Jamie Redknapp has called on some of Liverpool's goal-shy players to step up and fill the void left by Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan - Liverpool's top scorer this season with eight goals - will miss the club's next seven games after they chose not to appeal against his suspension for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
Suarez served the first match of his ban in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City when Andy Carroll led a toothless Liverpool attack.
It was the sixth time that Kenny Dalglish's side have failed to score this season and former Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp says the likes of Carroll, Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Stewart Downing must now offer the team some cutting edge in Suarez's absence.
"They've got to produce performances," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"It's alright playing somebody, but they've got to want to do it and they've got to do it. Against City we saw the first glimpse without Luis Suarez and at times it was difficult.
"Away from home of late, Liverpool has looked very good. Suarez gives them something completely different, he is a wonderful footballer.
"Without him you've got Carroll up front and at times they get caught between playing long, trying to play up to him and using his aerial ability.
"They struggled at times against City and that's why I think Bellamy may play up front, then they can play quicker passing football. Carroll, at the moment, is not in the best of form.
"Kenny talks about having players that are clinical, but they haven't got that. Downing's not scoring goals, Kuyt's not scoring goals.
"Players now need to chip in and start scoring some goals."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville does not believe Dalglish needs to dip into the transfer market to cover for Suarez.
He says the Liverpool manager should put his faith in Carroll, a £35million signing from Newcastle last January, as well as the likes of Kuyt and Bellamy.
"They need a run of games, those players," Neville said.
"Carroll hasn't had a run of games since he's come to the club. I think he's now got to play him in these next six or seven games, get him a run of games and have belief in him.
"There's no point spending a load of money. He's got the players there, he's just got to have belief in Kuyt, Bellamy and Carroll and give them games."
1 comment:
I have faith in Carroll. Just not now. He still needs to grow and develop. Loan him out.
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