Dalglish: I made a mistake with Suarez...again
Published 22:30 19/02/12 By David Maddock
Kenny Dalglish has offered another apology after reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – this time for letting his heart rule his head!
The Reds manager intervened late on in the six-goal mauling of Brighton, to let Luis Suarez take a penalty.
But Suarez, who wrestled for the ball with Charlie Adam and Dirk Kuyt, in desperation for a goal after a horrible week, left his boss shaking his head in dismay with a tame effort.
He swiftly redeemed himself, though, with a sweet finish to round off the scoring in style. Afterwards Dalglish cracked a smile for the first time in weeks, as he joked: “That penalty miss was my fault. I just let sentiment get in the way – but I’ve learned my lesson now!
“It was a bad decision. There were three of them who wanted to take it as well, Dirk, Charlie and Andy Carroll. Maybe if it hadn’t been 5-1 at the time one of them would have done, but I wanted to give Suarez a leg up with his confidence. In the end though, he didn’t need my help!”
Clearly, Dalglish wanted his striker to begin his process of redemption with a goal that would allow him to take the adulation of the Kop.
That penalty miss apart though, it was a perfect afternoon for Liverpool in a game significant for the fact it was the first time Suarez, Andy Carroll and Steven Gerrard had ever started together.
Most pleasing for Dalglish was not just the scoreline, but also the promising partnership the three attacking players began to show.
