Liverpool banking on tired Suarez to deliver

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will have to rely on a potentially jet-lagged Luis Suarez (pic) to lead his side’s attack as he welcomes former club Reading to Anfield today.

Rodgers suffered a blow this week when it was confirmed that Liverpool’s only other senior forward, Fabio Borini, is out for three months after undergoing surgery on his fractured foot while on international duty with Italy Under21s.

Suarez has travelled 14, 420miles in the past week while back in South America on international duty with Uruguay and Rodgers admits he would ideally like to rest the forward.

But as Liverpool’s only fit front man he is expected to start against Reading.

Despite this, Rodgers has denied there is an injury crisis at Liverpool and hinted he has no intentions of recalling England striker Andy Carroll from his West Ham loan in January.

“I’ve rested Luis a coupleof times knowing the squad we have and the games we have, looking to prioritise, but like most footballers he wants toplay every minute of every game,” Rodgers said.

“It is something I need to assess. The most important thing is winning games – that is what we need to do and in order to do that as often as we can I need the best players on the field.

“Luis will absolutely love playing three times a week but I need to try to nurture him because there are still many games to play between now and January.

“And even in January if we bring someone in it may not be January 1, so that is something which, over time, I need to assess and we’ll look to manage the squad.

“It is not ideal, but that is the card we have been dealt. It leaves us short, there’s no getting away from that but it is what we’ve got. We just crack on and look to get positive results.”

Rodgers, looking for his first league win at Anfield, was hit with more worrying injury news when goalkeeper Pepe Reina sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Spain in midweek.

But the manager is still looking forward to facing the club he managed for just six months before he was dismissed in 2009.

“I am delighted to see where they are,” said Rodgers. “That was my only bad experience as a manager but it was a great learning experience for me.”

Reading’s concern extends beyond trying to prove a point to their former manager with Brian McDermott’s side lying in 18th place after a slow start to life back in the top flight.

Jem Karacan admits the prospect of facing a Rodgers team means the Royals know exactly what to expect from their opponents, but the midfielder conceded they must step up their level of performance if they are to kick-start their campaign.

“You knowwhat Brendan’s team is going to be like, you know they’re going to be in your face,” he said. — AFP