TEAMtalk : Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam believes team-mate Luis Suarez is coping well with the scrutiny he now finds himself under.
Ever since Patrice Evra made allegations that he was racially abused by the Uruguayan back in mid-October, the striker has rarely been out of the spotlight.
He has been targeted by opposition players and fans alike, who feel he goes to ground too easily, and when Suarez responded with an alleged offensive gesture after the defeat to Fulham earlier this month he found himself facing a misconduct charge.
Any punishment for that offence, with the Football Association still awaiting a response from the individual and also the club on a charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, would most likely pale into insignificance against the eight-match ban already handed to Suarez.
Since the 24-year-old was found guilty of using insulting words to Evra – which included a reference to the Manchester United defender’s colour – on Tuesday the focus on him has gone to a new level.
Chants of “racist” and “cheat” were commonplace during the Reds’ goalless draw at Wigan but Liverpool and their players – who issued a joint statement and wore T-shirts backing their team-mate on Wednesday night – are standing by Suarez, with an appeal almost certain to be lodged.
And Adam praised the way the striker is dealing with the situation.