Kenny backs Suarez to rebound for Reds
On Wednesday Suarez was charged by the FA with using abusive and/or insulting words with reference to race and ethnic origin against Manchester United’s Patrice Evra after a month-long investigation.
The club are fully supportive of the 24-year-old, who will plead not guilty to the charge, but Dalglish thinks performances on the pitch will have more of a bearing on the player than his impending hearing with the FA.
Suarez became the first Uruguay player to score four goals in an international in a stand-out performance against Chile last Friday in a 2014 World Cup qualifying victory in Montevideo.
Dalglish believes that is significant and is hopeful he can start finding the target more regularly for Liverpool as he has scored only two goals — both in the Carling Cup tie at Stoke — since the Merseyside derby on October 1.
“With Luis getting four in midweek that will not have done his confidence any harm whatsoever,” said the Reds boss.
“Maybe he’s kept some up his sleeve for us in the coming weeks.
“He is a fantastic footballer and has been, as we have said, fantastic ever since he has come here and we are just fortunate to have him.”
Dalglish, who has been calling for a quick resolution to the FA investigation into Suarez, refused to be drawn into any further discussion.
The charge alleges the Uruguayan of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Evra contrary to FA rules, including a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Evra.
Liverpool released a statement on Wednesday in which they said they were “fully supportive” of the player and Dalglish did not wish to add to that.
Dalglish said yesterday: “I think the statement says everything and our position has not changed. That is all we’ve got to say.”
Meanwhile Liverpool have signed highly-rated teenager Seyi Ojo from MK Dons.
Ojo, 14, has been snapped up by the Premier League club’s academy following four years with the Dons.
The midfielder has been capped twice by England at under-16 level during their recent Victory Shield campaign.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Seyi and his parents which has proved far too difficult to turn down,” Dons chairman Peter Winkelman said.
“There has been a lot of interest and speculation regarding Seyi which he has coped with admirably.
“We are extremely proud to have Seyi in our record books as our first schoolboy to receive an international cap. Everyone at the club would like to wish Seyi the best of luck in his future and we all look forward to the day he runs out at Anfield.”
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