At first glance, the figures do not stack up. Wayne Rooney was substituted more times in 2009-10 than he has been this season. He created fewer chances in 2004-05.

He will play roughly the same number of matches that he did in 2007-08. He has already scored more goals than he did in 2004-05 and 2010-11 and as many as in 2007-08 and 2008-09. So what is the problem?

Yet by all purely intuitive reckonings, something is not right. Rooney is not the same player as he was at the start of the season, not the same player as in previous campaigns.

On the wane: Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney hasn't looked the same player this season

Outshone: Sir Alex Ferguson believes Shinji Kagawa (right) was the star man against West Ham at Upton Park

Need a break? Rooney has been heavily linked with a move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain

Ferguson is certainly not a manager who considers headlines when making decisions, but equally, he does not actively seek aggravation at the business end of the season.

He knows there will be consequences when he leaves Rooney out of the starting line-up at home to Real Madrid, or brings him off in order to go for a win.

He knows the message he is sending: to the player, to his representatives, and to any club that may be following Rooney’s fortunes.

So something is awry. When Rooney scored his 11 goals in 2010-11, he  created 60 chances. In the year he was subbed 10 times he scored 26 goals. All the numbers in this  campaign are trending downwards.

He needs to feature in four of the last five matches if he is not to play his fewest games in any season for United, while his goals total, chances created and times replaced would all sit in the bottom three of his nine years at Old Trafford.

Maybe he is burning out.

It can happen. Michael Owen was English football’s last great teenage prodigy and his career has come to a premature end.

Next year, technically, Rooney is due a testimonial. We still think of him as youthful, but this is a long stretch.

There is no guarantee Rooney has the same ambition or desire as modern marvels like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, or even Frank Lampard. He looks fatigued at times. If the rumours about conditioning issues are true, it could be argued that he lacks commitment.

He could need a break, a change, a fresh start. Perhaps Paris Saint- Germain can provide it. Certainly,  Ferguson will not be rushing to offer an extended contract.

This is a watershed summer for Rooney and much will depend on how he returns in July. Ferguson  will be looking for reassurance that Rooney has summered with an eye on the new season.

He will not have forgotten being asked if the club can match Rooney’s ambition. This season, they have proved they can.

If there is any hint that obligation is no longer reciprocated, we are watching the last of him, not just at United, maybe in English football.

No science in selling

Newcastle United are talking £7million, West Ham United £10m, Tottenham Hotspur’s figure is believed to be somewhere in between.

The auction for Andy Carroll is moving in the wrong direction for Liverpool. Far from hearing £17m, the cry would appear to be, how low can you go?

Wrong direction: Potential transfer fees for Andy Carroll are far lower than the £35million Liverpool paid for him

Meanwhile, Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has been speaking of the new approach under the Fenway Sports Group.

‘I think the fundamental shift around player acquisitions and disposals is that it needs to be more of  a science,’ he said. Indeed.

Yet Liverpool are about to discover that when it comes to selling, the process is entirely market driven.

The value is what you can get, and as Brendan Rodgers plainly has no place for Carroll in his team, Carroll does not have the game for the major European leagues and financial fair play — enthusiastically and publicly advocated by Liverpool — will put the brakes on expenditure, a loss of £25m might be the best of it.

So here comes the science bit, Ian: there isn’t one.

So where's this science bit? Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre

Don't double up on the applause

There was a minute’s applause at Anfield yesterday in memory of Anne Williams, the Hillsborough campaigner who lost her son Kevin in the tragedy and was instrumental in the campaign for justice.

Bolted on to it was the same tribute to those affected by the attack at the Boston Marathon. Why? Anne Williams was an inspiration, so heartfelt applause  for her life’s achievement is right; but silence and reflection are the proper responses to events in Boston.

Inspiration: Anne Williams (left) received a minute's applause at Anfield

What is worthy of applause there? Remembrance becomes devalued when it is catch-all. Liverpool’s owners are from Boston and one can understand a sense of affiliation, but do they mark the Hillsborough disaster at Boston Red Sox games now? What do you think?

The clever money fancies Bayern Munich to defeat Barcelona this week, and later remove them from the Champions League. Not if Barcelona bring their A game. Bayern are a fine team. What Barcelona did to AC Milan in the Nou Camp last month, however, was something else.

Numbers just can't add up for QPR

As 58 teams have been relegated from the Premier League, and just 16 have returned at the first attempt, there is no certainty Queens Park Rangers will bounce back.

Shorn of Loic Remy, Andros Townsend and a handful of others, the squad is poor. Success will depend on a complete overhaul and there are too many expensive long-term contracts for comfort.

Players that have not shown enough gumption in the Premier League are hardly likely to welcome the slog of a Championship season. Nothing can be guaranteed.

Standing out: Loic Remy and Andros Townsend have been impressive in an otherwise poor QPR squad

Yet this week, QPR took on a £15m loan to cover ground improvements. They are scouting a 40,000 seat venue in west London, to be developed with an entertainment complex.

Chief executive Phil Beard was one of the men behind the transformation of the Millennium Dome to the O2 Arena.

Far from impending financial catastrophe, Rangers have big plans. As do Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Arsenal and even Leyton Orient if some judge will let them.

Every club in London is looking to expand, or explode, until the capital will be bursting with state-ofthe- art stadiums - that can't necessarily be filled.

Queens Park Rangers need a new pitch and a new training ground, but a new stadium? Why? They have averaged less than 18,000 in the Premier League this season, a smaller gate than Wigan Athletic.

