Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson has likened Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to "a dirty street rat" ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup third-round tie at Anfield.

However, the 32-year-old, who played against the Uruguayan - then of Ajax - in a pre-season friendly for Bristol City four years ago, intends his comments to be taken as a compliment.

"He's like a dirty street rat, and I mean that in the best possible way," The Mirror quotes the Latics boss as saying. "He's sharp and horrible - all that is in admiration for him, because he's a winner. He has that desire to be better today than he was yesterday.

"I played against Suarez for Bristol City and I failed miserably - he scored. I remember asking, 'Who was that lad up front?' He wasn't well known then. I was like, 'Who on Earth is that?' I was meant to stop the ball up to him but you just can't. Sometimes players are just too good.

"Having a world-class player like him play against Oldham, is the equivalent of me playing in a fans' game. Someone can say, 'Mark him,' but if I move one way, I've got a yard."

Suarez has scored 20 goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season.