Luiz Suarez shows his good and ugly sides

LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 TOTTENHAM

Bright, brash & back in the spotlight - Luis Suarez shows his good, bad and ugly sides on Liverpool return

The Uruguayan made his first appearance in nine matches against Tottenham on Monday night and showed why he has been both a hero and villain in the Premier League this season

There was tangible disappointment around Anfield on Monday night as the news that Luis Suarez would not start against Tottenham disseminated. 

That the Uruguayan has been away for just nine games but has been missed so sorely says much about his worth to the club’s fans and the team just a year since his move to Merseyside.

His later cameo as a substitute, however, served to underline so much more than that. There are many sides of the coin with Suarez and, in just a half-hour period, he served to show them all.

The now oft-discussed negative aspects of the South American’s personality and his absence itself came to the forefront this season as a product of two separate bans. The first, a one-match ban collected for a one-fingered gesture towards Fulham fans after a disappointing result, is perhaps easily dismissed as a mild misdemeanour, the actions of a frustrated man.

However, at the time that ban was accepted by the Liverpool hierarchy, they may well not have expected the somewhat lengthier sanction that awaited their star striker. 

The now over-analysed Patrice Evra incident was a more unsavoury matter than that which preceded it and the resultant verdict led not only to an eight-match ban, but an irreversible change in the way in which the Liverpool No.7 is perceived in England.

It had been claimed that the Reds’ acceptance of that ban, despite fierce protestations over the reliability of evidence used to charge Suarez, would signal an end to the matter. The ban was supposed to be the line under the incident, one which we may never truly know the exact details of.

However, as Suarez warmed up in front of the Anfield Road end against Tottenham, the predictable reality of the situation reared its head. Chants regarding the Uruguayan’s racial tolerance were inevitably aired by opposing fans whose purview is not one of even-handedness but of exploiting weaknesses in whatever way possible.

Perhaps then it was this that prompted Suarez to kick England’s Scott Parker, quite blatantly, in the midriff moments after his introduction. The ball had fallen in the box and was there to be won, of course, but the problem was Suarez appeared to believe that it would be a challenge involving boots and not heads, as would have been more fitting. 

Whatever the reasoning behind that, the striker picked up a yellow card to mark his return and provided more substantiation for those so willing to highlight his less-than-innocent nature. 

Yet, if he has been widely considered a pantomime villain by fans of various Premier League clubs in his first year in England, he has always fulfilled his role of hero on Merseyside with aplomb and he showed just why by justifying the rapturous welcome afforded him when replacing Dirk Kuyt on the hour mark. 

The striker was instantly involved in a tenacious battle with Benoit Assou-Ekotto for the ball, one which he won, typically. And, though the subsequent quick-passing exchange with Steven Gerrard came to nothing, the creative spark which the former Ajax man personifies, one which the Reds have lacked, was clearly illustrated in a matter of moments.

For a man who provokes so many extremes in emotion, though, the one facet of Suarez’s makeup which could be described as less than ruthless is the one which the Anfield faithful and Kenny Dalglish would most like him to eliminate. A bland streak, a middle-of-the-road indifference, the elephant in the room that is the forward’s occasionally erratic finishing.

Suarez's late header could have given him a dream return

He, of course, exhibited this aspect of his character on Monday night as well, namely when presented with a golden opportunity to seal a dream return and a vital three points. A Gerrard free-kick into the box managed to find Ledley King off-guard in a rare moment of weakness. 

Suarez was the man to leap highest, but managed to nod straight at Brad Friedel when any significant deviation would have left the American stranded.

It is this sort of occurrence which indicates that the Reds should not believe all their woes will evaporate upon Suarez’s return. The Uruguayan has in fact featured in seven of the eight home draws for which Dalglish’s men have taken so much criticism this season and it is in this light that his arrival should be considered. 

As a creator of chances, an inspiration amongst packed visiting defences, but never as the solution to a wider goalscoring problem. 

The improving form of Andy Carroll and what Suarez can do to further facilitate that progression provides much more encouragement in that sense for Liverpool.

Source: goal.com

Luis Suarez & Liverpool statements in full

Suarez missed Liverpool's trip to Manchester City as part of his eight-match ban

Liverpool have decided not to appeal against the eight-match ban handed to striker Luis Suarez for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in the 1-1 draw at Anfield in October.

The club and the Uruguay striker have released the following statements.

Statement from Suarez

"First of all I would like to thank everyone so much for all the help and support I have received during these last few weeks.

"Thank you to my family, my friends and everybody at LFC (the staff, manager and coaching staff, the directors, my team-mates and everyone who is working on a daily basis for this great club) and thank you especially to all the fans who made sure I never felt let down for one second. During those days I understood more than ever what 'You'll Never Walk Alone' means.

