Dalglish defends Suarez after Evra handshake snub

Manchester: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish claimed he was unaware that Luis Suarez had refused to shake Manchester United defender Patrice Evra's hand before their defeat at Old Trafford, and insisted the Uruguayan was not to blame for a tense match on Saturday.

Suarez, who was given an eight-match ban earlier in the season for racially abusing the Frenchman, rejected the leftback’s attempts to shake his hand just before kick-off.

The incident set the tone for the match, which finished 2-1 to the hosts, but saw a hostile half-time, with players pushing and shoving in the tunnel.

Suarez rejected Evra's attempts to shake his hand just before kick-off at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Dalglish denied knowing that Suarez had refused Evra’s handshake to Sky Sports News after the match, saying: "I never knew he never shook his hand. I’ll take your word for it but I don’t know. I wasn’t there, I never saw it."

"[Suarez refusing the handshake is] contrary to what I was told."

Dalglish was irritated when questioned if Suarez’s refusal to shake Evra’s hand was to blame for tempers flaring at half-time and at the final whistle.

"I think you’re very severe and I think you’re bang out of order to blame Luis Suarez for anything that happened here today," said the Liverpool manager.

"I think, predominantly, both sets of fans behaved really well. They had a bit of banter between each other. No problem."

"How many bookings was it?" Dalglish then repeated numerous times when asked the interviewer attempted to ask about the tense atmosphere between the players.

The former Newcastle United manager also hinted that it was the fault of the media that there were questions about the hostility in the match.

Dalglish referenced the Reds clash with United two weeks ago at Anfield, saying "When we had the game - the FA Cup [fourth-round] tie because it wasn’t a 24-hour news channel and in the build-up to the game, nothing like this happened."

Also See

• Suarez should never play for Liverpool again: Ferguson
• Rooney brace sinks Liverpool as United go top
• In Pics: Manchester United vs Liverpool
• Watch: Suarez refuses to shake hands with Evra

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