Loss of Suarez to Liverpool may be softened due to cup exploits

Just over an hour before Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City the club announced they had decided not to appeal against the FA punishment imposed for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Dalglish will be hoping the unavailability of his top scorer and chief creator will not be detrimental to their Champions League qualification ambitions.

Suarez will miss both legs of their Carling Cup semi-final against City and if, as expected, they get past League One Oldham in Friday’s third round a further two could be taken in the FA Cup.

That would see Suarez available to return for February, when they host Tottenham and Everton either side of a potentially vitriol-filled trip to Old Trafford.

“He has an eight-game punishment and he has to serve it so I suppose now is as good a time as any to serve it,” said Dalglish.

“I think it was better to get the situation over and done with and leave it there.

“Luis is a fantastic player and fantastic person so he will be missed but we just have to get on with it.”

QPR have failed with their appeal to have Joey Barton’s red card for violent conduct in Monday’s Barclays Premier League match against Norwich overturned.

Barton gave QPR an early lead at Loftus Road before getting involved in a tussle with Bradley Johnson and appearing to headbutt the Norwich midfielder.

QPR appealed against the dismissal but the Football Association yesterday confirmed that appeal had failed.

Steve McClaren’s Dutch agent Rob Jansen has revealed the former England manager is in official talks over a return to FC Twente.

McClaren immediately emerged as the favourite to succeed Co Adriaanse, who was sacked on Tuesday by the Enschede club.

Jansen said: “FC Twente and I are talking fast. We will see what comes of it.”