Brendan Rodgers desperate to resolve Liverpool's over-reliance on Luis Suarez

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits his team have an over-reliance on Luis Suarez when it comes to scoring goals but he hopes to rectify the situation in the January transfer window.

The Uruguay international was at his brilliant best in yesterday's 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle, producing a superb equaliser to cancel out Yohan Cabaye's opener just before half-time.

His constant running and teasing of the Magpies defence also led to visiting captain Fabricio Coloccini being sent off late on for a foul on the 25-year-old.

Suarez has scored seven league goals this season - in his last nine matches - which is more than half the team's tally for the campaign.

"It was a brilliant goal for Luis and a terrific performance and it bodes well for us going forward," said Rodgers.

"It doesn't worry me. He gets picked to score goals but of course I would want them to be more spread out.

"Everyone knows that is the key feature for us. We need to get goals from other areas but I can't complain when we play to that level.

"Once we get that type of player in that is really going to finish off a lot of great work for us.

"We play him (Suarez) in that false nine role. He's not a traditional number nine who's up there, stood, static.

"That's why when we get a number of players in who can work off his qualities, that's going to make us a real threat.

"I ask him to get on the move and get defenders out of their positions.

"His cleverness and movement at the moment is world class. It's then important that we've got men running in off that.

"If we can add to the group, you can see the excitement in our team."

Liverpool dominated throughout but their failure to take chances would have cost them had it not been for their mercurial South American forward.

Cabaye's goal was good, taking one touch to control Hatem Ben Arfa's cross before smashing a half-volley past Brad Jones just before half-time.

But Suarez's control in bringing down Jose Enrique's 50-yard ball with his shoulder and shimmying past goalkeeper Tim Krul was sublime.

Even Newcastle manager Alan Pardew had to agree.

"Suarez is a top player. He caused us problems and when he plays the game in the right spirit he is a fantastic player," he said.

The Magpies boss also had no issue with Coloccini's red card.

"I don't think there is any malicious intent but it doesn't look good and we may have to accept it," he said.

"But I don't want to make it a big issue about the referee.

"Morale for referees must be really low because of what is going on (regarding Chelsea's complaints about Mark Clattenburg) and so I had no problem with his performance, which was spot on.

"It was a tough game to manage."

PA