And, no, it hasn't been a good year, yet the same could be said of Aston Villa who have pulled in close to 35,000, or Sunderland with 40,000. It is heartening for fans to know the board still have ambition, yet clubs have a natural size it requires years of sustained success to overcome.

Even now, one cannot foresee a time when Manchester City are bigger than Manchester United or Tottenham bigger than Arsenal.

Big plans: QPR chairman Tony Fernandes hopes for a new stadium for the club

It took hundreds of millions and several League titles for Chelsea to outgrow comparisons with West Ham. QPR is the smallest of the capital's Premier League clubs and probably inferior to Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic, too.

Who will watch them in a 40,000 capacity stadium? Where are these additional 20,000 supporters going to come from? Will they grow on farms?

And while we're at it...

Each week we discover a fresh drawback to the financial fair play rules. Frederic Thiriez, president of the French League, has warned of a talent drain, due to the government tax of 75 per cent on earnings over €1million.

This is a direct result of UEFA's refusal to differentiate between the unique circumstances of countries.

Meanwhile, Manchester City and Chelsea have now signed up for end-of-season tours in 2014, when England manager Roy Hodgson would hope to have players resting in preparation for the World Cup.

Yet with owner investment limited, all clubs will in time squeeze their resources until the pips squeak.

Fear: President of the French football Ligue Frederic Thiriez believes there could be a talent drain in the country

Unsung hero Mick

On November 1, 2012, when Mick McCarthy took over Ipswich Town, the club were rock bottom in the Championship, with seven points from 13 matches, and a goal difference of minus 16.

Ipswich had won a single league game all season, had lost 6-0 at Blackpool and were on a run of straight defeats culminating in a 3-0 reverse at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

McCarthy's impact has been spectacular. A draw with Wednesday at Hillsborough yesterday lifted Ipswich to 14th place, but within three points of Birmingham City in 10th.

Ipswich averaged 0.53 points per game before McCarthy, which would have put them on 23.32 now and bottom by close to 20pts. Since McCarthy's arrival they have averaged 1.61, which, taken over the 44 games played this season, would have worked out at 70.96 and fourth place. McCarthy has done a brilliant job.

He should be in contention for manager of the year.

Manager of the year? Mick McCarthy has done a remarkable job at Ipswich

They are proposing that the Football League refuses to accept relegated teams next season. Brilliant. Until one considers the consequences: a retaliatory measure, in which the Premier League refuses to take the promoted clubs from the Football League, or picks and chooses which ones it wants, before upping the drawbridge, perhaps forever.

A closed shop would sound mightily attractive to the owners of clubs like Stoke City, Sunderland and Aston Villa right now. And to start endangering the competitive existence of those threatened with relegation from the Premier League would be the quickest way to bring it about.

Kasey Palmer had been at Charlton Athletic since he was nine. Rather than sign professional forms, he decamped to Chelsea. Worse, because Chelsea have a category one academy, and Charlton's is category two, the money the club receives in compensation is reduced.

Charlton will bank £200,000 rising to £800,000 if certain goals are met. Palmer, 16, is rated so highly he has already been included in Chelsea's first-team group. He would have been a superstar at Charlton. It hardly seems fair.

Unfair: Charlton's academy status mean they will receive reduced fees from Kasey Palmer's move to Chelsea

Yet, reacting to this blow, Charlton manager Chris Powell says he will now strive to upgrade his club's academy status. Category one offers a high level of contact time with the players, a minimum of 18 full-time staff and an operational budget of £2.5m.

All clubs should aspire to this standard. If this is what inspires Charlton and other category two academies to improve the quality of their youth training programmes, for all the flaws in the system, some very tough medicine is working.

Real Madrid have gone ahead of Manchester United in Forbes table of valuable football clubs. No matter. It is nonsense anyway. United have been on top since 2004, a fact that ignores Madrid's purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

If a club can buy your best player without the help of an oligarch or sheik, but you cannot buy theirs, they are bigger than you. Any other calculation is goofy.

Superstar: Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009

Almost a year and a half on from one of the lowest moments in the club’s history,  Liverpool are back where they started with Luis Suarez.

We did, in all honesty, think we had seen the worst of Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker. His racial  comments to Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in October 2011 plunged his club in to a crisis from which it struggled to recover.

Yesterday, we discovered we were wrong. Suarez, it transpired, had more depravity in his locker and this morning Branislav Ivanovic wears the scars on his right bicep to prove it.

Scroll down to see a video of the biting incident

At the death: Luis Suarez headed in a late equaliser to rescue a point for Liverpool against Chelsea

Delight: Suarez runs off in celebration after a dramatic late strike at Anfield

Hungry? Suarez appeared to bite Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during the second half

Crazy: The ball was still in play when Suarez turned his attention to Ivanovic's arm

 

Stunned: Ivanovic gestures towards referee Kevin Friend after the incident

MATCH FACTS

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Downing (Shelvey 80), Henderson, Coutinho (Sturridge 46), Suarez.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Assaidi, Coates, Coady, Skrtel.

Booked: Henderson, Lucas, Suarez, Carragher, Shelvey.

Goals: Sturridge 52, Suarez 90.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Mata (Lampard 90), Oscar (Moses 83), Hazard (Benayoun 78), Torres.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Terry, Ba.

Booked: Torres, Azpilicueta.

Goals: Oscar 26, Hazard (pen) 57.

Att: 45,009.

