Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Luis Suarez was right not to own up to using his hand to score in Sunday's 2-1 win at Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.

The Uruguayan palmed the ball down before netting as he gave his side a 2-0 lead in their third-round triumph at Field Mill.

"There is no doubt it was handball but the officials have seen it was not deliberate," Rodgers told ESPN. "I asked the fourth official if it was handball and he said it was. It is unfortunate for Mansfield and lucky for us we got the goal.

"Should he own up? It doesn't happen in football. You don't see players owning up and it is not Luis's job. It has not been a deliberate handball and that is what the officials have to deem, that is what they get paid for."

Liverpool face a trip to League One side Oldham Athletic in the next round of the competition.

Written by
Jack Prescott