The former Liverpool defender expects the controversial striker to face serious disciplinary action by the FA for biting Branislav Ivanovic in their 2-2 draw with Chelsea

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson expects that Luis Suarez will miss out on the PFA Player of the Year award for the nasty streak which prompted him to bite Branislav Ivanovic in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

The striker scored an injury-time equaliser for the Reds to maintain his record as the Premier League’s top goalscorer but was earlier caught by TV cameras sinking his teeth into the Serbian’s arm, for which he and the club have swiftly apologised.

Lawrenson argues that the Uruguayan’s history of courting controversy since arriving in England will not only give his club headaches but prevent voting players from separating his behaviour from his play.

The 55-year-old told BBC Sport: “I don’t think he will win that [PFA award] anyway because a lot of people can’t differentiate between Suarez the player and Suarez the man.

“He’s a world-class player but he gives you world-class trouble.”

Suarez was involved in a similar incident for his previous club, Ajax, in 2010, when he was given a seven-match ban for biting then-PSV player Otman Bakkal and Lawrenson suspects that the striker could face a lengthy ban similar to the one handed out by the Dutch FA.

“If the Football Association decide[s] to take retrospective action and it’s clear-cut, then Suarez will be in big trouble,” he concluded.