West Brom knew of Suarez threat, says Jones

West Brom defender Billy Jones revealed his side discussed the danger of tackling Luis Suarez in the box before the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Liverpool opened the scoring from the spot in the first half of the English Premier League encounter through Charlie Adam after Jerome Thomas bundled over Suarez in the area.

Jones said: “It was a bit of a harsh penalty, and going 1-0 down against Liverpool, it is always going to be hard.”

“I don’t think it was a penalty. Jerome was in a good position. I think he has taken a touch and Suarez has got himself in front of him.”

“We spoke beforehand of being careful of Suarez in the penalty area because he has won penalties before for Liverpool.”

“He is good at winning penalties and we knew we had to be careful around him – and Jerome was.”

“Suarez has gone down and the linesman has given it. It was one of those things. It was harsh to concede a goal that way.”

But former Preston player Jones, 24, went on to praise the blossoming partnership between Suarez and strike partner Andy Carroll.

“They were a threat,” he said.

“There were balls which got knocked in where Carroll wasn’t favourite to win them or get anything from them.”

“But he turns those half-balls into good balls by getting it down and releasing other players.”

“He sets up Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam while Suarez is already on his bike making good runs.”