Dalglish left alone in Suarez defence

London: Somebody at Liverpool needs to explain to Luis Suarez the damage he is doing to a great footballing institution.

Somebody at Anfield needs to persuade Kenny Dalglish to realise that the club are walking alone in a world of rising opprobrium.

Past and present No 7s need to think again. For those of us gathered at Old Trafford on Saturday for the latest outbreak of hostilities between Manchester United and Liverpool, Suarez's behaviour was embarrassing.

The fires of enmity always burn between these ancient rivals but Suarez inflamed the mood further by refusing to shake the hand of Patrice Evra.

Those tuning in across the planet were presented with the picture of Suarez offending further an opponent he had racially abused. For a club that prides itself on its renown around the world, those pictures were a PR disaster.

Regardless of any inconsistencies or perceived calumnies in the independent disciplinary commission's written reasons, Suarez was found guilty, banned for eight games and Liverpool decided against appealing.

Unrepentant

Whatever sense of grievance they undoubtedly feel, Liverpool must move on, rebuilding their reputation. Suarez is gifted enough to make any point he cares to United with his feet, as he showed by scoring on Saturday, rather than with his hands. He owes it to his employers, incredibly loyal ones, to behave with more decorum.

This season for Liverpool should be a celebration of reaching Wembley in the Carling Cup, in the form of players like Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Craig Bellamy, the presence of the revered Dalglish in the dugout and good owners in John W. Henry and his partners.

Instead, many of the headlines have been around racism and an unrepentant Uruguayan. It is not only United fans chanting caustically about Suarez; other clubs' supporters greet Liverpool with similar songs. A cloud follows Liverpool around. Much is right at Anfield. It just needs the Suarez nightmare ending.

Even taking into account Sir Alex Ferguson's partisanship, his post-match verdict about Suarez being a "disgrace to Liverpool Football Club" will have drawn nods of agreement among more neutral onlookers. Dalglish again backed Suarez. The impression persists that nobody internally at Anfield is taking their vaunted manager to task, quietly questioning his stance. Sad. Dalglish cares deeply about the game but his loyalty to Suarez has blinded him to the repercussions to club and sport.

— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2012