Arsenal legend Ian Wright has jumped to the defence of underfire Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Suarez has been criticised for his handled goal in victory at FA Cup opponents Mansfield.

Wright wrote in The Sun: "Suarez is an easy target and everyone is giving him a good kicking.

"During my career, I found myself in a similar situation and it's frustrating when the finger is constantly being pointed at you.

"Suarez is getting loads of stick for his goal against Mansfield in the FA Cup on Sunday but I strongly believe the handball was unintentional.

"He was trying to move his hand AWAY from the ball before it struck and as he scored, you could tell he thought it would be disallowed.

"But I can't believe some people would expect Suarez to try and persuade the officials to rub out the goal. I once scored for England in a friendly against South Africa in 1997. The ball hit my arm before I scored and not much was made of it. Yet a few years later, I flew to South Africa for a veterans match and I got incredible stick from the fans who clearly had good memories. They had decided I was a cheat but the handball was unintentional.

"I played to the whistle and that's exactly what Suarez did."