Reds dare not rest Suarez
Luis Suarez will be all fired up for the FA Cup and will not want a rest to protect Liverpool's Champions League qualification prospects, according to assistant manager Colin Pascoe.
The top-flight's leading scorer has missed just two minutes of competitive league action in 15 matches since a delayed start to the season through suspension.
Take into account the Uruguay international's air miles after international involvement in World Cup qualifiers and an additional play-off - plus the fact he is so central to the Reds' hopes this season - and there is an argument for giving him a rest when League One Oldham visit Anfield in the third round on Sunday.
Not a chance said Pascoe, who admitted neither he nor manager Brendan Rodgers would relish telling the 26-year-old he was being dropped.
"If Brendan told him that we were going to rest him I'm sure he'd kick me or Brendan because he just wants to play - that is the kind of person he is," said the Welshman.
"You could always look at that (resting Suarez) but if you ask Luis he would say he wants to play every game."
Having a number of injuries to senior players means Rodgers will not have too many options when it comes to rotating his squad for the cup tie.
He will be wary of a chastening experience against the same opponents last year when they were dumped out in the fourth round after a 3-2 defeat at Boundary Park.
Asked what they had learned from that game Pascoe said: "Not to lose."
However, what is key is striking the right balance between protecting some senior players while not adversely weakening the starting XI.
Pascoe said the injury problems had not affected their thinking about transfer targets in the January window, especially as they were hoping to have most of the players back within the next two weeks.
"We are pleased Stevie (Gerrard) has come back, he is raring to go," said the assistant boss after seeing the captain come through 30 minutes against Hull after a month sidelined with a hamstring problem.
"Daniel Sturridge (ankle) will be back within hopefully 10 days, Joe Allen 10 days to a fortnight.
"We'll have three or four players to come back in the next week or 10 days.
"Nothing changes (in relation to transfers). You will get injuries but our targets are still the same.
"It is a difficult time, as everyone keeps mentioning, to bring players in but we are looking at different players.
"You have your targets but it might not be the right time or some players are coming back."
James Wesolowski could play against the team he supports after the Oldham midfielder had a mask fitted over his fractured cheekbone.
Boss Lee Johnson confirmed Wesolowski, part of the team which defeated the Reds 12 months ago, wants to play at Anfield along with striker Danny Philliskirk (knee ligaments), who trained on Friday.
Johnson revealed he had a virtually fully-fit squad to chose from although a knee problem means Charlie MacDonald is still a week away while defender Matteo Lanzoni this week rejected Oldham's deal to sign with Yeovil.
Latics made three signings on Friday and defender Adam Lockwood is definitely available at Anfield, although the club must wait to see if David Worrall and Simon Harkins' loan moves were completed in time.
Source: PA
