Hull City v Liverpool: Keeping Luis Suarez at Anfield is Brendan Rodgers' greatest achievement, claims Steve Bruce

Hull manager Steve Bruce believes retaining the services of Luis Suarez is the crowning achievement of Brendan Rodgers' time at Liverpool.

Bruce will become the latest Barclays Premier League boss to try to shackle the free-scoring Uruguayan on Sunday, a task few have successfully tackled.

Suarez scored 23 times in the league last season and has added nine more in just seven appearances this term, helping the Reds to second in the table as a result.

But it would all have been very different had he forced through a transfer in the summer, with Arsenal his most public suitors.

Rodgers addressed the issue calmly, though, urging fans not to turn on the player while firmly rebuffing all interest in Suarez - even when the Gunners thought they had triggered a release fee of one pound over £40million.

That policy is reaping its rewards now and Bruce has praised his opposite number's stance.

"I think that was his biggest achievement so far, turning that situation around because it must have been difficult at times," said the Tigers boss.

"I think they were adamant that they were holding on to their best player and any club, if they've got aspirations to go and compete at the top level and win the league, have to keep hold of their best players.

"Certainly Suarez is that for Liverpool.

"He has proved year in, year out that he's as good a player as there is in the Premier League."

On paper Liverpool have the most dangerous front line in the business, with Suarez and strike partner Daniel Sturridge each scoring nine times this season.

Their combined tally is three more than Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo of Manchester City and five better than Manchester United's Wayne Rooney-Robin van Persie axis.

And Bruce does not think they are flattered by the statistics.

"The front two are exceptionally good, as good as you will face," he said.

"They've always had top midfield players, Gerrard particularly, but the front two have given them that cutting edge.

"They're starting to move in the right direction which is great for Liverpool because for too long they haven't been competing at the top end.

"Whether they can sustain it is a question everyone will ask but if you look at the way they play, especially with the front players, they've got as good a chance as anybody.

"We'll have to defend well to get anything from them."

Bruce's hopes of an unlikely shutout at the KC Stadium are hampered by further disruption to his defence.

Ever-present skipper Curtis Davies is expected to play despite a knock to the shin but he is set for another new defensive partner after Paul McShane was ruled out with a hamstring tear.

James Chester started the season alongside him before a serious hamstring problem of his own, with Abdoulaye Faye, McShane and even left-back Maynor Figueroa joining Davies in the heart of defence since then.

Alex Bruce, the manager's son, looks likely to come in against Liverpool, having started his only league game of the season at Tottenham on October 27.

"It's not ideal but it's part and parcel of it. You need a bit of luck in that department and we haven't had it," said Bruce.

"McShane is out, Curtis Davies has got a knock too. We've got to make changes and whoever we bring in will have to defend well.

"Davies got a knock on the shin, which was pretty nasty, but we expect him to be okay."

PA