THE message from Melwood was clear – don’t take our word for it, have a look for yourself.
Kenny Dalglish conducted his weekly press briefing ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with QPR armed with video clips of key incidents from Monday’s controversial 1-0 defeat at Fulham.
The feeling of injustice following the end of Liverpool’s 11-game unbeaten run in the capital had been intensified by the Football Association’s decision to hit the club with two charges.
Yet this was no rant by the Reds boss. It merely underlined a burning desire to ensure his comments were backed up by hard evidence.
Top of the agenda was the treatment of Luis Suarez at Craven Cottage. A whole host of decisions went against the Reds’ top scorer.
The Uruguayan’s frustration boiled over after the final whistle with an alleged one-fingered salute to Fulham fans which has led to a charge of improper conduct.
One clip on the big screen was of Brede Hangeland cynically chopping down Suarez close to the halfway line in the first half – no free-kick was awarded.
Another showed Suarez being blocked off by Hangeland in the box – penalty appeals were waved away.
“Hangeland is really looking after the ball there isn’t he?” Dalglish said. “He’s not got any interest in the ball. I’ve shown you two clips there but there are plenty others.”
Other footage showed how Craig Bellamy was on the rough end of Friend’s poor decision-making. Dalglish remains baffled at the fact the Welshman was booked following a flare-up between him and Clint Dempsey early in the second half. Bellamy simply stood his ground while Dempsey, who was lucky to stay on the pitch, thrust his head into his face and unleashed a tirade of abuse.
Later in the game Bellamy was harshly adjudged to have brought down John Arne Riise close to his own box and fearing another dismissal, Dalglish substituted him.
“Bellamy’s discipline was unbelievable and we had to take him off so we weren’t left with nine players,” Dalglish said.
Referring to the free-kick given against Bellamy on the edge of the area, he said: “That’s a foul but when they smash Luis it’s not a foul?”
As well as Dempsey being fortunate to stay on, Philippe Senderos could also have been dismissed. Friend deemed the defender’s awful challenge on Charlie Adam only worthy of a booking and later failed to issue a card when he pulled back Andy Carroll.
“The difference for me is that people talk about intent,” Dalglish said. “If we had clarity from the referees and consistency in their interpretation everybody would be better off.
“If I’m one on one against a forward and he’s coming at me I’m saying to myself ‘by the way, you’re coming down’. So I’m denying you a goal scoring opportunity because that’s the first thought in my mind.
“If you’ve played football at any level then that is the first thought in your mind. So it’s not the fact you can’t make it for yourself, it is my mentality as a defender and I’m going to stop you.
“The ball was at Charlie’s feet, ready to have a strike at goal.”
Much of the anger at Suarez’s improper conduct charge relates to the inconsistency shown by the FA.
In recent seasons Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Ashley Cole have all avoided punishment after being pictured making a hand gesture. Last month Arsenal’s Emmanuel Frimpong stood accused of a similar offence after clashing with Manchester City’s Samir Nasri but no action was taken.
“I’ve seen the picture but I haven’t spoken to Luis about the charge yet,” Dalglish said. “We will have to wait and see what he says but there’s been at least four incidents that we’ve picked out where nothing has happened, not even a charge.
“Anything that comes our way we will have to deal with.”
The other FA charge accusing Liverpool of failing to “ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion” after the sending off of Jay Spearing is likely to result in a fine. However, the fact Friend has made a big deal out of the Reds’ reaction is surprising given the fact he didn’t dish out any cards for dissent at the time.
Dalglish said: “We just need to see what the rules and regulations are. If we have impinged on the rules then we have to accept that.
“Jay was sent off but he couldn’t protest as he was on his way down to the tunnel. There is a rule that says something about getting in the referee’s space. I don’t know if it can only be three players. But if they have impinged that, fine.
“But one thing you can say about our players is that their discipline is good. We had it twice before with Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel when the players never went running to the referee for anything.
“If they have behaved improperly, we’ll see. If there is a charge to be answered, they will have to answer it. I think we got the short end of a lot of 50/50 decisions that on another night might have gone our way.”
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