Shelvey on filling Suarez's boots
As he prepares to face a former club on Sunday, midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has explained the exciting challenge of filling the boots of suspended Luis Suarez.
The 20-year-old spent three of his formative years at West Ham, who the Reds meet in the Barclays Premier League without their talismanic No.7 following his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend.
Shelvey has been used in a striking role once before during this campaign and the Londoner would relish the chance to do so again should Brendan Rodgers call on him at Upton Park.
"I supported West Ham as a boy so to play against them in any position is good for me, but it is not easy to fill the boots of a player like Luis Suarez," he said.
"I will just give it my best shot. I played against Young Boys in that role and I thought I did alright, I was happy to do a job for the team. It is an honour to play wherever you are told to play for Liverpool.
"It is difficult to adjust to that role because you have your back to the defender all the time whereas in midfield you can see your passes. It is difficult in that respect and you need a different type of fitness to play up front but I'll be ready for it."
With one eye on tomorrow's clash with the eighth-placed Hammers, the manager named Shelvey among the substitutes for the Europa League tie against Udinese on Thursday.
But an early injury to Nuri Sahin necessitated the introduction of the No.33, who admitted the opportunity for extra minutes came as a pleasant surprise.
Shelvey added: "I'd just got comfy in my chair when they told me to get ready but I was pleased to get on.
"I wanted to start but the manager pulled me aside before and explained why he was putting me on the bench and I understand that. I've just got to get myself ready for Sunday."
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With four European goals this term, Shelvey is the team's second-highest goalscorer behind Suarez - but he expects strikes to start coming from all areas in the months ahead.
"It's the same in any successful team - the goals have got to come from all over the team. I think we are getting there," he concluded.
"Danny [Agger] scored the winner against Southampton on Saturday and Hendo [Jordan Henderson] scored against Udinese, and I think the more the team plays together the more the goals will be spread out."