Liverpool would be mid-table without Suarez, says Poyet... who jokes he hopes countryman is ill for Sunderland clash

By Colin Young and Charlie Skillen

PUBLISHED: 12:19 EST, 25 March 2014 | UPDATED: 13:25 EST, 25 March 2014


Gus Poyet believes title-challengers Liverpool would be mid-table without Luis Suarez.

The Sunderland boss takes his side to Anfield on Wednesday with the Reds looking to keep tabs on Chelsea and Manchester City.

The Mackems are looking for an unlikely win to boost their hopes of survival, but Poyet's focus is on one man.

On fire: Gus Poyet joked he hoped fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez was too ill to face his side

On fire: Gus Poyet joked he hoped fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez was too ill to face his side

Making his point: Poyet believes Liverpool would be mid-table without his fellow Uruguayan

Making his point: Poyet believes Liverpool would be mid-table without his fellow Uruguayan

 

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'I hope he is ill,' admitted the Sunderland boss. 'Without him they would be mid-table. He should be the player everybody should vote player of the season.

'But I cannot plan to go and lose and take a 3-0 now. We are not going to do that. We will go and no one expects us to do nothing. We can relax, enjoy our football and if they are better than you, well they have beat practically everybody so why not beat Sunderland?'

'They have players in form we need to take care of but we need to make sure we go with right attitude and mentality and convinced you can have an upset otherwise you have no chance.

'We are realistic, I know this could be one of the most difficult games, not only because of the way we have been playing and not scoring and conceding too many, but because of the way Liverpool are playing.

Freescoring: Despite Daniel Sturridge's goals, Poyet's focus will be on his striking partner

Freescoring: Despite Daniel Sturridge's goals, Poyet's focus will be on his striking partner

Another blow: Alex Tettey celebrates for Norwich, consigning Sunderland to yet another loss since Wembley

Another blow: Alex Tettey celebrates for Norwich, consigning Sunderland to yet another loss since Wembley

'Me, I am looking forward to seeing that because that is when you should be at your best trying to do something special but we do need to be good.'

Poyet is also refusing to accept his players are suffering a post-League Cup Final hangover.

His side have won just one point in two games against relegation rivals and been knocked out of the FA Cup at Hull City.

But Poyet says his squad are struggling to cope with the reality of their predicament, not suffering from the Capital One Cup Final loss to Manchester City, which had created such a positive feeling around the city.

He said: 'It was back to reality. We were living in a dream because it was a great opportunity, to play in a final and then play at Wembley again and then everything was gone and now you look and the only thing you see is the table and it has been like that all season.

Wasn't to be: Fabio Borini celebrates after putting Sunderland 1-0 up against Man City at Wembley

Wasn't to be: Fabio Borini celebrates after putting Sunderland 1-0 up against Man City at Wembley

'So it is back to reality. I am not worried because I knew the first day I got the job it was a very big challenge and it was nearly impossible.

'Now we have 10 games left, I am not going to hide and I will take responsibility, and in the same way that I have said to the fans to wait until end of the season to make judgements on players and signings, and I will do the same

'I still believe we can be better than at least three teams. I am looking for the players to bounce back, at Liverpool away or against the team at bottom of the table where it is supposed to be easier.'

No avail: Lee Cattermole (right) and Fabio Borini try to stop Jonny Howson, but Norwich won 1-0

No avail: Lee Cattermole (right) and Fabio Borini try to stop Jonny Howson, but Norwich won 1-0

England Under 21 striker Connor Wickham, recalled yesterday from his latest loan spell with Leeds United where he failed to score in five games, looks certain to start at Anfield as Poyet admits he continues to look for 'solutions' to his goalscoring problems.

He said Scotland international Steven Fletcher 'doesn’t look good' and is out for the week, if not the season.

Fabio Borini is ineligible to play against parent club Liverpool while Jozy Altidore and new signing Ignacio Scocco have been struggling for goals and form.

 

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i have always respected poyet but he really talks drivel, mid table. heads gone.

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Thats the teamtalk done for tomorrow. Just stick that quote in the changing rooms

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Haha if they don't win it this year they'll wait another 24 ... "You'll never win a prem", yp

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Yet another Liverpool article for me to comment on. Pals, my team, Manchester United, just got annihilated at home by Manchester City, so it's a good job im not even from Manchester, isn't it?

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Wait a minute, what is this brillaince from Poyet(Who???) A team without their striker wouldn't have scored as many goals. Absolutely brilliant fail at mind games Poyet, absolute fail! Guess what most teams without a goal keeper would let in more goals, shock horror! I knew there are some thick and dumb managers out there, but this guy takes the pi$$.

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Always think this is a stupid comment. Strikers are there to score and create goals. Its their job unless they play for Chelsea who have about 25 midfielders.

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remember that game where suarez saved that shot by rooney.... suarez then took the goal kick, it was headed on by suarez out wide to suarez who crossed it into the box for suarez to land that awesome finish? no i dont either. 11 men per side. suarez may have his name stamped on a lot of goals but rest of the team creates them. stupid article yet again from the DM

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it sounds like to me "If i have a rich dad" "If i have a rich boyfriend" Jealous is painful

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Suarez the keeper rolled the ball to Suarez the left back, Suarez passed it to Suarez the midfield, Suarez passed a brilliant trough ball to Suarez the striker......and Suarez score!!!! (I think this is what is in poyet head)

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why do people always talk like Suarez doesnt belong to Liverpool, Suarez is a Liverpool player and he belongs to Liverpool. He is having an awesome season because of Liverpool so Suarez success = Liverpool success = Suarez success. I dun understand why every other team keep making comment like "If Liverpool dont have Suarez", There is no if, Liverpool bought him and improve him and make him a world class player. So what if Bara dont have Messi, what if Real dont have c7, there is no if, they are part of a team

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