'Craig should be treated fairly'

Kenny Dalglish has called on referees to be fair in their treatment of Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy.

The Welshman has been booked in each of his last four matches, the latest coming at Wigan in midweek for an innocuous challenge on Mohamed Diame.

"It's all well and good having rules, but rules should be the same for everyone, not split up for different people," said Dalglish.

"Would you ever ask Bellamy to tone down his feistiness? No. He is experienced enough. But he has been booked four times and hasn't deserved any of them. Does that force you to alter how you might select him in the future? You would hate to believe there is an agenda against him. If Craig needs to play, he will play. We have just got to take that chance.

"Antolin Alcaraz gave five free-kicks away last Wednesday and there was no yellow card. If [Alcaraz] is going to get five chances, does that mean everyone else is? We just need a wee bit of clarity."

Dalglish was also bemused why Bellamy was yellow carded during the defeat at Fulham earlier in the month.

"Clint Dempsey put his head in Craig's face. When we asked the referee why the wee man was booked he said 'Craig knows' - but he didn't know.

"There was another against Queen's Park Rangers when Joey Barton approached him. I don't know why he has been booked but I haven't seen anything in any of them."