SUAREZ vs EVRA HANDSHAKE SAGA

Luis Suarez first trying to shake Evra's hand but was reluctant

Liverpool on Sunday lost to their bitter rival Manchester United at Old Trafford in an epic encounter which saw lots of drama and talks. Build up to the game was all about Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra saga which saw Luis missing the last eight game of Liverpool through ban for alleged to have racially abused Evra in the first fixture at Anfield. It was early afternoon kickoff with the atmosphere charged and the stadium field to capacity, the drama took the centre stage of the game after Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Evra. The Reds went on to lose 2-1 and Suarez has been roundly criticized for his actions since, with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branding him 'a disgrace'.

But now Suarez has issued a statement of regret and insisted he wants to put the whole matter behind him.

He said: "I have spoken with the manager since the game at Old Trafford and I realize I got things wrong.  "I've not only let him down, but also the club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened. "I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and I want to apologize for my actions. "I would like to put this whole issue behind me and concentrate on playing football."

Liverpool’s manager, Kenny Dalglish refused to talk to the press after the game for his post match interview but some hours later came out with an apology to the entire journalist for his actions. A statement on the club’s website from Dalglish said: "Ian Ayre has made the club's position absolutely clear and it is right that Luis Suarez has now apologized for what happened at Old Trafford.

"To be honest, I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do. "But as Ian said earlier, all of us have a responsibility to represent this club in a fit and proper manner and that applies equally to me as Liverpool manager. "When I went on TV after yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I'd like to apologize for that."

Liverpool’s Managing Director, Ian Ayre, has labelled Luis Suarez‘s decision not to shake hands with Manchester Utd defender Patrice Evra before yesterday’s encounter between the two sides at Old Trafford as “unacceptable”.

Suarez has since apologized for the snub, saying he has let the club down. Ayre says that the club had been assured by the Uruguayan striker that he would shake hands with Evra before the game, and now feels the club were mislead by the 25-year-old.

“We are extremely disappointed Luis Suarez did not shake hands with Patrice Evra before yesterday’s game.

“The player had told us beforehand that he would, but then chose not to do so.

“He was wrong to mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra. He has not only let himself down but also Kenny Dalglish, his team-mates and the club.

“It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suarez that his behaviour was not acceptable.

“Luis Suarez has now apologized for his actions, which was the right thing to do.

“However, all of us have a duty to behave in a responsible manner and we hope he now understands what is expected of anyone representing Liverpool Football Club.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United have released a brief statement expressing their wish to move on from the whole matter.

It reads: “Manchester United thanks Liverpool for the apologies issues following Saturday’s game. Everyone at Old Trafford wants to move on from this. The history of our two great clubs is one of the success and rivalry unparalleled in British football. That should be the focus of all those who love the clubs.

In my opinion I think Liverpool has acted in the best professional manner ever and has really showed the rest of the world what the club really stands for. What has happened has happened it time to move on both Suarez and the club, we all hope he’s really lent his lessons and will allow himself to calm down. This should rather motivate him and make him grow from strength to strength. The best way to silent his critics is to keep improving and improving, score more goals and mind his own business on the field of play.

The statement issued from Liverpool’s MD clearly states our position on the matter and not that we are ready to cash in on the lad, we want him to behave himself in the manner that’s expected of him as an ambassador to the club. The time has come to move on as we have an FA Cup game to play against Brighton on Sunday in the 5^th Round of the competition which can lead us to Wembley and also the Carling Cup finals against Cardiff City at Wembley on 26^th February, 2012.

LUIS SUAREZ: PLAYERS AND PUNDITS REACT TO HANDSHAKE ROW- FROM BBC

Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen said on the BBC's Match of the Day: "The rhetoric from both clubs before the game was restraint. Liverpool said there would be a handshake, so for Suarez to snub Evra is totally unacceptable. Liverpool have given Suarez total support through thick and thin and I think he's let Kenny down, he's let the club down and he's let himself down."

Former Newcastle and England striker Alan Shearer told the BBC's Match of the Day: "Kenny [Dalglish] is fiercely loyal but Suarez has let him down. This should have been the start of the end. I totally disagree with Suarez not shaking his hand. Evra puts his hand out - and then Ferdinand chooses not to shake [Suarez's hand]. It's not a great day for football." On Evra's post-match celebration, he added: "There was no need for Evra to do that in front of Suarez, who keeps calm."

Former Liverpool striker John Barnes said on ESPN: "When I saw it live and they didn't shake hands, it just amazed me. I can't imagine after everything that has gone on this week that this was not discussed by Liverpool in terms of are they going to shake hands or not.

"It's a big shock and was compounded by Evra at the end [celebrating near Suarez] and then Sir Alex Ferguson. It's not a good day from a PR perspective for either club."

However, Barnes also insisted too much had been made of the whole row between the players, adding: "For me, we are making a mountain out of a molehill. There are worse things happening in the world."

Wayne Rooney also played down the handshake snub, insisting: "I haven't seen it. A few of the lads were talking about it but we've got to just focus on the game. It's between the two of them, it's nothing to do with us. We had to just focus 100% on the game and make sure we got three points."

Former England manager and Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan was unimpressed by Ferguson's call for Liverpool to sell Suarez, insisting both clubs have behaved badly over the issue: "To come out and say a player shouldn't play for another club that you have no control of, I think is wrong. Instead of calming this down, they've allowed it to escalate.

"They are the two biggest clubs in this country in terms of winning things and I think both clubs at different times have handled it badly, I think Liverpool in the beginning very badly.

"Today was a chance to say to the player, 'Shake his hand and get on with it', and then there's nothing to say. Then Evra after the game, why would he want to do that? He's won his case, the guy's got a lengthy ban, just keep quiet. You've won the game."

BBC pundit Steve Claridge told Final Score: "I'm with Sir Alex here. It was a poor way to behave and he [Suarez] has made himself out to be a villain.

"To shake someone's hand before a game is to wipe the slate clean. To not do that is not acceptable behaviour."

Former Liverpool defender John Scales told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's incredibly disappointing. We all expected a handshake - Sir Alex Ferguson did, Kenny Dalglish did - and it took everyone by shock."

However, Scales also insisted that Evra's behaviour helped to inflame the situation. "There are certain players who have real control of their emotions and I think Patrice Evra is quite a volatile character. That celebration at the end of the game was overdone," he added.

Former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek that the handshake was "clearly symbolic, and its symbolism has its place in the game.

"From a player's perspective it's very difficult to shake someone's hand if you don't want to.

"But players have a responsibility to their club and to the wider interests of the game. If it can cause more problems in a particular circumstance, it's right for the clubs to dispense with it.

"You cannot have two of England's most famous and proud clubs at each other's throats on an instance like this, and I think they [the FA] will have to bring the two clubs together - it cannot carry on like this."

Former Arsenal and FA vice-chairman David Dein told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "Handshakes should be respected. Football first and foremost is a sport and sporting conduct has to be encouraged. What happened was unfortunate and an embarrassment.

"All clubs sign up to Fifa's and Uefa's Fair Play and anti-racism campaigns and they have got to be respected. Players have to respect that, they are role models to youngsters."

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "I regret what happened because it would have been a good opportunity to put everything to bed.

"It created some tension, I was at the game and I could feel it, the atmosphere was a bit toxic but at the same time I am a bit disappointed because it overshadowed the quality of the game.

"It was a good game of football between two good sides but instead we are talking about what Suarez did or didn't do."