It's set to be another uncomfortable week for the Premier League's matchday officials. On Thursday, Brendan Rodgers admitted speaking to referee chief Mike Riley in relation to key decisions that he feels have gone against his side this season.
Much of the Liverpool manager's frustration has focused on the perception of Luis Suarez, whom he feels is a victim of referees' pre-occupation with diving. The Uruguayan was controversially denied a penalty in Saturday's 5-2 win away to Norwich
SOUNDBITE (English)
BRENDAN RODGERS
Manager, Liverpool
"It was a stonewall penalty. I feel for the guy - I have to be honest - I think everyone in the ground knew it was a penalty. If you look at Antonio Valencia last week, he got a penalty against us for barely contact. And the young guy [Leon] Barnett elbowed him in the head and he nudged through, but he still didn't get it. Luis [Suarez] - if he is a player that goes down, he would have gone down in the second half. It was a great piece of skill and the defender caught him but he stayed on his feet."
Fellow South American, Sergio Aguero, has thrown his hat into the ring too. The Manchester City striker has claimed that foreigners are unfairly treated by Premier League referees, with domestic players receiving preferential treatment.
But Rodgers knows that promoting respect between players and officials is a two-way process.
SOUNDBITE (English)
BRENDAN RODGERS
Manager, Liverpool
"There is nothing that we can do - I know how difficult a referee's job is. You never hear me killing referees and officials. I want my players to respect them and I look to respect them myself. I spoke to Mike Riley [former referee] in the week and put over my concern, because it is not just after one game it has become a trend. Hopefully one day we'll get the decision but until that point we will continue to concentrate on our performance."
So it's not just managers and players feeling the heat during the opening weeks of the season - the performances of officials has provoked just as much scrutiny.