"Like many of you I was born into a very humble family, in a working class neighbourhood, in a small country. But I was born and raised learning what respect, manners and sacrifice mean. Thanks to my family, from my first club where I started playing, to my transfer to Holland in Europe, I learned the values which made me the person I am now.

"Never, I repeat, never, have I had any racial problem with a team mate or individual who was of a different race or colour to mine. Never.

"I am very upset by all the things which have been said during the last few weeks about me, all of them being very far from the truth. But above all, I'm very upset at feeling so powerless whilst being accused of something which I did not, nor would not, ever do.

"In my country, 'negro' is a word we use commonly, a word which doesn't show any lack of respect and is even less so a form of racist abuse. Based on this, everything which has been said so far is totally false.

"I will carry out the suspension with the resignation of someone who hasn't done anything wrong and who feels extremely upset by the events.

"I do feel sorry for the fans and for my team-mates, whom I will not be able to help during the next month. It will be a very difficult time for me.

"The only thing I wish for at the moment is being able to run out again at Anfield and to do what I like most, which is playing football."

Statement from Liverpool

"It is our strongly held conviction that the Football Association and the panel it selected constructed a highly subjective case against Luis Suarez based on an accusation that was ultimately unsubstantiated.

"The FA and the panel chose to consistently and methodically accept and embrace arguments leading to a set of conclusions that found Mr Suarez to 'probably' be guilty, while in the same manner deciding to completely dismiss the testimony that countered their overall suppositions.

"Mr Evra was deemed to be credible in spite of admitting that he himself used insulting and threatening words towards Luis and that his initial charge as to the word used was somehow a mistake.

"The facts in this case were that an accusation was made, a rebuttal was given and there was video of the match. The remaining facts came from testimony of people who did not corroborate any accusation made by Mr Evra.

"In its determination to prove its conclusions to the public through a clearly subjective 115-page document, the FA panel has damaged the reputation of one the Premier League's best players, deciding he should be punished and banned for perhaps a quarter of a season.

"This case has also provided a template in which a club's rival can bring about a significant ban for a top player without anything beyond an accusation.

"Nevertheless, there are ultimately larger issues than whether or not Luis Suarez has been treated fairly by the FA in this matter. There are important points we want to make today that overshadow what has occurred during the past two months.

"The issue of race in sports, as in other industries, has a very poor history. Far too often, and in far too many countries, the issues of racism and discrimination have been covered over or ignored.

"In America, where Liverpool ownership resides, there was a shameful bigotry that prevented black athletes from competing at the highest levels for decades.

"English football has led the world in welcoming all nationalities and creeds into its Premier League and its leagues below, and Liverpool Football Club itself has been a leader in taking a progressive stance on issues of race and inclusion.

"The Luis Suarez case has to end so that the Premier League, the Football Association and the club can continue the progress that has been made and will continue to be made and not risk a perception, at least by some, that would diminish our commitment on these issues.

"Liverpool Football Club have supported Luis Suarez because we fundamentally do not believe that Luis on that day - or frankly any other - did or would engage in a racist act.

"Notably, his actions on and off the pitch with his team-mates and in the community have demonstrated his belief that all athletes can play together and that the colour of a person's skin is irrelevant.

"Continuing a fight for justice in this particular case beyond today would only obscure the fact that the club wholeheartedly supports the efforts of the Football Association, the Football League and the Premier League to put an end to any form of racism in English football.

"It is time to put the Luis Suarez matter to rest and for all of us, going forward, to work together to stamp out racism in every form both inside and outside the sport.

"It is for this reason that we will not appeal against the eight-game suspension of Luis Suarez."

Source: BBC Sport

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's hand gesture looked at by FA

Suarez raised the middle finger on his left hand he left the pitch.

The Football Association is reviewing a hand gesture made by Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after the 1-0 defeat at Fulham.

Suarez raised the middle finger of his left hand he left to the Craven Cottage pitch on Monday.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish said: "I have not seen the picture. If [it] is true then I've to make the Decision."

Also Uruguay international Suarez is facing an FA racism charge.

That stems from an incident During Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Manchester United in October That led to defend French Patrice Evra That Suarez alleging racially abused him.

The FA is yet to receive the referee's report from the Fulham game, or any complaints about the incident Involving Suarez.

Meanwhile, Dalglish said it was "scandalous" that had some Fulham fans chanted "cheat" at Suarez During the match in London.

The Scot Defended home supporters after the striker had barracked the player is going down too Easily in an attempt to win the penalty.