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

It was clear something was very wrong within a second or so of Suarez tussling with the Chelsea defender in front of the Kop  midway through the second half. Immediately, the Serbian proffered his arm to referee Kevin Friend while making a clear ‘biting’ motion. Was he really suggesting Suarez had bitten him? Soon after, replays revealed the grisly truth, a truth from which Suarez can make no attempt to run this time.
In the Evra case, Suarez denied abusing his opponent. Liverpool, wisely or otherwise, defended him with all the vigour they could  muster. It was, after all, a case of one man’s word against another.

In this instance, the evidence is clear, a high-definition horror show, and although manager Brendan Rodgers endeavoured not to be drawn yesterday, he and the club’s owners in America face a decision.

Rodgers talked in terms of the club’s reputation last night.

Suarez has already chewed that up and spat it out, but if Liverpool are serious about limiting the damage they may wish to look at the way Manchester United dealt with Eric Cantona after his assault on a fan at Crystal Palace in 1995.

They pre-empted the FA by suspending him immediately. Almost 20 years on, it still looks a reasonable tactic.

Certainly in Boston the Liverpool owners will look upon this episode darkly. John W Henry was scandalized by the way his club’s reputation suffered globally last season and, as he is now dealing with the same culprit, Suarez would be  correct to worry about his future.On TV yesterday, Graeme Souness — a great icon of the club —  spoke eloquently and passionately.  Souness understands Liverpool as well as anybody and his clear  concern is understandable.

 

Opener: Oscar headed Chelsea into the lead midway through the first half at Anfield

 

For all his gifts, Suarez is now in danger of dragging his employers’ reputation in the same direction as his own. In terms of his football, Suarez was exemplary. He often is, and the fact he created Liverpool’s first equaliser and scored the  second with the game’s penultimate kick deepened the feeling of dismay that here we have a footballer so destructively flawed.

Rodgers looked a little deflated. His team had done well to grab a point but nobody really wanted to talk about that. Second best before half-time, Liverpool trailed by a goal. Replays failed to explain who was supposed to be marking Oscar at a 27th-minute corner but nobody got close enough and his header proved too powerful for goalkeeper Pepe Reina at the near post.

Twice at the end of the half,  Suarez came close. On both occasions Petr Cech proved equal. After the break, though, Liverpool did break sweat. The introduction of Daniel Sturridge brought directness and twice within the first two minutes they came close as Steven Gerrard was denied by Cech’s boot and Sturridge by a post.

In the 52nd minute, Liverpool did score. Some goal it was, too, as Stewart Downing diverted a Glen Johnson pass into Suarez and the 26-year-old’s sumptuous first-time chip allowed Sturridge to side-foot in from seven yards without breaking stride.

Lead: The Brazilian was unmarked from a corner at the Kop end and steered his header past Pepe Reina

Home: Rafa Benitez made his Anfield return

 

Chelsea were to come again as a Suarez handball gave them a penalty converted by the impressive Eden Hazard three minutes later, and the game did get a little fractious.

Jamie Carragher became embroiled in a battle with former team-mate Fernando Torres while Sturridge seemed to leave a foot in on Ryan Bertrand.

The subsequent stoppage contributed to the six-and-a-half minutes of added time that incensed Chelsea’s boss Rafa Benitez. Right at the end, Suarez moved on to a Sturridge cross and his header found the top corner off Cech’s wrist. A day of drama now had everything but, inevitably, only part of the game will form this week’s  narrative.

On Sunday morning a newspaper interview with Suarez contained an admission that he would not expect people to vote for him in this season’s PFA and football writers’ awards.

Here at Anfield was another reason why his self-analysis may have been spot on.

Certainly an unpalatable possibility now looms.

The votes for the PFA award are in and Suarez is short-listed. If he has won, the players’ union face the embarrassing prospect of handing him his award at their gala dinner in London this Sunday.

PFA chief executive Gordon  Taylor may have some thinking to do this morning. His problems, though, pale when compared to those of Liverpool.

Impact: Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to equalise for Liverpool early in the second half

 

 

Penalty: Chelsea were awarded a spot kick when Luis Suarez handled the ball from a corner

Calm: Eden Hazard converted the penalty to put Chelsea back ahead at Anfield

 

Last laugh: Suarez denied Chelsea a win right at the death when he headed in Sturridge's cross

 

Thank you: Liverpool fans sent a message to former manager Benitez

Club: Liverpool fans unveiled a banner which had Benitez's head alongside some of their former managers

Too good: A Liverpool fan holds up a banner aimed at Chelsea supporters

Gesture: Benitez acknowledges the reception from the Liverpool faithful

Reunion: Fernando Torres shakes hands with his former Liverpool team-mate Pepe Reina

Respect: Benitez left flowers at Liverpool's Hillsborough memorial

RIP: Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams, whose son Kevin died in 1989, is remembered after passing away

Tribute: Players from both teams observed a minute's applause before kick-off

LUIS SUAREZ'S CONTROVERSIES – WE'VE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is back in the spotlight after appearing to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm during the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, going on to score a late equaliser.

Here are some of the previous controversies surrounding the Uruguayan forward.

February 2007: Suarez made his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but was sent off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent.

November 2007: Joined Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but he was later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque.

July 2010: During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and was subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties.

November 2010: Suarez was handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match.

October 2011: Following his move to Liverpool in January 2011, he was involved in a tackle with Everton's Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell was then sent off.

October 2011: Suarez was alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suarez was later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission and banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.

December 2011: Was seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the Football Association over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture.

