Eddie Howe says he has no special plans to shackle Suarez

Thursday 23 Jan 2014
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe believes his players will be attempting the "most difficult task in world football" when they host Liverpool in The FA Cup Fourth Round on Saturday.

The Cherries will have to shackle arguably the most-feared player in England this weekend when Luis Suarez arrives on the South Coast with his Anfield team-mates.

Suarez has scored 22 goals in just 17 league outings this season and will be looking to continue his fine record in The Cup - he's scored five goals in his previous seven appearances in the competition.

 

AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool

The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round
12.45pm, Saturday 25 January 2014
Goldsands Stadium
Live on ITV1

 

 

Howe admits, though, that he will not be making any special plans to deal with Liverpool's No.7.

He said: "I don't think you can make too many plans for him. I think it's down to the team shape and to get your organisation right. And if you do all of those things, you might have a chance of keeping him quiet.

"Better managers and players than us have tried to keep him quiet this season and failed, so I think it's probably the most difficult task in world football at the moment to keep him quiet."

Howe is in his fifth spell at Bournemouth as a player or manager and he feels the visit of the Merseysiders will be the biggest fixture of his time at the Championship club.

He added: "There have been big games - probably bigger games in terms of the outcome - but in terms of a one-off occasion, I think this will beat any other game. We all wished for that big game - and thankfully now we've got it."

Watch the goals from Bournemouth's Third Round win over Burton Albion.

 

Although 29 places separate the two teams, Howe insists he is primarily focused on his team's strengths, not Liverpool's.

He added: "We've approached it in one way. To try to get the best out of us for this game.

"I think if you focus too much on Liverpool, with the players they have, I think you're going to potentially damage our players psychologically.

"I think it's very about us - we're focused on us. We're obviously aware of the way they play and their main dangermen, but I want my players to express themselves and give a good account of ourselves.

"We might lose the game, but I want everyone to go away thinking Bournemouth play good football and that they're a very good team."

By FA Staff