Everton attacker Kevin Mirallas has revealed he believes he should have been sent off for his horror challenge on Liverpool’s Luis Suarez during Saturday’s 3-3 draw between the teams at Goodison Park.
Mirallas is quoted in the Daily Express as saying, “When I made the challenge the first thing I thought was that it was going to be a red card,” said Mirallas.
“I was genuinely going for the ball but I know I caught him on the knee and I said sorry straight away.”
However there was no apology to Suarez from the 26-year-old.
After the game, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left furious by the tackle, describing it as a potentially career-ending challenge.
Rodgers also questioned what punishment would have been served to Suarez had the tables been turned.
He is quoted in the Guardian as saying, “I thought Mirallas should have been sent off. It would’ve been interesting if Luis made the challenge. I have seen Kevin for a few years and he looks a real honest player but if you look at it in every way, real time and slow motion, it is a bad challenge.
“He caught him on the back of his knee and that can end your career. It was awful jumping in like that and it took Luis 10 or 15 minutes to try to run it off and [Mirallas] had another one by the [far] touchline where he’s jumped up and come down on the back of Luis. [Suárez] is a player who can look after himself on the pitch, he is a strong player, but I just think it was a bad challenge.
“It wouldn’t matter if it was on Luis or someone else it was a naughty challenge. You don’t want to see people getting sent off but if they should be than that’s what should happen.”
Everton attacker Kevin Mirallas has revealed he believes he should have been sent off for his horror challenge on Liverpool’s Luis Suarez during Saturday’s 3-3 draw between the teams at Goodison Park.
Mirallas is quoted in the Daily Express as saying, “When I made the challenge the first thing I thought was that it was going to be a red card,” said Mirallas.
“I was genuinely going for the ball but I know I caught him on the knee and I said sorry straight away.”
However there was no apology to Suarez from the 26-year-old.
After the game, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers was left furious by the tackle, describing it as a potentially career-ending challenge.
Rodgers also questioned what punishment would have been served to Suarez had the tables been turned.
He is quoted in the Guardian as saying, “I thought Mirallas should have been sent off. It would’ve been interesting if Luis made the challenge. I have seen Kevin for a few years and he looks a real honest player but if you look at it in every way, real time and slow motion, it is a bad challenge.
“He caught him on the back of his knee and that can end your career. It was awful jumping in like that and it took Luis 10 or 15 minutes to try to run it off and [Mirallas] had another one by the [far] touchline where he’s jumped up and come down on the back of Luis. [Suárez] is a player who can look after himself on the pitch, he is a strong player, but I just think it was a bad challenge.
“It wouldn’t matter if it was on Luis or someone else it was a naughty challenge. You don’t want to see people getting sent off but if they should be than that’s what should happen.”
Despite having missed the first of two England games during the international break prior to the weekend’s club football to nurse his thigh problem, Sturridge played against Germany for his country on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old is vying to earn a place in England boss Roy Hodgson’s team for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, but his involvement on Tuesday night at Wembley had negative consequences on his fitness when he resumed training for Liverpool.
Consequently, Rodgers was forced to start with Sturridge on the bench against Everton, although the former Chelsea forward came on as a second-half substitute to head home an 88th minute equaliser.
Rodgers explained his selection decision, based on Sturridge’s fitness in training before the game. He is quoted in the Guardian as saying, “I am looking at him in training on Friday and he is not right. Whose responsibility is that? It is the [Football] Association and the player.
“It is very simple for me. With any player, you have to put yourself on the training field. If you do that, you will be in with a chance of playing. Jon Flanagan was immense. He will be in a derby that is shown on Sky Golden in 30 years’ time because of his desire and will to put himself out there every day.
“If you don’t do that, there is a consequence – you don’t play. If you want to be a champion, if you want to win things, you have to be ready. For this game I just felt Daniel wasn’t ready.”
Rodgers added that he was right to rest Sturridge and had predicted an under-par performance from him due to lack of full training.
“I could see it in him. I have seen it before. There is a trend,” he added. “The games he has disappointed in have come when he hasn’t trained. That was the call here.”
Liverpool now have a quick run of games with a trip to Hull City this Sunday, before a midweek game at home to Norwich City and finally West Ham United three days later at Anfield.
Despite having missed the first of two England games during the international break prior to the weekend’s club football to nurse his thigh problem, Sturridge played against Germany for his country on Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old is vying to earn a place in England boss Roy Hodgson’s team for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, but his involvement on Tuesday night at Wembley had negative consequences on his fitness when he resumed training for Liverpool.
Consequently, Rodgers was forced to start with Sturridge on the bench against Everton, although the former Chelsea forward came on as a second-half substitute to head home an 88th minute equaliser.
Rodgers explained his selection decision, based on Sturridge’s fitness in training before the game. He is quoted in the Guardian as saying, “I am looking at him in training on Friday and he is not right. Whose responsibility is that? It is the [Football] Association and the player.
“It is very simple for me. With any player, you have to put yourself on the training field. If you do that, you will be in with a chance of playing. Jon Flanagan was immense. He will be in a derby that is shown on Sky Golden in 30 years’ time because of his desire and will to put himself out there every day.
“If you don’t do that, there is a consequence – you don’t play. If you want to be a champion, if you want to win things, you have to be ready. For this game I just felt Daniel wasn’t ready.”
Rodgers added that he was right to rest Sturridge and had predicted an under-par performance from him due to lack of full training.
“I could see it in him. I have seen it before. There is a trend,” he added. “The games he has disappointed in have come when he hasn’t trained. That was the call here.”
Liverpool now have a quick run of games with a trip to Hull City this Sunday, before a midweek game at home to Norwich City and finally West Ham United three days later at Anfield.
