King Kenny will be missing his top-scorer, Luis Suarez for eight games in the New Year, after the Uruguayan was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
Liverpool have appealed the decision, and so the ban has been suspended, in the meantime.
However, Suarez will miss the clash against Newcastle, after receiving a separate one-match ban relating to an offensive gesture aimed towards to Fulham fans on November 5th. Liverpool will not argue this ban.
The Uruguayan’s absence will come as a heavy blow to the Reds. Despite boasting the joint-best defensive record in the EPL this season, Liverpool are the lowest scorers of the top seven.
Suarez has been in solid form in front of goal this season. He has found the net eight times in 21 appearances (a goal every 2.62 games).
Andy Carroll’s record is much less impressive. He has only netted three times in 19 appearances (a goal every 6.33 games).
The former Newcastle target-man had a much better record during his time at St James’ Park, where he scored 31 times in 90 EPL games (a goal every 2.9 games).
If Liverpool are to get the best out of their £35million striker, they must change their playing style. The return of captain Steven Gerrard could work wonders for Carroll.
It has long been argued that Gerrard’s best position lies in attacking midfield, playing just behind the strikers. Dalglish may well decide to deploy his goal-scoring captain in such a position, behind Carroll, in the hope they can form a relationship similar to that of Peter Crouch and Rafael Van der Vaart at Tottenham last season.
Craig Bellamy is another alternative replacement for Suarez. The pair share key attributes, such as electric pace and tricky skill, meaning they would be very much a straight swap.
The Welshman’s scoring record is also significantly better than Carroll’s. Bellamy has scored three in 15 this season (a goal every 5 games). This statistic is even more impressive when you consider 9 of his 15 appearances have been as a substitute and he has therefore played half as many minutes as Carroll.
The main concern over Bellamy is his fitness. The 32-year-old’s stamina is not what it once was, and he is rather susceptible to injury.
All of Liverpool’s attackers can be put to shame by Newcastle’s leading scorer Demba Ba. The Senegalese international, who signed on a free transfer in July, has scored 14 goals in 17 EPL games (a goal every 1.21 games).
The only player EPL player to boast a better ratio is Arsenal‘s Robin Van Persie, who has scored 16 in 18 (a goal every 1.13 games).
Liverpool won’t care who scores on Friday, as long as they win the match. Three points will take the Reds into fifth place, above Arsenal and level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. However, a Newcastle win will see the Magpies overtake Liverpool, leaving the Anfield side to begin 2012 in seventh.
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