Liverpool’s Suarez in new handball row
Matt Green grabbed a late strike for the hosts to keep them in with a chance as his deflected shot found its way past Brad Jones from a deep Colin Daniel cross, but it was the Reds that progressed to the fourth round.
Reds boss Rodgers will be delighted to have survived a hazardous assignment to set up a fourth-round visit to Oldham Athletic.
Following the final whistle Mansfield Town chief executive Carolyn Radford said the tie had been ‘stolen.’
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers defended his player, saying: “What do you want him to do in that situation? ‘The ball has hit him and it’s up to the officials what they do.
“It’s not his job to own up. If it was anybody else, we wouldn’t be discussing it. The ball hitting his hand is not his fault.”
“I’ve just seen it again and there’s no doubt it was handball but the referee and the officials ruled it wasn’t deliberate.
“I spoke to the fourth official when it was given because I couldn’t see and he said it was (handball) so I can only assume they thought it wasn’t deliberate.
“So obviously it was unfortunate for Mansfield and lucky for us that we got the goal. It was a really professional performance.”
