He was involved in one of the most renowned moments of good sportsmanship in modern-day football - but Robbie Fowler insists he would have done exactly the same as Luis Suarez on Sunday.

The Liverpool legend famously urged a referee not to give a penalty and admitted he had not been brought down after jumping over the challenge of Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman during a Premier League clash at Highbury in 1997.

However, the spot kick was allowed to stand and though Seaman saved Fowler's effort from 12 yards, Jason McAteer tapped in the rebound and the Reds went on win the game.

Almost 16 years on from that incident, the Kop icon laughs at the notion Suarez should have done something similar following his controversial goal in the 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield.

The Uruguayan netted the decisive strike in Sunday's victory after the ball had rebounded against his hand off Mansfield 'keeper Alan Marriott.

There appeared to be no intent from Suarez - and Fowler is adamant he did nothing wrong in knocking the ball over the line.

He said: "If he has to tell the referee that he handled, do the defenders have to go and tell the ref every time they foul a striker? It's laughable, it really is.

"Seriously, Suarez did nothing wrong, and I'm amazed at the reaction. I honestly don't even believe he handled deliberately. The ball is smashed right at his hand from very close range, and he'd need some reactions to have calculated that one.

"You can see by the way his arm bounces above his shoulder after the ball hits him that he isn't braced for it. That tells you something. I think the way he then knocked the ball in the net he assumed it would be ruled out, but if there's any criticism, it should be at the referee, not the player."

Fowler added: "I think the Mansfield manager and his players summed it up when they said Suarez was just doing his job, and they'd have done exactly the same thing. So would I. It was handball, but instinctive and not deliberate cheating, and you can't criticise him for that."

Meanwhile, Fowler admits he would relish the chance to work alongside Suarez if the opportunity ever arose.

The former Reds No.9, who scored 183 goals in 369 games for the club, is currently taking his coaching badges.

Fowler said: "He's some player isn't he? He's got real class, and I think sometimes you have to remember the quality he has and enjoy the fact that he's playing in the Premier League.

"I would like the chance to go into coaching and if the right job comes along then I'll take it, but I haven't officially retired from playing yet!

"People have compared Suarez's style to the way I played, but that's not for me to comment on. I know he's got class and I reckon he'd be great to work with, because you can see the desire he's got, and that that's one of the most important things for a striker."