Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits the need to win games means he may not be able to protect Luis Suarez as the club battle a striker shortage, but says he has not considered cutting Andy Carroll's loan spell short.
Fabio Borini could be out for up to three months after requiring surgery on a broken foot, leaving Rodgers with Suarez as his only recognized first-team striker.
England international Carroll's departure to Upton Park was supposed to signal the arrival of Fulham's Clint Dempsey late on August's transfer deadline day but the deal fell through.
Rodgers is looking to manage the situation as best he can, although just one Premier League win and a UEFA Europa League defeat to Udinese means he may have to call on Suarez more than he planned.
"I've rested him a couple of times knowing the squad we have and the games we have, looking to prioritize, but like most footballers he wants to play every minute of every game," said the Northern Irishman.
"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."
On Carroll, Rodgers added: "It isn't something I have considered, to be honest."
The boss continued: "Andy has obviously gone out to get games. We have people watching when he plays and they report back on how he is doing.
"But with Fabio's injury just coming up we will assess it from there."
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