DIRK KUYT believes Luis Suarez’s performance against Queens Park Rangers proves that the Liverpool striker won’t be distracted by his critics.

The Uruguayan was the Reds’ match-winner at Anfield as his header early in the second half moved Kenny Dalglish’s side back into the top six.

It was Suarez’s first Premier League goal for two months and came at the end of a tough week when he was hit with a second Football Association charge.

Kuyt was delighted for his strike partner, who has found himself on the end of some rough treatment from both defenders and referees recently.

“It was really good to see Luis scoring again,” Kuyt said.

“For all of us it’s important to score but especially for Luis. I thought he played really well.

“He’s a great professional and he’s just been focusing on his job. He’s happy with all the support he gets from the club – from the manager, from the players and from our supporters.

“This is the Premier League so people will try to do everything they can to stop you and get you out of the game. The better you are, the more they try to stop you.

“Luis is a really good player so they try that even more but he’s doing great.”

The only downside on Saturday was the fact that the dominant Reds failed to add to their account.

Scoring has been a problem all season with just 18 goals in 15 league games but Kuyt insists there is sufficient quality in the squad to put that right.

“We played really well but we are just a bit disappointed that we only scored once,” he said. “We should have killed the game off in the first half. We created enough chances in the first 30 minutes to be two or three up.

“It didn’t happen but at half-time we just told each other to keep going. We believe in ourselves and we knew we could win the game. We only scored once in the second half but the most important thing is the three points.

“If you win a game and are still disappointed at not scoring more goals that’s the kind of spirit you need.

“We create so many chances and are top when it comes to how many times we’ve hit the bar and the post this season. We need to change that. Sometimes it’s a little bit of luck that you need and it seems that goalkeepers who come to Anfield are playing their game of the year here.

“We have to believe in ourselves. We had a lot of players on the pitch today who can score goals. We have the confidence to keep going and I’m sure soon we will score more of our chances.”

Kuyt, who was the Reds’ top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions last season, has yet to get off the mark in the Premier League this season.

The Dutchman only has a strike in the Carling Cup at Brighton to show for his efforts but the drought isn’t getting him down.

“Sometimes football is like this,” Kuyt said.

“I know how it works. Last season I scored in five or six games in a row and everything I touched was going in.

“This season I’ve been a little bit unlucky to be just in the wrong position when the ball comes across or I’ve missed a chance.

“What I will do is just work harder and I’m sure the way this team plays means whoever plays up front will score a lot of goals.”