Strikers are vulnerable to criticism at the end of a goalless draw but Luis Suarez really doesn't help himself.
The Liverpool forward came under further scrutiny yesterday after trying to win a penalty with a blatant dive as his side were held to at home to Stoke City.
The Uruguayan has developed a reputation for going down easily but his latest fall was risible; Suarez wriggled free from Marc Wilson in the penalty area only to then throw himself to the ground unimpeded. There was no foul, but no booking for the Liverpool striker, either.
Tony Pulis, the Stoke City manager, offered his own punishment, branding the incident "very, very dis-appointing". His side had been robust in dealing with Suarez but Pulis was left unimpressed with his theatrical tumble.
"You have got Suarez falling over in the box second half which was really, really dis-appointing," he said. "I think that should be highlighted, as I have said before.
"There was a challenge in the first half in front of us, Jon Walters and [Liverpool's] Glen Johnson both went up for a header, it was a proper old-fashioned challenge. Glen Johnson just bounced back up on got with the game. I went over to him and said 'well done, brilliant'."
His Liverpool counterpart, Brendan Rodgers, claimed he had not seen the incident but he was perhaps more occupied with the fact his side have yet to win a league match at home this season.
Such frustration is at odds with the mood at Old Trafford after Manchester United won 3-0 away to Newcastle United. The results – which came after goals from Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra and Tom Cleverly – has lifted United into second place in the Barclays Premier League, four points behind Chelsea.
"It's a great result. Everyone knows this is probably one of the hardest games of the season," said Wayne Rooney, the United striker. "We came here, defended brilliantly. We fully deserved the victory."
Tottenham Hotspur stayed within a point of United after picking up a 2-0 win over Aston Villa yesterday. Steven Caulker scored the first goal in the second half before an assured finish from Aaron Lennon.
The other top-flight match involved two teams and four goals; Southampton scoring in the 90th minute to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham. Kieran Richardson had put the London side ahead just two minutes earlier – adding to an own goal from Jos Hooiveld – but Jose Fonte scored his second of the game to snatch a point at the death.
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