February 2012: United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy blew up as Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before kick-off.

October 2012: Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.

January 2013: Handles the ball prior to scoring Liverpool's winner in the FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield.

April 2013: Appears to bite Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield.

Daily Mail

 

Paris Saint-Germain closed in on the French league title with a 3-0 victory over Nice that restored their nine point lead over Marseille.

David Beckham was an unused substitute in the match and with just five matches left, the big-spenders look set to win their first league crown since 1994.

Not needed: David Beckham was an unused substitute in PSG's 3-0 win over Nice

On the scoresheet: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (second right) celebrates with team-mates

Jeremy Menez gave PSG the lead from close range in just the third minute, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled the lead by converting a penalty in the 65th.

Substitute Clement Chantome then rounded off the win in the 88th, leaving PSG on 70 points after 33 games.

Marseille have 61, while Lyon are another two points behind in third.

Earlier on Sunday, Lille kept pace in the race for a Champions League spot by defeating Bastia 2-1 on Sunday to stay three points behind Lyon.

Ligue 1 - The latest standings

Opener: Jeremy Menez scores the first goal

Handbags: Referee Tony Chapron separates Renato Civelli of Nice and Ibrahimovic

Daily Mail

Ralph Ellis runs you through what we learned from the weekend's football... with some star turns and a look through the leagues, too. This week includes Fernando Torres' understated Anfield return, Wigan's fixture pile-up and Michu's stunning omission from the PFA Player of the Year shortlist.

1 The one Chelsea player who might have been secretly pleased about Luis Suarez and the row over that bite was Fernando Torres – for taking the spotlight off his return to Anfield.

The Spaniard’s goals in the Europa League – which have taken him to 20 for the season - have masked the fact that he’s not scored a Premier League goal now since he kicked off the 8-0 rout over Aston Villa back in December.

Understated: Fernando Torres barely threatened his former club Liverpool

Ouch: Luis Suarez appeared to dig his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic's arm (right)

At least he’s picking up his appearance money.  After yesterday there have been only four of Chelsea’s 61 fixtures in which Torres hasn’t been on the pitch for all or part of the game.

Oscar and Eden Hazard have both also been involved in 57 matches, but no player has appeared in more.

2 Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle have all had their grumbles about fixture congestion – while Wigan won’t look forward to fighting for survival as they squeeze six games into 21 days.

But according to West Brom boss Steve Clarke it’s just as hard if you aren’t playing regularly.

Albion had played just two matches in 34 days leading into the 1-1 draw with Newcastle, and Clarke claimed: 'My players train hard but you cannot replicate the situation of matches to maintain their sharpness.  I feared we might start slowly and my concerns were justified.'

Ready: Shaun Maloney and his Wigan team-mates must play six times in 21 days

3 Neal Ardley should have had as much reason to celebrate as League Two title winning Martin Allen at Gillingham on Saturday night after his Wimbledon team’s remarkable second half comeback earned a 2-2 draw.

That took the Dons on to 50 points, normally the Holy Grail for Football League survival in the same way that 40 is the safety mark for the Premier League.  Since the current two-club relegation zone from League Two began in 2002, it has always been enough – and in 2009 Grimsby survived with as few as 41 points.

Not this year, though. The Dons will go into the last day second from bottom and nothing less than victory at home to Fleetwood will be enough to keep them up.  Some of the old Crazy Gang spirit will clearly be needed.

4 Much debate last week about why Swansea’s striker Michu never got included on the shortlist for the PFA’s Player of the Year award.

There were accusations from John Hartson among others of bias against smaller clubs, and demands to know why the achievements of the Carling Cup winners seemed not to have been recognised.

Surely a bigger mystery was that Swans’ Ben Davies never got a look in on the Young Player list.

Still aged 17 in September when Michael Laudrup chucked him in to the team following Neil Taylor’s injury, he’d barely played reserve football.

But he has not missed a League game all season and established himself as first choice for Wales at the same time. He’ll end up making more than double the number of appearances as Arsenal’s Jack Wilshire – who is on the PFA short list.

Harsh? Swansea star Michu was not included in the PFA Player of the Year shortlist

Tough break: Ben Davies was not included in the young players' category either

5 Bury’s relegation from League One was confirmed by their 1-1 draw at Walsall – but that is only the beginning of the club’s problems.

Directors have warned they need to find £1million of new investment in the next week or risk going out of business, and manager Kevin Blackwell is hinting he may walk away even if they survive.

Blackwell’s squad – in which several players have appeared without taking wages – is so thin he had just two substitutes at The Bescot Stadium.  Ironically one of them, Efe Sodje, scored their last minute equalising goal.

Ironic: Efe Sodje scored a late equaliser for Bury

6 Losing Steve Sidwell to his second red card in his last two games was always going to make it tough for Fulham against Arsenal.

But once Per Mertesacker had given the Gunners the lead they were probably going to get beaten, anyway.

Martin Jol’s side have won only five points from losing positions all season – the worst record of any Premier League team when it comes to comebacks.

Crunched: Steve Sidwell picked up his second red card in as many games after this lunge on Mikel Arteta

7 Little has gone right for Shaun Wright-Phillips in the last few seasons – he’s scored only one Premier League goal in three years and is now sitting out Queens Park Rangers’ inevitable slide into the Championship following an ankle operation.

But at least things are looking up for younger brother Bradley, 28, who is playing a key role in Brentford’s late charge for promotion from League One while on loan from Charlton.

