Suarez and Sturridge can blend, says Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident striker Daniel Sturridge’s recent good form will not be impacted by the return of Luis Suarez as the Reds face Sunderland today (4pm).

During Suarez’s 10-match ban, which came to an end last weekend, England international Sturridge scored 11 times as he assumed the responsibility of being the main focal point up front.

In the Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United in midweek, which marked the long-awaited comeback of Suarez, Sturridge did not look his sharpest as the Uruguayan took centre-stage.

But Rodgers insists both can play alongside each other — despite starting only eight times together since Sturridge’s arrival from Chelsea last January — and the Englishman will not be intimidated by the return of Liverpool’s star man who scored 30 times last season.

“I think it will only improve him (Sturridge) and make him a better player. Good players want to play with other good players,” said Rodgers.

“I think you will see with how they will perform together that they can be a real threat.”

“It is not something that Daniel or anyone else will be worried about, their focus is on the team.

“It is my job to manage the dynamics and the structure of the team.

While Suarez understandably lacked some sharpness in midweek Rodgers expects the 26-year-old to be fully up to speed very quickly, buoyed by the birth of a son on Thurdsay.

“Luis became a father for the second time yesterday so he is on top of the world,” added the Reds boss.

“He is only going to get better with his football fitness.”

On Thursday, managing director Ian Ayre spoke about the damage done to Liverpool’s brand by the fall-out from the ban given to Suarez for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. Rodgers said he now hoped everyone could move on.

“It is all behind us. We really need to focus on the now and the future and the most important thing is he is available.

“We are looking forward and that is my only interest as a manager.”

Sunderland caretaker manager Kevin Ball has been boosted by the news striker Steven Fletcher’s shoulder injury is not as serious as was first feared.

Ball said: “The news is better than expected. Hopefully it will be four to six weeks, which is great news.”