Dalglish: Bellamy being picked on by refs

Kenny Dalglish fears fiery striker Craig Bellamy’s reputation is going before him.

The Reds boss is bemused over the incredible run of four bookings his Welsh signing has picked up in just 195 minutes on the pitch this month.

And even though he is understandably cautious of claiming there is a conspiracy against the player, Dalglish feels Bellamy has been harshly treated.

Each yellow card has been for unsporting behaviour or dissent, with most deemed to be harsh even by neutral observers.

The worst was a booking at Fulham when he was pushed in the face and did not respond... but still got cautioned. And there are fears within the club their player is being picked on.

“You would hate to believe there is an agenda against him from anyone, but Craig has been booked four times and he hasn’t deserved any of them,” said Dalglish.

“You would like to think if you had been unlucky four times, you would not be unlucky for a fifth. Mind you, you might have said that after the first two.

“One of the bookings was at Fulham when Clint Dempsey stuck his head straight in Craig’s face. When he was booked the other night there, we asked the ref why the wee man was booked and he said, ‘Craig knows’ – but he didn’t.

“And there was another against QPR when Joey Barton approached him. I don’t know why he has been booked but I haven’t
seen anything in any of them being reasonable.

“The other night, Antolin Alcaraz gave five free-kicks away with no yellow. If he is going to get five chances, does that mean everyone else is?’’

But Dalglish has been cheered up by news that Steven Gerrard is fit again.

Gerrard will play some part today and then against Newcastle in a festive double-header that will be crucial to their hopes of a top-four finish.

And the presence of their captain will be a big boost for the Merseyside club as they look to put the draining controversy of Luis Suarez’s race row behind them.