Steven Gerrard: 'I would celebrate hand-ball goal at Old Trafford'

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has said that he would not come clean if he scored a hand-ball goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The 32-year-old was responding to a question regarding striker Luis Suarez, who has been at the centre of controversy since last week's game against Mansfield.

The Reds have been forced to defend the Uruguayan after he was accused of cheating by handling the ball before scoring what proved to be the winning goal at Field Mill.

Gerrard joined those offering their support to Suarez, and claimed that Manchester United players would be in no hurry to confess if they committed a similar offence.

When asked if he would confess or celebrate a dubious goal, Gerrard replied: "Look, I'm not going to lie to you - of course I celebrate.

"I can't sit here and claim I would run to the linesman or referee and say, 'I've hand-balled it' at Old Trafford - what would Wayne Rooney do?

"What did [then-Manchester United keeper] Roy Carroll do years ago when the ball was four yards over the line? I never saw Alex Ferguson or Carroll run to the referee or linesman and say it was over the line, did you?"

Carroll famously spilled the ball over the line from Pedro Mendes's last-minute effort in Tottenham Hotspur's visit to Old Trafford in 2005.