Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is Liverpool's top-scorer with eight goals. REUTERS

Jamie Redknapp has challenged Liverpool's profligate strike force to assume greater responsibility after the club announced it would not appeal against Luis Suarez's ban.

Liverpool decided not to challenge the FA's decision to ban Suarez for eight-games for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, but issued a strongly worded statement that attempted to recast the Uruguayan as the innocent victim in the case.

Suarez served the first match of his ban in Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City; the sixth time Kenny Dalglish's side have failed to score this season.

And Redknapp believes it is now up to Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Stewart Downing - who have scored six goals of Liverpool's 24 goals this season - to fill the void left by Suarez's absence.

"They've now got to produce performances," Redknapp told Sky Sports.

"It's alright playing somebody, but they've got to want to do it and they've got to do it. Against City we saw the first glimpse without Luis Suarez and at times it was difficult.

"Away from home of late, Liverpool have looked very good. Suarez gives them something completely different, he is a wonderful footballer.

"Without him you've got Carroll up front and at times they get caught between playing long, trying to play up to him and using his aerial ability."

Kenny Dalglish's side have scored just 24 times in 19 Premier League games this season and the Liverpool boss has been linked with a number of transfer targets in the January window.

However, Redknapp believes Dalglish's squad is strong enough to cope in the Uruguayan's absence and has backed Bellamy to tempt the best form from their £35m-signing.

"They struggled at times against City and that's why I think Bellamy may play up front, then they can play quicker passing football. Carroll, at the moment, is not in the best form.

"Kenny talks about having players that are clinical, but they haven't got that. Downing's not scoring, Kuyt's not scoring goals.

"Players now need to chip in and start scoring some goals."