Dalglish's post-match interview

Aimed at the taunts of Suarez, Dalglish said: "I would like to see That you write in the paper because you would be in a bit of trouble as well. It is about time he got a wee bit of protection."

Also Considering Dalglish is appealing against Jay Spearing's controversial second-half red card.

The midfielder was sent off after fouling striker Moussa Dembele with his follow-through after the tackle, having initially won the ball.

Dalglish said: "Jay will be upset, but we will have a little look and see Whether it is worthwhile appealing.

"I think you need to ask the referees what is the Interpretation."

Spearing was shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Friend after 71 minutes, with the score at 0-0, before Clint Dempsey's late winner sealed victory for Fulham to move Them 13th in the league.

Dalglish added: "It is frustrating because nobody tells us what is the level of acceptance. Jay had no other thought on his mind other than to win the ball - and he did win it.

"I am not a referee. Sometimes They Have Been Given, Sometimes They have not. As Long As They Are consistent, there is no problem."

A series of Decisions Went against Liverpool. Charlie Adam was denied a penalty after Being Brought down by Philippe Senderos, while Suarez Had a strike disallowed for offside.

Discussing the game, Dalglish said: "It could have gone Either way but I do not think we Were going to get anything tonight, Were We?

"The goal Luis Suarez scored That Was Ruled offside Could Have Gone Either Way. Charlie Adam Could have got a penalty When he was pulled down on the edge of the box.

"Tonight Was not as well as we've been playing, but it was enough to have won the game. We never got the luck but we have just got to brush ourselves off and get on with it."

Source: bleacherreport.com

Reina: We don't miss Torres now we've got Suarez

Pepe Reina

Goalkeeper Jose Reina believes Liverpool have not missed striker Fernando Torres since his £50million move to Chelsea as replacement Luis Suarez is even better.

Reina and Torres sat on the same bench together at Wembley a week ago for Spain's 1-0 defeat to England but on Sunday they face each other for only the second time since the forward's transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Back in February Torres made his Chelsea debut against his former club but drew a blank and was replaced after 66 minutes as Raul Meireles - now also at Stamford Bridge - scored the only goal for the Reds.

Since then the paths of the 27-year-old Spaniard and that of new Anfield hero Suarez have taken different directions.

Suarez has assumed his predecessor's role as primary goalscorer and quickly won over fans with some determined, high-energy performances and he is the club's leading scorer this season with seven goals in all competitions.

Reina expects the £22.8million January arrival from Ajax to match and then surpass Torres' record of 81 goals in 141 appearances in three and a half years.

"Fernando is top class; Luis is as good or even better than Fernando," said the Reds goalkeeper, speaking at the launch of his book Pepe: My Autobiography.

"Those players are really special. You don't find those kind of players very often.

"The club did a good job in signing Luis and hopefully he will be many years with us and hopefully he will score as many goals as Fernando."

Torres has admitted he has found it more difficult to settle in London than he did in Liverpool and that has been reflected in his form.

In the first half of last season he scored nine Barclays Premier League goals in a red shirt but since moving to Chelsea he has just three league goals and two Champions League goals (both in the same match against minnows Genk) to his name.

Reina counts Torres as one of his best friends in football and they lived in the same street in Woolton in Liverpool before his compatriot left and Suarez moved into the same house.

And despite the striker's struggles at Stamford Bridge he expects him to rediscover the form which made him one of the most deadly strikers in the world at his peak.

"He is the same player but it is a different team so it is difficult to judge (how he compares to his best form for Liverpool)," added Reina.

"I think there are a lot of periods when goalscorers' lives are like that.

"Sometimes you do it, sometimes you go through bad spells but Fernando does know how to score and is a very good player.

"With Juan Mata (another international team-mate) behind him he will deliver more goals and will be better.

"He (Torres) is such a good player and he will be a real threat for us - not just him because they have a lot of good players that can create us problems.

"It is going to be a tough game. We have to do things right and hopefully we will take three massive points."

While the former Atletico Madrid's forward departure from Anfield almost a year ago still rankles with many fans Reina was not surprised.

Torres handed in a transfer request just days before the end of the January window and his deal went through just minutes before it closed.

But Reina admitted in his book he had expected him to leave in the summer after he returned to Merseyside as a World Cup winner.

"It was his decision. We have to respect that," he said.

"It (the transfer fee) was such a large amount of money but it was still a difficult thing for the club.

"Nothing was clear but Fernando, for me, thought he had to leave the team to continue growing as a player."

Reina himself has been close to leaving on a couple of occasions during the troubled reign of former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

However, under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, who celebrated their first anniversary in charge last month, he views the situation much more positively.

"I am glad to be here and still be a part of this club," he said.

Source: Mirror Football