Luis Suarez takes on Fernando Torres and says: I’m NOT a diver - 7M sport

Luis Suarez takes on Fernando Torres and says: I’m NOT a diver



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Posted Sunday, November 11, 2012 by The Sun

Luis Suarez takes on Fernando Torres and says: I’m NOT a diver
TRICK OR CHEAT? ... Suarez says he's a victim of his skills, not a diver

LUIS SUAREZ goes head to head with Fernando Torres today insisting he is not the diver the rest of the Premier League deems him.

Suarez faces Chelsea on the back of England skipper Steven Gerrard’s ringing endorsement that the controversial Uruguayan is the greatest Liverpool striker he’s ever played with.

And boss Liverpool Brendan Rodgers has even compared Suarez to Lionel Messi.

That’s one in the eye for Torres as he seeks his first goal in four matches against Liverpool since his sensational £50 million move almost two years ago.

But Suarez is still blighted by his diving reputation — a stigma he says is driving him mad.

“I insist I don’t dive in the penalty area,” he said. “This is my career and the bad reputation created around me is unjust.

“If you analyse the statistics I am one of the forwards who receives the most fouls and free kicks.

“There always seems to be controversy surrounding me but I accept the referee’s decisions — they are only human.

“I accept the criticism against me but many people attack me without reason. That doesn’t please me but I try to do my best day by day.”

However, while Torres still struggles to reproduce his Anfield form, Suarez is enjoying his most prolific spell in English football with seven goals — more than half of the Reds’ total — in the Premier League so far.

But he still needs a leg up. Whatever he does, wherever he goes, Suarez will never be football’s “boy next door” given his race row bust-up with Patrice Evra and constant accusations over alleged diving.

But Gerrard’s warm words in a midweek tweet have given him a vital leg up as inconsistent Liverpool head for Stamford Bridge and Torres today, while Rodgers hailed Suarez’s goal against Newcastle.

He said: “He plays the false nine role like Messi does for Barcelona where he moves freely and others have to get in behind him to penetrate.

“Suarez’s goal was brilliant. He is a world-class striker.”

The fact is that against a background of constant brickbats the mercurial striker continues to give belting performances on his own up front after the loss of Andy Carroll to West Ham. And he’s ready to show Torres a thing or two.

Suarez said: “Steve is friend and a worldwide star, the boss in the dressing room and a symbol for Liverpool over the past decade.

“He merits total respect so his quote about me is high praise.

“Torres is highly regarded by Liverpool fans but I prefer not to draw comparisons between us because we are a different type of forward.

“I am not envious of anything he did for Liverpool. Maybe we are similar in the way we battle against defenders and our passion is the same, but technically we are different.”

The Uruguayan said his secret to scoring goals is simple — it’s work, work, work.
He explained: “I undergo many videos sessions to analyse characteristics in opposing defenders and goalkeepers.

“While it’s difficult to suggest a goals target for the season if I score more than 20 goal I will be happy.”

Often Suarez is picked to toil alone in attack but he insists he doesn’t find it too much pressure and is happy to play wherever boss Brendan Rodgers picks him.

He said: “My mission is to play and to score goals for Liverpool.

“Liverpool are one of the top clubs in England and we are obliged to fight for all the titles, including the Premier League.

“This has become complicated because of results so far so we need to give our maximum in every match.

“Rodgers is a new coach and is normal that things will get better match to match. I’m confident it will work.

“My dream for this season is to make the top four. Our squad should be fighting against the biggest rivals in this division.

“Sunday’s game with Chelsea is hard because they have been league leaders and are at home.

“But it’s a challenge for Liverpool. We needs to improve our positions and this is the best moment to do it.””



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