Luis Suarez's sensational Liverpool form 'is proof he feels totally at home at Anfield'
Luis Suarez's sensational Liverpool form 'is proof he feels totally at home at Anfield'
Boss Brendan Rodgers convinced hat-trick hero of win over West Brom isn't pining for the Bernabeu or anywhere else
Magnificent three: Suarez's hat-trick lit up Anfield - and he almost scored a fourth
Given he was variously described as a “magician” and “magical” for
this sublime performance, is it fair to wonder if Luis Suarez will soon
make himself disappear from Anfield?
Not so, according to his
manager Brendan Rodgers, who needed only one of the above words to
describe the other-worldly qualities of his striker in this victory over West Brom.
It was a privilege to witness the Liverpool maverick’s
display of genius at the weekend, yet every occasion that confirms his
world class status simply raises the inevitable spectre of his
departure.
Yet while accepting there will be inevitable
speculation over a player who so emphatically stated his desire to leave
in the summer, Rodgers argues such form illustrates just how at home Suarez feels.
Asked if this was the striker’s last season with the Reds
come what may, he responded: “No, I wouldn’t say that - when a player
is happy and working well you get a performance like you did today.
“He
- like ourselves - wants to be at the very highest level he can be, and
you can see by his performances that he deserves to be looking at that
level. It show the level of him.
“But it also shows he has been excellent in his attitude, you see his work rate that is the key.”
Rodgers has a point. Suarez may still harbour dreams of the Bernabeu, but if he does, then he doesn’t show it.
There has been no sulking, no downing of tools, and if anything, there has been a development in his game.
That, in part, can be put down to the platform Rodgers and his Liverpool team have offered to the South American, to get the best from him.
Sometimes, players would do well to stop and think WHY they are playing so well.
Suarez’s hat-trick was magnificent,
and had his overhead kick not been brilliantly saved by Baggies keeper
Boaz Myhill we would have been talking about one of the greatest
performances of all time.
Yet as a TEAM, Liverpool showed they are
now very much in the hunt for the top four, if not the title, given the
consistency of their form over the past 12 months... and that is a
point not lost on Rodgers.
“For me, this is the place for Luis. I
still maintain that even if we were in mid-table this would be the place
for him to be because this is a massive club - a global institution,”
he explained.
“But as a football club and as a team we are growing
- and he can grow with us. Luis has the support of everyone at the club
and the love of everyone and because this is a worldwide institution,
there is no better place for him to grow.” Sweet and low down: A worm's-eye view of the first Suarez goal
Clive Brunskill
You wonder just how far Suarez can go.
With Sturridge
alongside creating space with his intelligent running, Gerrard providing
such telling service, and Henderson tireless support, the team is built
around his talents, where as even at the likes of Arsenal that may not
have been the case.
His goals showed as much, the space for a
divine run and nutmeg for the first, and two fine headers when gifted
space by intelligent movement and delivery thereafter.
Not to mention a brilliant fourth from Sturridge that emphasises the depth of Liverpool’s attacking talent.
They
may still have defensive frailties, as illustrated by the shaky period
immediately following James Morrison’s penalty, but they surely now must
be recognised as the real deal?
After all, since the start of the
year they have played 27 Premier League matches and have the third best
record over that period.
In fact, they would be just a couple of
points off the top if that were a table - a position they currently
hold in the real table too, which suggests it certainly isn’t a fluke.
And
as they prepare to visit leaders Arsenal on Saturday, Rodgers admits he
is relishing the prospect... especially given Suarez’s form.
“I
am really looking forward to Arsenal now. We played well there last
season, surrendered a two goal lead, but we are a better team going
there this year,” he said.
“We are getting better. We have got
wins without playing as fluently as we can, but today was probably as
good as it has been over the course of a game.
“And we will get even better.”
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