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Oldham manager Lee Johnson reckons Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is like a 'dirty street rat' to play against.

And he should know, as the Uruguayan spent 90 minutes plaguing him when they played against one another in a friendly four years ago.

Latics chief Johnson was turning out for Bristol City when he first came across Suarez during a 2009 pre-season friendly against Ajax.

"He's like a dirty street rat, and I mean that in the best possible way," said Johnson of the Reds' star striker, who left the Dutch giants for Anfield in 2011.

"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."