All eyes on Suarez, Kean at Anfield

Kenny Dalglish has leapt to the defence of Blackburn manager Steve Kean as Liverpool’s Luis Suarez prepares for his first Anfield game since receiving an eight-match ban from the Football Association. Suarez, who is set to appeal the suspension for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, is still eligible to play as his ban has yet to come into force. The Uruguay striker featured in the goalless stalemate with Wigan tomorrow—the day after the suspension was announced—and is again set to play against Blackburn, the Premier League’s bottom club, on Monday. But there will be just as much attention on beleaguered Kean as there will be on Suarez after a dreadful run of form which has left Blackburn fans calling ever louder for the manager to be sacked.  Earlier in the season Kean said he was willing to meet disgruntled fans to outline his plans for the future. But the Scot now believes his safety could be at risk if such a meeting took place. Liverpool manager Dalglish, who masterminded Blackburn’s Premier League title success in 1995, admits the situation at his former club is ‘sad’ but believes Kean needs support—not abuse. “They are under a lot of pressure and the frustration is understandable in many ways,” said Dalglish. “But I don’t think it is helpful and I think it is sad really that it has come to that, but that is the way it is.  “I think it is unfortunate that as a manager you know that results are going to count and if you don’t get them then you are running the risk of getting your P45 (sacked).  “Results aren’t purely down to what the manager does, he needs support from the players, owners and certainly the crowd.” Having dropped points at lowly Wigan in midweek, Dalglish is demanding his side return to winning ways as Liverpool seek to keep their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive. Captain Steven Gerrard could return from his two-month injury absence from an infected ankle.  Midfielder Gerrard, 31, has appeared in just five matches this campaign as a result of injuries, but he is back in training and stands a chance of featuring against Blackburn. “He’s been training, but whether that means he’s ready or not, we’ll have to wait and see,” added Dalglish, who has midfielder Jay Spearing available after suspension. Meanwhile, Kean’s future could be decided over the course of the next few days with Blackburn facing a daunting match against Manchester United on December 31 after Liverpool. “It’s not a nice place we find ourselves in at the moment,” said Kean, who was appointed a year ago after Blackburn’s Indian owners Venky’s sacked Sam Allardyce.  “I’ll take the responsibility for that, I’ll never shirk away from that or duck that. The players are giving me everything they can. “It’s been tough. It’s never easy when you’re getting a bit of stick but it’s part of the job.  “There’s plenty of people who have got stick over the years from fans and months later the fans are singing your name. That’s football.” Blackburn could be without first-choice keeper Paul Robinson who has a small tear in his calf muscle while Sweden international Martin Olsson (hamstring) has not recovered as quickly as anticipated.

Moyes lauds O’Neill impact LONDON: Everton coach David Moyes says Martin O’Neill has proved his managerial skills in just three weeks in the Sunderland hotseat. Former Celtic and Aston Villa boss O’Neill ended 16 months out of the game by succeeding Steve Bruce earlier this month. Two wins in three games have moved the Black Cats out of the drop zone and Moyes does not think that is a coincidence.Moyes, whose men face Sunderland on Wearside on Monday, said: “What would you expect Martin to do? You would expect him to come in and make an improvement. He has already done that. “It is the mark of a really good manager, someone who can come in and make a difference right away.” Moyes, in charge at Goodison Park for a decade, believes O’Neill’s recent break from the game has likely been a bonus. “I think once you have been out of it and you come back, you are full of it. “No matter what job you are in, if somebody says you can have a break and you don’t need to work, when you come back it is great, I am sure. “It has suited Martin. I am not saying it would suit me or anyone else.” Everton are currently only three points clear of their rivals but have a good record against Sunderland, having not lost in their 13 previous meetings, winning 10 of them. With the transfer window looming Moyes says his options are limited. “Agents are ringing up now and some of the names they are putting in are ridiculous - far too much money for players who are well past it or not at the level we expect.”