Short Soccer, March 4, 2013

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes in-form striker Luis Suarez should be named player of the year after the Uruguayan grabbed a hat-trick in the 4-0 win at Wigan. Suarez took his Premier League goal tally for the season to 21 - and 28 in all competitions - as the Merseysiders moved into seventh spot in the table. "For me, there is not a better striker at the moment," said Rodgers. "He is clearly the player of the year, for myself and for many people around the country. He is absolutely incredible. Forget about his quality, it is his hunger and desire." Rodgers said he was unconcerned that Suarez may want to leave Anfield in the summer in search of Champions League football next season. "He has a real affinity here with the players, he is a real leader within the group for us. The supporters adore him, he loves the city and I think he genuinely sees there is a bright future for us." AFP

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp denied reports that his players behaved unprofessionally during a recent trip to Dubai. Redknapp reacted angrily to the claims that emerged on the morning of his side's 2-1 victory at Southampton, which breathed new life into their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. A newspaper story suggested that Rangers players' drank excessively during a five-day break that was likened to a "stag party", prior to the recent defeat by Manchester United. But Redknapp said: "It's an absolute load of nonsense. There were six or seven teams out there and we were the only team that trained every day." Redknapp did concede that his players had been given the all-clear to enjoy one night out, but blamed a player's agent for the emergence of the report. AFP