouldn't get a penalty. We all know that.
"Reputations go in front of people at times and because Valencia is not someone who is known as a diver, he gets the decision.
"We expect the referees to make the right decisions."
Suarez has not won a penalty for Liverpool since the 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in March, which Dirk Kuyt subsequently missed, and his -reputation for play-acting has been highlighted by a string of frustrated Premier League managers since his arrival from Ajax in January 2011.
After the game against Arsenal, Arsene Wenger accused him of going "overboard" while Roberto Martinez also claimed the 25 year-old was an "artist at getting free-kicks" following Wigan's victory at Anfield.
In April, Suarez was booked by referee Michael Oliver for diving against Aston Villa, in a game where he also had two penalty appeals turned down.
Kenny Dalglish, the former Liverpool manager, frequently defended his pounds 22.7?million signing against accusations of cheating and controversially stuck by him during the racism row with United defender Patrice Evra.
But Liverpool are becoming concerned that Suarez's behaviour last season is being used against him by referees, and captain Steven Gerrard is adamant that he is becoming the victim of a witch-hunt.
He said: "I think even when Luis gets blatant penalties now he is never going to get them. Referees have got to make their decisions based on what they see. If it is not a penalty, they don't give him one. But if it is clear, give him it. It's only fair."
Rodgers is facing the -prospect of being without defender Martin Kelly for the rest of the season because of knee l-igament damage he suffered in the defeat by United.
The Liverpool manager expects to lose Kelly for a minimum of six months after scans revealed that the -England international ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. Kelly, who hobbled off late in the game after -falling awkwardly and appearing to twist his right leg, will now undergo reconstructive surgery.
Kelly's injury will also come as a blow to England head coach Roy Hodgson, who gave the 22 year-old his first cap in the friendly against Norway in May.
There was some encouraging news for Liverpool, however, with Daniel Agger and Fabio Borini expected to miss only the next few weeks with knee and ankle injuries respectively.
It was suspected that Denmark international Agger had suffered medial ligament damage after he was taken off on a stretcher late in the second half on Sunday, but the injury is not that serious and he could return for the league game against Stoke City a week on Sunday if his recovery goes to plan.
Rodgers' pounds 12?million signing Borini is also expected to miss only a fortnight with an ankle injury.
Liverpool confirmed last night they would not be appealing against Jonjo Shelvey's red card against United. Shelvey will miss the next three games, including tomorrow night's Capital One Cup game at West Bromwich Albion.
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