Reds duo bemoan unfair Suarez treatment

Liverpool duo Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson have launched a strong defence of Luis Suarez against accusations that he is a diver.

The Reds striker appears to have gained a reputation for going down too easily and as a result his team-mates believe the Uruguayan international is not getting the decisions he deserves from referees. Suarez was booked at Sunderland a week ago for taking a tumble in the box and was again denied a penalty in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United following a challenge by Jonny Evans. Match official Mark Halsey waved away his appeals for a spot-kick but both Gerrard and Johnson are convinced that the 25-year-old is being wrongly labelled. "I think even when Luis does get blatant penalties now he doesn't get them," Gerrard said. "It is down to referees to not judge him and give what they see - if it's not a penalty don't give him one but if it's clear give it. He was booked at Sunderland but against United it was a penalty." Johnson echoed the sentiments of his captain by adding: "Everyone has to do their job: they have to forget about who they are looking at and make their decisions and not let anything from the past affect their decision. They have to call the shots at the time, regardless of who it is."