Hansen: "Suarez will be most targeted player in Premier League"

Reds' legend Alan Hansen has warned that Luis Suarez will be the most targeted player in the Premier League on his return to action, and says the striker 'needs to handle his emotions and channel his aggression in a more productive way' if he is to avoid landing himself in further trouble.

"He is always going to be the type of player who is on the edge. I do not see that changing but it must be hoped he stops going too far" the Scot wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

"I tend to think controversy will always follow Suarez, but you would hope he will not go biting anyone again".

Suarez is set to return to the Reds' line up on Wednesday night for the Capital One Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Hansen has warned that the striker may have to deal with extreme provocation, not just from United's players but from any team he faces from now on. "What you have to consider is there will be no player in the Premier League targeted more than him" said Hansen, who is retiring from his Match of the Day duties at the end of this season.

"Opponents will try everything to wind him up, knowing he has a boiling point. There will be all sorts of tricks going on, whether it is kicking him or trying to get under his skin to make him do something stupid."

Hansen, who played 434 times for the Reds in a glittering career, added: "Only time will tell if he has learned his lesson, but there is no player in the world who does not respond in some form or another when they have been taking stick during the course of the game.

"He clearly needs to handle his emotions and channel his aggression in a more productive way, ensuring he is not having to spend any more time at Anfield watching from the executive box because he is suspended when he should be on the pitch."