Liverpool’s star man Luis Suarez returned to training yesterday after a very brief holiday of only 15 days. He played in Uruguay’s Copa America final triumph on July 24th and reported for duty at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground on the 9th August, demonstrating his eagerness to get back playing for the Reds at the start of the new season.
Having two weeks off means that Suarez would have hardly had the time to get out of shape like he might have done if he was afforded a longer off season. As it is, his fitness levels shouldn’t be that far off his team mates, leading some to speculate whether it would actually be a risk at all putting him back straight into the starting eleven against Sunderland without any pre-season matches.
Liverpool’s Head of Sports Science and Medicine Dr Peter Brukner has talked about how Liverpool kept in contact with Suarez and Brazilian midfielder Lucas during their time playing in the Copa America. All Liverpool players have unique fitness and dietary programmes which players are advised to tfollow, and no doubt while Suarez was in Argentina, he continued with the same regime.
The Sports Science team at Anfield would have been fully aware that Suarez pre season preparations would be hampered by his Copa America exploits and so I would assume that every precaution will be made to ensure he is fit enough to play an entire league campaign.
There will however, be inevitable concerns of burn out, despite every consideration being taken into account. On a high from his Copa America triumph, Suarez should come into this season high on confidence and all guns blazing, but his form might dip as the season goes on if his fitness is not managed well enough.
So would it be wise to start him against Sunderland on Saturday? Having two weeks off and then straight back into training means Suarez should have the capability of starting the match but his absence from pre-season preparations may mean that Kenny Dalglish might hesitate from starting him. After all, although Suarez has the ability to come in and link up with any player he plays with, there have been a lot of changes both personnel wise and tactically, that may influence the manager’s decision.
King Kenny may prefer to ease him back into action, put him on as sub against the Black Cats before starting him versus Arsenal a week later. There is a fine balance to be had, as on the one hand, Suarez is a very important player for the team and we need him back as soon as possible, on the other though, we don’t want to risk the player’s overall fitness and I am sure the Sports Science team will give Kenny the best possible advice to manage his situation this season.
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Remember his first match for Liverpool? People said he was barely fit enough, (remember he hadn’t played for 6 weeks before thanks to his Dracula exploits) yet he came on and scored a goal against Stoke City.
Put him on the bench against the black cats and give him 15 mins of play n then in starting XI against Arsenal
Kk’s plan is what matters we wish him well