Liverpool’s Charlie Adam: Manchester United FA Cup clash will be won in midfield

Liverpool's Charlie Adam believes Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Manchester United will be won in midfield.

The Reds will be without banned striker Luis Suarez, but will have club captain Steven Gerrard at their disposal, who has scored in their last two cup matches.

Adam admitted the return of the influential England international has given a huge boost to the side and insisted the Anfield clash will be won or lost in the centre of the pitch.

“When you've got any quality player like your captain sitting on the sidelines for as many months as he was, you're going to miss him,” the former Blackpool player told the FA’s website.

“It's good to have him back and you can see he's starting to get back in his stride in the games.

“In these types of games it is the midfield. In the big games the midfield is the important battle. You need to get in there and get on top of them.

“Hopefully we've got the right players on the day, they're ready and we can win that midfield battle and get into the next round.

“We're at home and we hope we can put the pressure on to get into the hat for the next round.”

The Scotland international also highlighted the positive effect that Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has had on the Merseyside club’s players since getting the job following Roy Hodgson's sacking in January 2010.

Adam added: “When a manager like that walks through the door he gets his ideas over straight away, and the coaches get their ideas over straight away on the training ground.

“He's been here a year and he'll want to improve on that year for the next few years he's here, and we'll do that.

“But the most important thing is the next game and the FA Cup doesn't come any bigger.”