Contrast: Shaun-Wright Phillips (above) has been benched at QPR whereas his brother, Bradley, has played an integral role in Brentford's late surge for promotion

He’s got five goals in the Bees’ last seven games and starred in the 1-1 draw at Hartlepool which has given Uwe Rosler’s side the chance to beat second placed Doncaster at Griffin Park on the final day to steal a place in the Championship.

8 Billy Davies seemed like a magician when he walked into Nottingham Forest in February and promptly won six matches in a row.

The combative Scot, whose last spell in charge at The City Ground ended in the sack two years ago when his side lost to Swansea in the play offs, talked of 'unfinished business' in seeking to put Brian Clough’s old club back into the top flight.

It’s starting to look as if the business may remain unfinished for a while, however.  A 0-0 draw with Barnsley means it is now six games without a win – and the luck is deserting him too.  Forest hit the woodwork FOUR times.

9 As Brian McDermott settles down to sort out what he needs to do at Leeds United, one of his priorities will be to get his team to start games quicker.

The 0-1 defeat at Birmingham means it is now 20 games since Leeds scored a goal in the first half of a match.

Birmingham’s former West Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins, incidentally celebrated the 550th game of his career by scoring the winner.

Out of the blocks: Brian McDermott (right) will want to get his Leeds side to start games quicker

10 Rotherham at first turned down the chance to sign midfielder Kieran Agard on a free transfer last summer due to his 'excessive wage demands', when the former Arsenal and Everton midfielder had been let go by Yeovil.

The 23-year-old ultimately accepted lower pay – but might just feel like asking for a bonus now.
His third goal in the last three games earned a 1-0 win at Plymouth which means The Millers will go up if they beat rock bottom Aldershot at home on the final day.

The Football Association have failed to punish plenty of wrongdoing over the last few weeks — Daniel Sturridge will be the latest after his nasty, over-the-top challenge on Ryan Bertrand, as it was an ‘on the ball’ tackle.

However, the Suarez biting incident was not. Now the FA must act and surely ban Suarez for the rest of the season.

The video evidence is clear; as an attempted cross is blocked, Suarez and Ivanovic clash, and the Liverpool striker grabs his opponent’s arm and sinks his teeth in.

Ivanovic shows referee Kevin Friend the mark on his arm but Friend, having missed the incident, is powerless to act.

Incredibly, Suarez has previous.

Previous: Suarez bites Otman Bakkal of PSV while playing for Ajax

When playing for Ajax, he bit PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal in a Dutch League game.

While his own team fined and banned him for two games, the Dutch FA imposed a seven-match ban — a steer for our own governing body?

LUIS SUAREZ'S CONTROVERSIES

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is back in the spotlight after appearing to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm during the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, going on to score a late equaliser.

Here are some of the previous controversies surrounding the Uruguayan forward.

February 2007: Suarez made his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but was sent off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent.

November 2007: Joined Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but he was later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque.

July 2010: During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and was subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties.

November 2010: Suarez was handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match.

October 2011: Following his move to Liverpool in January 2011, he was involved in a tackle with Everton's Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell was then sent off.

October 2011: Suarez was alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suarez was later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission and banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.

December 2011: Was seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the Football Association over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture.

February 2012: United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy blew up as Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before kick-off.

October 2012: Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.

January 2013: Handles the ball prior to scoring Liverpool's winner in the FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield.

April 2013: Appears to bite Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield.

Daily Mail

 

Liverpool are under mounting pressure to kick out Luis Suarez after he bit Branislav Ivanovic in his side’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

Though Suarez used his Twitter account to apologise for the extraordinary incident and also issued a statement on the Liverpool website, he is fighting to save his Anfield career after manager Brendan Rodgers said ‘all players can be replaced’.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre cancelled a trip to Australia and the Far East to deal with an incident that has been condemned globally.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Bite: Millions of fans around the world watched on TV as controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, sank his teeth into the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during the clubs' 2-2 draw

Ayre said: ‘Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions. His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down. We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.’

Suarez has a history of shocking behaviour and was banned for seven matches in November 2011 after he bit PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal when playing for Ajax.

He was dubbed ‘the Cannibal of Ajax’ by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Suarez said last night: I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.  I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at  Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.’.

Preparing to lunge: Suarez grabs Ivanovic's arm before appearing to bite it during yesterday's match

'Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions. His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down. We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.'

While Suarez said in an interview on Sunday he wanted to see out his four-year contract at Anfield, it looks increasingly likely he will be offloaded in the summer. Bayern Munich have been strongly linked with him.

Rodgers, who initially refused to comment on the situation, said in a statement: ‘Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.’

The incident, which will be studied by the FA, overshadowed an intriguing game and marred an emotional return to Anfield for interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez. He refused to comment about the bite.

Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, working on Sky with Sportsmail’s Jamie Redknapp, was more forthright, and called the episode embarrassing.

BRENDAN RODGERS STATEMENT

'Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.'

‘A club’s board of directors’ job is to attract and get the best players and keep them at the club.

'He is making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool. I believe that puts him in the last-chance saloon. More important than any of that is to safeguard the good name of the club.

Confrontation: The Chelsea star made no secret of his unhappiness over the incident with the Liverpool man

‘It is up there with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United.

'People will be talking about this for a long, long time and it’s going to show Liverpool in a very bad light — especially in this week of all weeks, the anniversary of Hillsborough.

'If you look at Suarez’s track record, this is not the first time he has bitten someone in a football match. It can’t happen again.

