Stoke City at Liverpool: 'We'll pay penalty if we don't shackle Suarez'

TONY Pulis says there will be no special operation to shackle Luis Suarez tomorrow afternoon (3pm).

Liverpool's Uruguayan star has been in the news for scoring and for taking a tumble ever since he arrived here 20 months ago.

And tomorrow he runs the risk of being the third player to be booked in consecutive games for taking a dive against Stoke.

Pulis declined to be drawn on that, instead choosing to extol the virtues of one of football's more controversial figures.

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"Suarez, for all that people say about him, is a top player," said the Stoke boss.

"He is one of the top strikers in the world, and it will be a real test for our lads.

"But we don't make special rules for anybody. We just try to work out what we think is good for us as a team to try and win a game.

"I would prefer to have Suarez on my team than against me, but we go there with hope, not trepidation."

That's because of the better players at Pulis's disposal these days, but he claims there might still be a psychological hurdle for Stoke to overcome on their travels.

"Our problem," he added, "is having that belief we can win away from home.

"Our supporters protect us at home, but when we go away we don't get that protection.

"We have certainly got to stand up and believe in ourselves a bit more."

Many will say Liverpool are on the ropes and ready for the taking after their first few weeks under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

But Pulis is mindful they might have beaten both Manchesters on home soil had circumstances been friendlier, while a scintillating Suarez hat-trick just seven days ago steered them to an impressive 5-2 success at Norwich City.

Fresh from seeing a Liverpool "B" team lose 3-2 at home to Udinese in the Europa League on Thursday, Pulis observed: "I thought they dominated until 30 seconds after half-time when the Italians scored and then it was a much more even game.

"Liverpool were unfortunate because they were in control of the game.

"Udinese got a few breaks and ended up winning. We need those breaks as well.

"Obviously Liverpool didn't start with half-a-dozen players who will play tomorrow, so I'm expecting maybe three of the players who started the other night to play against us."

Pulis admits a trip to Anfield – where Stoke have drawn two and lost two on their four Premier League visits – is still a highlight on the football calendar.

"It is a great club with a great tradition and their fans are on a par with anything in the world," he said.