Liverpool and Luis Suarez: 6 moments that have defined their relationship

Luis Suarez

Liverpool signed the mercurial Uruguayan striker three years ago in the January window and gave him Dalglish’s famous No. 7 shirt to wear. That was a statement of massive trust on the part of the club. The trust was invested in a player who had made himself notorious for a handball in a World Cup quarter-final that prevented Ghana from reaching the semi-finals.

Ajax had, back then, asked Liverpool to return with a more ‘respectful’ bid when the Merseyside club offered a sum close to £13m. And while no Liverpool supporter would wish to part with Suarez, they can be sure that he will fill the coffers if he does depart.

That, however, is no measure of the footballing success that Suarez has enjoyed at the club and neither does it indicate the significance of his contribution in the last year and a half. Liverpool had hit rock-bottom under Roy Hodgson and were ironically haunted by the transfer dealings of the Dalglish era that also brought Suarez to the club. The arrival of Brendan Rodgers and his definite footballing philosophy and his desire to create a team around the talents of Suarez have lifted Liverpool in such a manner that now it will be a massive disappointment if they are not in Europe next season.

The relationship has been a bitter-sweet one, to be honest. The past is littered with the ruins of avoidable controversies amidst which sublime structures of magnificence stand to create a picture of stark ambivalence. Suarez never gave less than 100% for the Reds but his climb to the elite of world football began only under the Rodgers regime, and the Northern Irishman deserves much credit for that.

Suarez has the versatility of a No. 10, the predatory instincts of a top striker and a footballing brain that allows him to adapt to different formations, but what makes him a truly standout player is that he always has that element of surprise, that one extra push of power and desire that allows him to come up with moments of pure magic.

Looking back on Suarez’s stint at Liverpool is a matter of perspective. His critics will point to the numerous controversies that have established him as the proverbial bad boy of the club, but the club supporters will direct you to his ability on the footballing field. We are highlighting all aspects of this three-year journey that will soon reach a threshold in the summer when both parties will review their relationship.

Here is a list of six moments that have defined the Luis Suarez/Liverpool relationship so far.

6. Patrice Evra and Racism Allegations

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra

There is no defense for racism in football. The sport fosters and nurtures contests, rivalries but there is a limit to it all and every individual must recognize that there are certain boundaries you cannot cross. Patrice Evra clearly stated his allegations after Liverpool and Manchester United played out a fiercely contested derby in October 2011. He said, “I was very upset. In 2011 you can’t say things like this. He knows what he said, the ref knows it, it will come out. I won’t repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than 10 times.”

Liverpool backed the player after having questioned Suarez and their stance was widely criticized in the media and by the opposition camp lead by Sir Alex Ferguson. Kenny Dalglish tried to shield his player and he came in for a huge amount of criticism but the club stood by Suarez in his time of need and that was to define much that would transpire later on in the relationship. He was penalized with an eight-game ban for the entire affair after he was found guilty for racially abusing the defender.

He returned to Old Trafford in February 2012 clearly harbouring a bitterness for the way events transpired and refused to shake Evra’s hand before the match. The event was much anticipated, and the media was buzzing with questions whether the shake of hands would happen but none perhaps expected Suarez to refuse it. Suarez was attacked by Ferguson again calling Suarez “a disgrace to Liverpool FC” and many found it difficult to disagree.