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'He was quite emotional and very grateful'

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 09:32 IST
Luis Suarez

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has defended the club's support of Luis Suarez following criticism for their reaction to the eight-match ban given to Uruguayan who was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

Suarez is free to play for the club until an appeal is heard and his team mates showed they were fully behind the striker when they all wore T-shirts emblazoned with his picture before the Premier League match at Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

"He was quite emotional and very grateful," Dalglish said, on Friday, as they prepare for a hectic holiday fixture list.

"I don't think it's ever a disappointment when your team-mates and the people you work for give you their undivided support. For me, that's the least he deserves."

Liverpool are waiting for full documentation of the case from the Football Association and Dalglish was reluctant to go into detail about what it might contain.

'Players have done nothing wrong'

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 09:32 IST
Kenny Dalglish

The club was criticised by anti-racist organisations and some former players on Thursday for their stance over Suarez, but Dalglish said his players had done nothing wrong.

"We've certainly said what we have to say. We'll wait until we get the judgement and take it from there," Dalglish said.

"The players have made their statement both visually and verbally. It's best for everybody to wait and see what the written retort is because nobody knows - we don't even know.

"At this moment in time the club aren't permitted to go into any further detail than what they have done in their statement, which couldn't have caused anyone any trouble.

"I don't think the players have caused any trouble with the FA either with their statement or the t-shirts, so if we're not in any trouble we'll just leave it at that before we do give ourselves some trouble."

Liverpool face Dalglish's former club Blackburn Rovers on December 26 with the Scot offering some sympathy to Rovers' beleaguered boss Steve Kean who has come under fire with his side propping up the table.

Source: REUTERS
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