Marsh: We can cope without star duo

The pair will both serve a three-game ban, meaning they will miss the matches with Arsenal on Saturday, the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Blackburn Rovers, and the Anfield meeting with Newcastle United on Monday April 13.

While the first-team coach accepts it's a blow, he insisted during a chat at Melwood this week, that it gives players an opportunity to stake their claim for a place.

Below is a full transcript of the interview.

First of all Mike, reflecting on the All-Star charity game at Anfield last Sunday, did you enjoy it?

It was great. For the fans to see all the players coming back and for them to get their chance to say their goodbyes was great, because you don't always get that chance. It was a great occasion for some very good charities.

With you being from the city, how important is it that the club supports the community in this way?

It's vital. Liverpool and Everton are a massive part of the community. I actually used to work for Positive Futures, which was one of the nominated charities, so it was really nice to see them there. They do a great job in the city for under privileged people.

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I guess the big challenge facing the squad this week will be the absence of a couple of players in Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard through suspension - how much of a challenge is that?

We'll soon find out. They are important players for us obviously, as Steven and Martin have been big players for a number of years at this football club. It's a big opportunity for other players to come in and stake a place while they are out of the team.

Are you confident the squad is strong enough now?

I would say so, yes. We have dealt with players being out of the team before. Obviously we did that when Luis [Suarez] was here and we have also done that when Daniel [Sturridge] hasn't been available. Steven has also been unavailable recently with a couple of knocks so we've dealt with the situation and hopefully we can carry on now.

Arsenal away is a chance for this group of players to set a new record in terms of clean sheets away from home in a single season - is that an incentive and do you think about that?

Not really no. We are not worried about that record because it doesn't get you anywhere in terms of league position. It's obviously an indication that we are defending quite well as a team so that's all we are looking at. The fact that it's a record that is at stake doesn't really mean nothing unless we get the three points.

Reflecting on the defeat by Manchester United does that make this Arsenal game even more important?

It's a game we can't really afford to lose if we are chasing the top-four. If we were to lose and they won there would be an eight point gap, so with seven games to go I think that would be hard to make up. So it's important we get something from the game.

Was it a good time to have a break following that defeat or is there never a good time?

It's never a good time but time will tell. Sometimes you are in a really good moment of form and the international break will come and it disrupts your momentum. We lost to United and were then left to wait two weeks without a game. It's difficult isn't it but we are looking forward to playing football again.

Let's talk about Arsenal then, who has impressed you this season?

They are a fantastic football team who are in the Champions League year on year. They have some really good individual players who work well as a team. The stand-out player for me is Santi Cazorla. He is a really good footballer. Not only has he got the talent, but he also has the hard work to go with it.

The race for the top-four then, the fans will see it as exciting. Do you also see it as a potentially exciting finish to the season?

It is exciting. You see the run we've been on and that was the first game we have lost for a few months now. We are still fifth so you see how competitive it is out there so we are battling away, Tottenham are battling away as are Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City. Everyone wants to get into the Champions League and I think it will go right to the wire.