Kuyt back and Gerrard on bench as Suarez ban begins
THE ANNOUNCEMENT that a decision had been made not to appeal the eight-game ban imposed on Luis Suarez by The FA’s independent panel meant that the suspension kicked in immediately and so Suarez would not be available for tonight’s match against Manchester City.
Suarez wasn’t in the side for the 3-1 win over Newcastle on Friday due to his one-match ban for something for which there was some evidence so Kenny Dalglish could have named an unchanged side. However, following an elbow to the face that has – unsurprisingly – gone unpunished Craig Bellamy isn’t starting. Dirk Kuyt comes in for him.
One change that might have been popular would have been the inclusion of Steven Gerrard from the off. The captain lifted his side when he came on against Newcastle but the club are correctly being cautious about his return after he missed so much of 2011 with injuries. Gerrard will be available should he be needed at some point later in the game.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Spearing, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Shelvey, Gerrard, Maxi, Bellamy.