Sunday 13 January 2013 14:38, UK
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists striker Luis Suarez thrives on the abuse and criticism he receives ahead of a potentially incendiary atmosphere at Old Trafford this weekend.
Former director of football Damien Comolli, who signed Suarez from Ajax for £22.7million in January 2011, fears further criticism could drive the striker out of the English football. "It'll be an absolute shame for English football if this victimisation drives him away," he told BBC Sport. "As the biggest league in the world you want to keep the biggest players, not drive them away for crazy reasons." On the match-up between Suarez and in-form United striker Robin van Persie, Rodgers insisted that, while he could not separate the two, he stood firmly behind his man. Rodgers said: "I already have Luis Suarez so I wouldn't want to swap. "I can only comment on Luis, I can't comment on who is the better because all strikers bring different things to the game. "I think we are blessed to have someone like Luis, who carried the club for six months on his own in terms of being the only fit, available striker we had here. "Some people have off-days but he is up for every game and his motivation is at a high level every day in training. "Thankfully now people are looking more at his good side but you have to be careful when that happens because I always think praise is the tool which is used to kill you later on. "He is a guy who just gets on with it. It is great he is in great form and we hope that continues." Manchester Utd v Liverpool is live on Sky Sports 1 this Sunday. For more details click here