'I firmly believe this puts him in the last chance saloon as a Liverpool player - the board have to see it that way because they're risking everything this great football club stands for.'

Suarez is a contender for PFA Player of the Year but their chief executive, Gordon Taylor, said: ‘It was not good to see, to say the least. It was unacceptable.

'It’s such a shame for a player who’s a really good footballer but this is not the first time such things have happened.’

Crazy: The Chelsea defender appeared to have done very little to provoke Suarez before the incident yesterday

Rivals: Chelsea were seconds from an impressive win at Anfield before Suarez scored a very late equaliser

In addition to threatening to undermine what has been a promising season for Liverpool, Suarez makes his case to win the PFA Footballer of the Year, for which he is nominated, even more difficult with every instant of his reckless behaviour.

Suarez had already played a big role in giving Chelsea the lead with a blatant handball that led to Eden Hazard's 57th minute penalty. The controversial incident then came within the next 10 minutes.

Earlier this season, Suarez appeared to handle the winning goal in the FA Cup against minnows Mansfield.

He also admitted to diving against Stoke CIty.

Look, ref: Ivanovic shows his arm to referee Kevin Friend following the biting incident at Anfield yesterday

Stunned: The Chelsea defender didn't seem to know how to react after he was bitten by Suarez yesterday

Last season, he was given an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

And at the 2010 World Cup, he was famously sent off after blatantly using his hands to prevent an important goal for Ghana against Uruguay in the tournament's quarter-finals.

Liverpool boss Rodgers insisted he would have to review the incident before commenting, but added that no individual was bigger than the club. He said : 'I'll go away and review it and then comment later. I'll make an honest appraisal on it and comment afterwards. It's not for me to make any rash comments or predictions now.

'This is a club with incredible values and ethics here. We'll review it as a club, because there's certainly no one bigger than this football club, a player or manager.

'As football managers and staff and players, we're representing this club, off the field and in particular on the field.

'But it's not the time to comment on it now.'

Present and past: Brendan Rodgers and Rafa Benitez shared the same Anfield touchline during the game

He added: 'I'll always speak openly and honestly about the players and protect them when I can, but with all due respect I'll make an honest appraisal of it [first].

'I'll always defend people if I think they're right - if I think they're wrong I'll tell them, and that's already happened with Luis this year. And then we move on from it. If that's what the case is, they've got to accept the consequences accordingly.

'It's disappointing that we're not talking about the football, because the character and personality we showed in the game was absolutely fantastic.

'We'll go away and speak to them (owners Fenway Sports Group) afterwards and take it from there.
'This is a club with incredible values and ethics here. As footballers, managers and staff we are representing this great club on and off the field.

'I will always speak openly and honestly about the players and protect them when I can and if I think they are wrong I will tell them - as I have already this season with Luis (when the striker admitted to diving).

'People have to accept it when they do wrong if that's what the case is. They have to accept the consequences accordingly. It's disappointing that we are not talking about the football.'

Out of nowhere: The incident happened after Suarez had already handballed just 10 minutes earlier

Chelsea manager and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said: 'I thought it was an emotional return,' said the Spaniard, whose name was frequently chanted by fans who remember him fondly for the 2005 Champions League triumph.

'I was pleased with the reception of the fans and disappointed with the late goal conceded - especially as I couldn't understand why there were six minutes and 45 seconds (added on).

'It is a strange decision. Some games you have six substitutions and they say three or four minutes but six minutes (had expired) and with a throw-in for us the game was over.

'But six minutes and 45 seconds is difficult to explain. We need to analyse why we didn't stop the cross and they scored but in the normal circumstances we would have finished the game.

World Cup 2010: Cynically preventing a Ghana goal

Handball: Suarez's goal against Mansfield

'I didn't see the incident that people are asking me about. I have not spoken to the players (about Suarez). We were talking about the late goal - it is very frustrating. 'We have plenty of time in the week to speak about it.'

The forward was last seen getting escorted out of the ground by a club steward with a Chelsea shirt in his hand.

Souness added: 'Liverpool are not blessed with world-class footballers at this time, and he is genuinely a world-class player, but he's making it very difficult for them to hold on to him.

'I've never seen anything like that in a football match before. That's what children do when they are in the pram, they bite things if they are not happy with it.

'He must be on the borderline of doing something mad, crazy every time he goes out there if he is capable of that.'

Pain: Ivanovic could not believe what had happened as he sat on the ground for a moment after the bite

'It is not for me to make any rash comments or any predictions now,' he added. 'This is a football club where historically players treat people with how the football club respects society, players and everyone.

'There is certainly no-one bigger than this football club, as a player or a manager.

'Players are always replaceable no matter how good they think they are. That is how football works.

Previous: Suarez bites Otman Bakkal of PSV while playing for Ajax

Repeat? The PSV star was as perplexed as Ivanovic by Suarez's behaviour

'Of course there are wonderful talents here we've seen at this club and others over many years.

'You lose a player you think you can't replace but the next one comes along.

'The standards at this football club have been met for many years and that's why it is the worldwide institution that it is.

'The history of this club is about respect and how people are treated and that is something that will always be maintained here and will always be long after I am gone.'

Talisman: Alongside Steven Gerrard, Suarez is considered Liverpool's key player

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp said what Suarez did was 'indefensible'.

He told Sky Sports 1 'He got a seven-game ban at Ajax for doing the same thing. He obviously has a real problem.

'There is that madness-genius gene in him because as a player, you hold your hands up - he's exceptional with people talking about him being player of the year, but what he did today, is indefensible.

