Dalglish focused on Fulham before FA Cup

1 May 2012 12:14

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has warned his players to forget about the FA Cup final and concentrate on Fulham's visit to Anfield.

The Reds, in eighth on 49 points, host ninth-placed Fulham in Premier League action on Tuesday before a trip to Wembley for the FA Cup decider against Chelsea on Saturday.

Liverpool, winners of this year's Carling Cup, reached their second domestic cup final of the season with a 2-1 win over Merseyside rivals Everton in April but have struggled for form and results outside of knockout competition.

While Dalglish raised the possibility of resting Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll at Anfield, the Liverpool boss insisted his side cannot afford to change their attitudes.

"Players can get injured in training just as easily as they can get injured in a match," Dalglish said.

"The more careful you are, the better chance you have to getting injured. The most important thing is to be yourself and play as you always play.

"Obviously, the cup final is the game after Fulham, but we will be picking a team we think that is capable of beating Fulham first and foremost.

"We have 20-odd players, all of whom we would have no hesitation of putting on the pitch.

"We will just do what we think is the best thing for everybody. Not just Stevie and Luis, but everybody."

Spanish defender Jose Enrique is hopeful Liverpool can build on last weekend's 3-0 win over Norwich in which Suarez scored a memorable hat-trick.

"It was a good start to a big week for us," Enrique told reporters.

"We have to beat Fulham first before we think about the cup final.

"I know we aren't playing for anything in the league but it's important for us to get three points to get some confidence ahead of the final.

"It's a home game and we want to do well. Then we have an amazing final to prepare for."

Suarez was a standout for the Reds at Carrow Road with Enrique hailing the Uruguayan's game as one of the best he has seen.

"It was an amazing performance from Luis," Enrique said. "I don't think I've ever seen a better hat-trick than that.

"I told him after the game that he just needed a little bit of luck.

"I know he will score many more goals here in the Premier League."