Suarez banned; Gerrard set for surgery

Luis Suarez has been banned a total of ten matches by the English FA.

The FA | News Room - Suarez banned for ten games

Luis Suarez has been suspended for a total of ten matches after an Independent Regulatory Commission today ruled on a charge of violent conduct.

A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission today upheld The FA’s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.

That means his season is done, and that Liverpool will have to turn to Daniel Sturridge as their lead-the-line center-forward. Maybe not great for the club, but potentially valuable for fantasy managers.

The other bit of news coming out of Liverpool also impacts next season, but unlike Suarez's ban, won't matter over the next month.

Gerrard requires shoulder surgery - Liverpool FC

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is likely to require surgery on a shoulder injury during the summer...

"He has been playing with a shoulder injury for quite a while now. We'll try to find the right time for him to get it fixed properly. "It's not ideal timing, it's going to take quite a while for him to heal. It's a funny injury - it's pretty similar to Joe Allen.

"If it needs repairing, it needs repairing and when he's back fit, he's back fit. There's not much we can do about it."

It will be a rocky start for the club next season without their two best players, especially if it finds them qualifying for European football and piling on the matches early in the year.