Liverpool vs Norwich preview - Hughton fears Suarez threat

Posted Wednesday, December 04, 2013 by PA

Manager Chris Hughton accepts Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez could well put Norwich "to the sword" once more on Wednesday night - but has challenged his defence to raise their own game at Anfield.

The Canaries head to Merseyside buoyed by the 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace, which lifted them up to 14th place following a second victory in three Barclays Premier League matches.

However, Norwich will need a much-improved display than when they were thumped 5-0 in January and Hughton is hoping for an 'off day' from Uruguay forward Suarez, who has scored seven goals in his last three games against the Canaries - including helping himself to two hat-tricks from successive visits to Carrow Road.

"It is not only us. It seems like Suarez is putting everyone to the sword at the moment because he is a super player," Hughton said.

"You have to have be on your game because he is as good as there is and we are talking about one of the top strikers in the country.

"When he is on his day, Suarez is very difficult to handle. 'You just have to be very much on top of your own game and hope he doesn't have one of his better ones."

Liverpool certainly did not enjoy a memorable performance on Sunday when they were beaten 3-1 at Hull.

With injured top scorer Daniel Sturridge set for a spell on the sidelines, manager Brendan Rodgers will be seeking a response from nine-goal Suarez and the rest of his squad if they are not to slip further behind the leaders.

"In the time I've been here we've never lost two (league) games on the spin and that's really down to the positivity of the players and how they can bounce back and recover after a defeat," he said.

"It's that type of league; if you lose a game, you can drop a few places. If you win a couple of games on the spin, it will keep you up there.

"Our idea was to get through to the midway point being in and around the top positions, which we have been until now.

"The league has shown this year, as much as any other time at this level, that it's very unpredictable and the scoreline (at Hull) probably suggested that.

"But you can't dwell on it. You've got to refocus and reset and go again and that's what we will look to do. We just need to get over the disappointment - which we will do.

"I always have to look at the bigger picture and, for me, the bigger picture is still very bright.

"At this moment in time, we sit fourth; if we win on Wednesday night, we could be second again.

"We're not here to be second or great losers, we're here to win. We've shown that we have the capacity to do that consistently now.

"The only way you can respond is to put your head down, take whatever comes and work tirelessly going forward to get the result.

"Over the course of this calendar year, we've been excellent. This season at home, we've only conceded three goals and one of them was a penalty.

"It's probably just that too often away from home we've made mistakes and that has ultimately cost us."

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho is set to return to the starting line-up after only being fit enough for a place on the bench for Sunday's defeat at Hull, while Hughton has no new injuries with long-term absentees Elliott Bennett (knee), goalkeeper Mark Bunn and midfielder Alexander Tettey (both ankle) still sidelined.