Suarez saga won’t affect team — Dalglish
While the Uruguay international has been the focus of most of the attention even before he was found guilty of using insulting words towards Patrice Evra, with a reference to the Manchester United player’s skin colour, other players are being drawn in.
His team-mates issued a statement of support prior to Wednesday’s goalless draw at Wigan.
They also wore T-shirts in the warm-up depicting an image of Suarez with his name and number seven on the back, but that provoked further criticism of the club’s stance in fully supporting the striker.
Former United defender Paul McGrath criticised Reds defender Glen Johnson for joining the show of solidarity, which prompted the England international to issue his own response on Twitter.
With the matter set to rumble on for some time there is a danger it will become the predominant issue concerning Liverpool and players could be affected.
However, when asked whether he was worried about that happening, Dalglish replied: “I don’t think so.”
The Scot feels the squad’s stance had actually had a positive effect, particularly on Suarez.
“He’s been quite emotional and very grateful,” he added. “I don’t think it is ever a disappointment when the people you work for give you their undivided support and I think that is the least he deserves.”
Dalglish also defended the club’s approach to the situation after they released a strongly-worded statement criticising the Football Association shortly after the news of Suarez’s ban broke on Tuesday night.
“The statement couldn’t have caused anyone any trouble and I don’t think the players have caused any trouble with the FA, either by their statement or support by their T-shirts,” Dalglish said.
“If we are not in any trouble we will leave it at that before we do get in any trouble.”
Evra’s manager Alex Ferguson was asked for his thoughts on the T-shirts but just replied: “I have nothing to say about it.”
However, Liverpool have received support from QPR manager Neil Warnock.
“At every club you support your players the best you can whatever you think is right,” he said. “I think you need to know everything about the case. We’re guessing what was said. We haven’t got a clue.’’
On the severity of Suarez’s eight-game ban, Warnock added: “I don’t think it could be any stronger. It surprised me. But where have we had anything to compare it to?
“There are experts dealing with it and all the evidence is being gathered — that is what the English justice system is all about.”
That system is currently moving slowly as Liverpool do not expect to receive the written verdict from the independent commission until after Christmas.
The moment it does arrive the club will have 14 days to consider their response and appeal if they choose, otherwise the suspension will kick in after that fortnight has expired.
Dalglish added: “Most of the people have had their say, we’ve had our say, but we will wait for the judgment and take it from there — but it won’t be tomorrow.
“The club have issued the statement, the players have issued their statement visually and verbally, but we have to wait for the written report because no-one knows what it contains.
“At this moment in time I don’t think the club are permitted to go into any further detail than they have done.”
Dalglish said captain Steven Gerrard is also edging closer to a comeback but would not say when he was expected to return.
“He is training so, as we’ve said before, we’ll always monitor his progress and make sure we’ve done the right things,” said the Scot.
Dalglish, meanwhile, admits the situation former club Blackburn find themselves in is “sad”.
Rovers are bottom of the Premier League, a position from which all-but one of the teams who have found themselves there at Christmas have failed to escape.
Manager Steve Kean has had to face protesting fans campaigning for him to be sacked while owners Venky’s, in charge for just over a year, have also been targeted by supporters dismayed at the demise of the club.
Yesterday a group numbering 100 took their protests to the gates of the club’s training ground as they attempted to ramp up the pressure on Kean.
It is all a far cry from the days of the early to mid-1990s when Dalglish was persuaded to return to football management by then owner Jack Walker and first got the club promoted before winning the Premier League title in 1995.
“I was at Blackburn for three or four years and it was a great place for me to go and work,” said Dalglish, who will face his former club at Anfield on St Stephen’s Day.
“There were some smashing people that were in charge of the club at that particular moment in time and I would have never foreseen the situation they are in.
“They are under a lot of pressure and the frustration is understandable in many ways, but I don’t think it is helpful and I think it is sad really that it has come to that — but that is the way it is.
“I think it is unfortunate that as a manager you know that results are going to count and if you don’t get them then you are running the risk of getting your P45.
“Results aren’t purely down to what the manager does, he needs support from the players, owners and certainly the crowd.”
Despite Blackburn’s problems, Dalglish is wary of the galvanising effect that can sometimes have on teams.
“Obviously Blackburn are at the wrong end of the table but every game is tricky for its own reasons,” he said. “There seems to be a bit of animosity in and around the club at the moment — but then sometimes that can be an inspiration for some people.
“For other people who aren’t strong characters they shy away from it, but we expect them to be strong characters to do what they can to get themselves points on the board and try to help their manager as well.”
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