Central midfield is once again a concern for Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish ahead of the match at home to QPR.

Jay Spearing, who was expected to provide the long-term replacement for Lucas Leiva after the Brazilian's season was ended by a cruciate knee ligament, begins a three-match suspension after his red card at Fulham on Monday.

Captain Steven Gerrard is still recovering from an ankle infection so Jordan Henderson could start in his favoured central position, although the in-form Jonjo Shelvey has continued to impress following his recall from a loan spell at Blackpool.

Dalglish insists his side will not be distracted by off-field issues this week and is certain they will need no extra motivation as they look to bounce back from their first defeat since mid-September.

The Reds' 11-match unbeaten run was ended in controversial circumstances at Fulham with Spearing's dismissal and, after the match, Luis Suarez was pictured allegedly making an offensive gesture to the crowd.Those incidents resulted in two Football Association charges arriving at the Melwood training ground a couple of days later, one for the club for failing to control their players in the wake of the red card and the other for Suarez for his apparent misconduct.

All in all it has not been a good week for Liverpool but Dalglish said it was business as usual for him and the players in terms of the approaching game.

"It has only distracted me because I've got to answer questions about it,'' said the Scot.

"It is a distraction which has to be covered but it should never take precedence over what we are trying to do on the pitch and the training ground.

"We will do what we always do and that is our best as well as we can and see if we can get a bit of luck going our way.''

QPR playmaker Adel Taarabt will undergo a fitness test on a thigh strain.

Matt Connolly (ankle), Kieron Dyer (foot) and DJ Campbell (foot) returned to training this week and have an outside chance of being involved.

Boss Neil Warnock says he sympathises with Suarez, who was targeted by Fulham fans who felt he was going down too easily in the game, and insists action must also be taken against the source of the taunts.

"The FA should look into the chants by crowds and fine Premier League clubs if they give individual players so much abuse as they have done with Suarez,'' he said.

"If you're going to do the player, they should also look into where these chants come from and look at fining the people or clubs concerned.''

Match

if pool like make deml draw this one again!
Mumu club!

See Liverpool.

big teeth suarez scores

^choi!!
Thank God o!!

On the whole, I think QPR were lucky the score stayed 1-0, we thoroughly outplayed them!

big teeth suarez scores

nawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, that is unfair on my boy!