Luis Suarez courted controversy yet again, as the Liverpool striker netted what proved to be the winner with the aid of his hand in a 2-1 victory at Mansfield in the third round of the FA Cup.
Daniel Sturridge, playing his first game for Liverpool after signing from Chelsea, gave the Reds an early lead, before substitute Suarez made it 2-0 in the second half. Matt Green pulled a goal back for the Conference side with eleven minutes remaining, but the scores remained in Liverpool's favor at the end of the match.
The game will be remembered for the Suarez goal, though, with the Uruguayan, no stranger to controversy, controlling the ball with his hand, after seeing his initial strike saved by goalkeeper Alan Marriot, before poking into an empty net.
"I've just seen it again and there's no doubt it was handball but the referee and the officials ruled it wasn't deliberate," Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.
"I spoke to the fourth official when it was given because I couldn't see and he said it was (handball) so I can only assume they thought it wasn't deliberate.
"So obviously it was unfortunate for Mansfield and lucky for us that we got the goal. It was a really professional performance."
Rodgers insisted Suarez was not to blame for the goal, and it was up to the referees to make a decision. "It's not Luis' job to do that," he added. "It's not been deliberate as it's pushed up and hit his hand. It's up to the officials to decide that.
"That's why they get paid as officials and I thought (referee) Andre Marriner was brilliant today.
"Maybe when you lose the game you look back on it and think it was unfortunate.
"We missed many more chances to put the game to bed, so we got a wee bit of luck there so it's something we'll take and move on."
Mansfield manager Paul Cox also felt Suarez could not be criticized for doing his job, which is to score goals, saying it was just an instinctive reaction to stick out his hand to control the ball.
"I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt and say it was a reaction, he's a goalscorer and I think goalscorers put the ball in the net anyway," Cox told ESPN.
"He's a great fabulous talent, I'd go pay to watch him week in and week out. He's a wonderful player.
"No I don't (feel cheated). For me to come out and say something like that I think would be quite cheap. If it had gone in the other end and one of our players had done it I think we'd have accepted it.
"This is the FA Cup, this is the beauty of it, sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn't.
"It's a beautiful game and for me he's a fabulous talent and for this country we're lucky to have him here. I don't think we should call him for doing something that I think 99 out of 100 players would do."