'Even the staunchest Liverpool supporters cannot look at that and think that's alright.

'You can't defend that and anyone who tries to is completely wrong, because the club is bigger than any player who has been on the football field.

97th minute: Suarez's equaliser couldn't have come much later in the game to get Liverpool a 2-2 draw

'What's he doing? Why on earth would you want to take a chunk out of someone's arm when you are on a football field?

'That is an absolutely incredible act of brutality. It's madness.'

Redknapp also believes Suarez should face a sizeable suspension.

He said: 'I'd be surprised if he plays again this season. What message does will that send if he doesn't get a two or three-game ban.

'He's letting the club down.'

Key: Chelsea will be aggrieved that Suarez was still on the pitch when he scored late on in yesterday's game

Regarding the Uruguayan's long-term future at Anfield, Redknapp said: 'He's giving the owners a problem.

'It's such a shame because he's playing for such a great football club. How many more chances are you going to give him?

'I wouldn't be surprised if he's still here (next season). I wouldn't think that's the end of him at Liverpool football club.

'It's not the first time now but footballers are valuable commodities, they certainly aren't going to sack him for that, the only thing maybe is they will sell him in the summer as they think it's one time too many now.'

Concern: Suarez didn't look particularly happy on his departure from Anfield, accompanied by a steward

Souvenir? But he did have a Chelsea shirt to mark the day, after helping his side to a dramatic 2-2 draw

Suarez bit Ivanovic on the arm midway through the second half of the match, which saw the controversial Uruguayan forward score in the 97th minute to snatch Liverpool a point.

Suarez has spoken to Ivanovic and apologised, but Ayre as well as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers have spoken out condemning their striker's actions.

Scroll down to watch footage of the incident

Horrific: Liverpool's Luis Suarez sinks his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic

Preparing to lunge: Suarez grabs Ivanovic's arm before appearing to bite it during yesterday's match

'I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.

'I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.'

Suarez also took to his Twitter profile to say sorry to the Chelsea defender, posting: 'I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!'

He later added: 'I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting.'

Anger: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers voiced his displeasure at Suarez, who will face a club sanction

While he is waiting on the FA's reaction to the incident and any punishment he will face from the game's governing body, he will be hit with disciplinary action from his club.

'Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today,' said managing director Ayre.

'His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

'We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.'

Equaliser: Suarez celebrates after netting a last-gasp leveller, but all focus is on his bite on Ivanovic

Rodgers, who refused to comment on the incident after the match, also voiced his concern at his top scorer's actions.

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'Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this,' he said.

The incident came with Chelsea leading 2-1 after Eden Hazard's penalty regained the Blues' lead following Oscar's first-half opener and an equaliser from Daniel Sturridge, who also could have seen red for a late tackle on Ryan Bertrand.

I'm sorry: Suarez Tweeted to apologise for biting Ivanovic, before revealing he spoke to him (below)

Daily Mail

It took a hug from his father and a flashback for Craig Bellamy to realise the full scale of what he and his Cardiff City team-mates had achieved on Tuesday night.

He doesn't have the psychological scars of some in that dressing room - people like Peter Whittingham and Kevin McNaughton who played for Cardiff in finals of the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Championship play-offs and lost each of them.

Neither was he involved in last season's play-off semi-final disappointment.

Glory: Craig Bellamy has been a Cardiff fan since he was a young boy

Deserved: Bellamy indulges himself with some champagne after Cardiff secured promotion

Nervy: Cardiff drew against Charlton, but it was enough to see them in the top flight

But he was there at Ninian Park and countless other grounds as a young City fan with his dad, Doug, trying to figure out how it could get any worse for a team flapping around in the bottom two divisions.

Those conversations came into his mind when his father appeared with his arms outstretched at the end of the 0-0 draw with Charlton that made promotion to the Premier League a certainty.

It was a result and outcome that left Bellamy on his knees in tears and his employer, Vincent Tan, making promises of a £25million transfer budget ahead of Cardiff 's first top-flight campaign for 51 years.

Mentor: Bellamy also praised Cardiff manager Malky Mackay for his contribution this season

Five years ago Cardiff were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

'To have people I truly love around me to share this with - it was emotional,' said Bellamy. 'To see my dad afterwards, after all the heartache he has been through over the years. I have lost count of how many games I used to go to with him on a Tuesday night against some team.

'He'd pull me to the side and we'd leave 10 minutes before the end, saying we would never go back. Then on the Saturday we would be there again.

'For him to see us go to the Premier League and for his son to play a part in that makes it even more special. It hit home to me a little bit. He said he will die a happy man.'

Bellamy added: 'I am grateful to have played a small part in this club's future and past.'

Yet there has been nothing small about the part Bellamy has played in this remarkable campaign in which promotion has been secured with three games remaining.

He has not stood out from the rest, in words or deeds, quite as much as when he arrived for a season on loan from Manchester City in 2010. But his impact on the group in his second coming has been profound. 'Everyone looks up to him,' Whittingham told Sportsmail recently.

Job done: Rudy Gestede and Craig Noone celebrate Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League

'He is always trying to help, talking to the younger lads to help them get the best out of themselves. He hasn't been as loud as we were expecting, but he has just spread this attitude of determination. He has brought so, so much, as a player and a person.

'Everyone in this squad has been on a bit of a mission to get promoted this season.'

Much of that drive has come from Malky Mackay, a manager of great intensity who has become a kindred spirit of sorts for Bellamy.

