Carroll, Suarez are Liverpool’s problem, Kenny

There is no smoke without fire.

In the case of Luis Suarez, there does not have to be.

He brings more controversy to Liverpool than a bush fire in the outback in summer.

After allegations of diving, racial abuse, spitting, Luis Suarez is at the centre of a cheating storm… again.

As Liverpool slumped to defeat by relegation-threatened Wigan at Anfield the controversial Uruguayan is judged to have handled the ball over the line in the 53rd minute and celebrated as though he thought his effort was legitimate.

Referee Lee Mason booked him, ruling out a score that would have put Liverpool 2-1 ahead, after an earlier Suarez goal had cancelled out a spot-kick opener from Shaun Maloney.

But Wigan scored a dramatic winner from captain Gary Caldwell.

There were boos from some parts of the Anfield crowd towards their own team at the end.

Amazingly Kenny Dalglish said bitterly: “If that was hand-ball I must have been watching a different telly.

“It shouldn’t have been chalked off. I think it hit his shoulder as he tried to play it. And to be booked as well? It wasn’t justified, he was jumping for the ball.”

In their worst run since January 2005, Liverpool have now won just one of their past seven Premier League games and only one of their past five at Anfield.

Dalglish blamed burnout for the latest poor home performance.

Liverpool have won only twice at Anfield in the League this year.

King Kenny might consider the fact that players he has relied on like Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam have all let him down.

Liverpool will not be happy unless they finish in the top 4 and the likes of Carroll will have to weighed carefully in the post-season if the Reds are ever going to ascend the table again.