Luis’s loss is carrot for Carroll

OVER the last few days and weeks, there have understandably been a lot of questions about the Luis Suarez verdict.

Why was certain evidence accepted and other arguments discarded? Was it still a case of one man’s word against another?

Ultimately, though, those all appear minor points when the major issue is this: Suarez referred to skin colour in a heated, acrimonious exchange. And they also overshadow what is arguably the most interesting question of all: will Liverpool actually miss Suarez all that much?

First off, let’s get one fact straight. We’re not advocating dropping Suarez for tonight’s game or when he returns from suspension — presuming, of course, Liverpool opt against appealing his eight-game ban.

He is clearly a world-class talent, if not quite a world-class finisher. And, in a fully-developed attacking team, he has the potential to be absolutely devastating given that dribbling ability.

But here’s the key point. Liverpool are not a fully developed attacking team. Far from it. Still relatively early in the new Kenny Dalglish era, they’re an effective but still-evolving team. Especially up front.

When they’ve played their most regular first XI, they’ve generally only had two routes of attack: Suarez’s invention and deep crosses. As such, there’s been a huge burden on the Uruguayan which is illustrated every time he throws his eyes to heaven after a misplaced pass. Too often, Liverpool’s forwards have simply looked on different wavelengths.

Only Craig Bellamy and the returning Steven Gerrard offer any alternative angles of attack.

And the result has been that, up until the game against Newcastle on Friday, Liverpool had only scored 21 goals in 18 games — a miserable record for the table as a whole, let alone its top end.

And Suarez, despite the electricity he brings, has a pretty middling record himself: five goals and one assist in 18.

But that’s also why Friday was intriguing. It marked the first time since September 24 that Liverpool scored more than one goal in a home game.

And there was one notable difference: no Suarez. Again, the issue here is not that the Uruguayan damages the attack. It’s just that, without him, Dalglish’s team may have been forced to develop previously neglected options.

Andy Carroll, for example, saw more of the ball on the deck. And, despite his imposing physical frame, that’s probably where he’s best. Carroll’s lack of movement for the aerial game means that, unless you have a player capable of delivering balls of Steven Gerrard’s quality, then there’s little point hitting him with crosses.

It is possible that one unexpected positive of the Suarez suspension might be a resurgence for Carroll. At the least, it will force Dalglish to alter his position and style of play, neither of which had really been working. Moreover, Suarez’s absence will change the entire focus of the attack.

The Uruguayan is likely to be in the side tonight but, if nothing else, his suspension might just hurry along the evolution of Liverpool so that, by the time he returns, they are a more complete team that can properly complement his abilities.