Luis Suárez has been granted more time to respond to the improper conduct charge he received for allegedly making an offensive gesture to Fulham supporters at Craven Cottage last week.

The Football Association charged the Liverpool striker after photographs emerged of him making a one-fingered gesture following the club's 1-0 defeat by Martin Jol's team, a game in which Jay Spearing was sent off and Liverpool were charged with "failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion" in the aftermath of the midfielder's dismissal.

Suárez and Liverpool were given until 4pm on Monday to respond to the charges but that deadline has been extended as the player prepares his defence. Such extensions are not uncommon, although the latest deadline has not been announced.

Fulham fans had accused Suárez of diving during the game and continued to barrack him as he headed for the tunnel afterwards. His manager, Kenny Dalglish, issued a staunch defence of the Uruguay international that included showing journalists a DVD of fouls he claimed were committed on Suárez at Fulham but went unpunished by the referee, Kevin Friend. Dalglish said Liverpool intended to use the footage as part of their defence to the FA.

Suárez is also still waiting to discover when the FA is to hold a hearing into allegations, which he denies, that he racially abused Patrice Evra during Manchester United's visit to on 15 October.

Dalglish last week described the delay as "a joke" and believes the unresolved case has led to people "jumping on the bandwagon and accusing him of this, that and everything else. We need the outstanding issues to be cleared up before we can start talking about the man as a footballer."