"Things happen in a game and he was lucky today. It wasn't a nasty game. The broken leg was an accident. When you see the replay of the challenge on Jones you see the stamp, but that's the nature of the game. If the referee doesn't see it you are lucky."
Anfield was too busy rocking to Suárez's beat in a rampant second half to notice anything untoward.
Suárez scored two and had a role in the third for José Enrique as Rodgers' men showed the panache he's been promising since assuming control.
Enrique and Raheem Sterling played their part, but Suárez already has 10 league goals this season. It was he who transformed the mood at Anfield from despondent during a goalless first half to exuberant by full-time. Rodgers, understandably, wants the focus to be on the team rather than his No 7, but his intention is to build a side around his striker.
"It's not just Luis Suárez. He is a wonderful striker and he is paid to score but lots of other teams have strikers who finish off good work by the team," said Rodgers.
"He is a master marksman and we are thrilled to have him, but the ethos is on the team. He's not at all worried at having too much burden to score. He thrives on it."
Liverpool are unbeaten in seven league games. Had they not drawn so often they would be talking more confidently about a top-four finish. There were also reminders of the challenge ahead, however.
Aside from the loss of Watson following an innocuous challenge, Martínez – who could as easily have been in the home dugout after his coffee morning in Florida with John Henry last May – was the happier coach at half-time.
His mood darkened because Liverpool were unrecognisable in the second half, helped by some poor Wigan defending.
Martínez felt fatigue after the international break was a factor, but it didn't affect Liverpool.
Rodgers demanded a higher tempo at half-time and the improvement was instantly rewarded when Jean Beausejour's weak pass left Maynor Figueroa stranded.
Sterling stole in and crossed for Suárez who finished emphatically. No gifts were required for Suárez's second after 58 minutes, as Enrique slipped the striker through for a sublime finish with the outside of his right foot.
Enrique then tapped in the third after 65 minutes after more fine work from Sterling as the Kop finally enjoyed a nerveless finale to a home fixture.
Match details
Liverpool (4-3-3): Reina; Johnson, Agger (Carragher 82), Skrtel, Wisdom; Allen, Gerrard, Suso (Henderson 37); Enrique, Sterling, Suárez (Shelvey 87).
Subs: Jones, Sahin, Cole, Carragher, Coates.
Wigan (4-4-2): Al Habsi; Figueroa, Ramis, Caldwell (Gomez 69), Boyce; Beausejour, McCarthy, Watson (Jones 32), Maloney; Kone, Di Santo (Miyaichi 69).
Subs: Pollitt, McManaman, Stam, Boselli.
Referee: K Friend (Leics).
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