Some people are on the pitch: Cardiff fans celebrate on the pitch saying goodbye to the Football League Show and welcoming being on Match of the Day

'He has been immense,' said Bellamy. 'His professionalism, his expectations of us as a group, the way he has grasped the city. We are a different breed down here. This is where I am from. We are intense, wear our heart on our sleeve and he has taken that on board.

'We have taken to him and the club have taken to him. He has really pushed us forward.'

Bellamy added: 'It has been so many years since this club was in the top flight. Everyone has been so desperate for it. We understood that as players. We have a hardworking group of boys who will do anything for each other. They will do anything to get a result.

'It makes it so special to be with this group of players to achieve that. I didn't really feel for one minute that we wouldn't. Even after a setback Monday at training was the same - an honest group who were positive and wanted to work hard for one another.

'The manager has instilled that in the players he has brought in. It has been a joy to be around and to be involved and achieve that goal of promotion is great for them as well. It's exciting to see what comes next.'

Riding a wave: Leon Barnett is carried by fans after winning promotion

To that end, the eccentric owner, Tan, has already stated his intentions. It will come as a relief to some that he has abandoned his plans to change the club's name to something with a dragon theme and has since suggested Mackay will have money to spend in the summer.

'We need to strategise well and we'd like to spend some money - maybe £20m to £25m,' said Tan. 'Others have spent a big amount of money and not done well, so we will try to spend smartly.'

Early indications suggest a striker is on the cards - none of the squad have reached double digits for goals this season - and defensive cover is also needed.

Bellamy, 33, expressed a tongue-in-cheek hope that Cardiff don't look too closely at alternative left wingers. His place, in the team and the club's history, should be fairly secure.

Eccentric: Vincent Tan celebrated on the pitch with the players after the Charlton match

Chelsea are understood to have spoken to an adviser close to Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini about taking over in the summer, although Jose Mourinho remains the favourite to return to Stamford Bridge.

The Premier League club met with Pellegrini’s representative in Paris last Friday as they sounded out the 59-year-old’s interest in succeeding interim manager Rafa Benitez.

The majority of the Chelsea board are still backing Mourinho’s appointment, but owner Roman Abramovich is understood to have slight doubts, particularly with regard to the Real Madrid manager’s exorbitant wage demands.

Scroll down to watch match highlights

Head to head: Jose Mourinho (left) remains favourite to return to Chelsea but Manuel Pellegrini has held talks

The Russian also favours waiting until Chelsea clinch a place in next year’s Champions League before making a formal offer to the club’s preferred candidate.

Pelligrini, who took Malaga to the quarter-finals of this year’s Champions League, has long been admired by Chelsea, who have also considered Everton boss David Moyes.

The former Villarreal and Real Madrid manager is out of contract in Spain at the end of next season, but his current deal includes a £3.4m buy-out clause, while the lure of guaranteed Champions League football would be significant.

Heading for the exit: Rafa Benitez will leave Chelsea at the end of the season

Malaga have been given a one-year ban from Uefa competition owing to financial irregularities, but have appealed and will take the case the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the summer.

The Chilean, who speaks good English despite having never managed a team outside a Spanish-speaking country, would also command a significantly lower wage than Mourinho, at around £5million a year.

Yet, despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Mourinho remains in pole position to return to the club he left in 2007, although Champions League football and more control over transfer policy are two key requirements.

Marching: Chelsea beat Fulham to put them in pole position for a top-four finish

The Real Madrid boss this week gave his clearest indication yet that he will leave the nine-time European champions when he reportedly told a group of youth-team coaches that he will not be at the club next season.

Roberto Mancini's side look set to lose their Premier League title to city rivals Manchester United and flopped in Europe - finishing bottom of their Champions League group.

Vieira, City's football development executive, admitted the season has been a poor one but said victory over Wigan on May 11 at Wembley, which would be their second cup success in three years, could help ease the painful memories of this campaign.

Target: Patrick Viera, seen here playing in 2010, says Manchester City must win the FA Cup this season

He said: 'Has this season been a success? No. The aim this season was to retain the title and do better in the Champions League so, no, you can’t say our season was a success.

'We’re in the Cup Final so that’s a good way of saving the season.

'But we had a team you’d expect to do better. We could have done better.'

Euro woes: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring in the 3-2 win over Manchester City this season

Wembley glory: Carlos Tevez lifts the FA Cup for Manchester City after they beat Stoke in the 2011 final

Vieira, who made 32 appearances for City after signing on a free from Inter in 2010, also refused to rule out selling Samir Nasri to French big spenders Paris Saint-Germain, though he did insist the champions would like to retain his services.

French midfielder Nasri, 25, has come under fire from a frustrated Mancini for his inconsistency this season and has only recently returned to the starting XI.

PSG declared their interest in the French international but the 36-year-old said City want to keep him at the Etihad Stadium next season.

Inconsistent: Manchester City's Samir Nasri has endured a frustrating season

New role off the pitch: Patrick Vieira is Manchester City's football development executive

Vieira told Radio Monte Carlo: 'Samir could have done better.

'I think, he, himself, is disappointed with the level he played at for several different reasons.

'But in the end, he remains an important player for us.

'I see him almost daily. I think he’s learned a lot this year. He’s faced competition and, when he wasn’t good enough, he’s been taken off. It’s been an important season for him and I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger.

'I hope he will stay. Time will tell. It’s important to build a team on the long term.

'Samir is a very good player, a young player and I hope he’ll stay with us for a long time.'