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View from the Kop

Hero AND Villain: Either Way, The League Needs Luis Suarez

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THERE has never been a player quite like Luis Suarez to grace the hallowed turf of Liverpool Football Club.

We have had countless, gifted footballers that have possessed some of his talents individually, too many to name, but the diverse and ferocious mix Luis possesses is as unique to him as it is entertaining to us.

We all know what Suarez is capable of as we only have to look back at some of the wonderful moments he has had in a Red Shirt already; his debut goal in front of the Kop against Stoke, his cheeky goal against Sunderland last year, and even his terrorising antics against Man Utd which helped us achieve three points and assist Dirk Kuyt in getting his deserved hat-trick. The list is endless.

El Pistolero’s quick feet, mesmerizing skill, superb shooting, tuned aggression and a talent for the unexpected have been fused with an irrepressible desire to win football matches that few in the world possess, to make the insatiable Suarez one of the most likeable and gifted footballers of the 21st century – at least, amongst his own adoring supporters.

Hand gestures, chants, shouting and even coins rained down on Luis as he weaved his magic upon the field of Liverpool’s arch rivals Everton, in a typical Goodison Park derby.

A game like this never looks for pretty passing or technical brilliance, all it needs is a hero, a villain, and a talking point. Suarez unquestioningly provided all three on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

For us the Liverpool faithful, he was everything we wanted and needed from a player in a Merseyside Derby. He was assisted by a gritty, determined and passionate performance from his fellow team-mates, as he led the line with furious dedication. Whether dropping deep to trade off passes or latching on to balls over the top, Suarez was superb. He tracked back to tackle the ball out for a throw-ins, he chased lost causes; he was the first to everything that came his way, and once the ball was at his feet, he made sure that magic followed.

Consistently turning Distin, Jagielka, Baines and Seamus Coleman, inside out with his potent combination of quick feet and unpredictability, he gave Everton’s back four no room for complacency, proving a challenge to stop both on and off the ball.

He forced one goal and also scored himself – somehow only once (unfortunately).

He first fired upon goal with a fierce volley that deflected in of the unfortunate Leighton Baines, after a great ball from Jose Enrique and added to the travelling Kopites joy minutes later with a perfectly deft header from Stevie G’s free kick, which was won by Raheem Sterling after a foul by Osman, to make it 2-0.

As for the Everton fans, they shown the kind of hostility that has followed Luis all season, and was doubtless encouraged by the pre-match comments of Blues boss David Moyes in relation to diving. You knew it was written in the stars that Luis would have the last laugh.

It was Moyes, not Suarez who emerged embarrassed when the latter hit the Goodison floor though. After putting Liverpool ahead, Suarez gleefully made his way to the sidelines, falling humorously to the floor in front of the Everton manager.

Brendan Rodgers called it “Scouse wit,” after the game in his post- match press conference and it was. His comedy celebration was very similar to when ‘God’ (Robbie Fowler) scored against the Blue Noses in 1999 and subsequently, the sniffing celebration was born. Suarez showed a sense of humour, in celebrating his goal, and endeared himself even more to the travelling supporters while incensing the home fans.
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Phil Neville later emphasised Suarez’s point by being booked for diving. This made me laugh – considering what was said by his manager in the lead up to the fixture.

However Marouane Fellaini kicked, shoved and wrestled players to the ground as punishment for them being quicker than him, deliberately kicking both Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling from behind. No yellow card came his way. Yet it was Suarez who, after several times did well to stay on his feet after riding clumsy challenges, remained a “cheat”.

And then there was that ‘goal’. The goal that was and the goal that wasn’t.

Smashing the ball into the roof of the net after a knock-down from half-time substitute Sebastian Coates, Suarez had done it. He peeled away celebrating as the ground shook with the joyful exuberance of his fans, for the game had been won, in dramatic, late and great fashion. Even I celebrated like a loon thinking YES we had nicked it at the death.

However it was not to be, for the linesman Simon Bennett had ruled offside, and the score remained at 2-2. Replays showed that Mr Bennett (who has now been dropped from officiating this weekend) had been desperately incorrect, and the delay of the flag caused Gary Neville who was pundit for Sky Sports to suggest after the game that the official had “bottled it”.

Even David Moyes conceded that Everton were very lucky not to have lost the game in the last minute.

And was Suarez angry, raging, in the face of referee Andre Marriner? No. He just smiled.

As he run back into position, he knew that he had been onside, and he knew the decision had gone against him unfairly, as it has time and time again this season.

It was the same smile that was spread across his face as he performed his diving celebration, and the same that he displayed when he was awarded a free-kick in the second half, pointing at himself as if to say “Me? Fouled? Why, thank you!”

Suarez’s humour didn’t end there. When a coin was thrown from the stands which landed in his proximity, he simply picked it up and tucked it into his boot quietly and walked into the area, ready to try and get his head on the incoming corner.

As the boos, chants and insults of opposition fans rained down upon him, he concentrated on two things. Firstly the game, and then secondly his own fans.

Turning away from the animosity and bitterness, he looked towards the section of the ground bathed in the red of Liverpool, and gave a wave and a smile.

For whatever reason, our number 7 is the pantomime villain of the League. But were some players might crumble and tire from the constant battering, he simply stands firm, performs well, and scores goals. Opposition fans don’t like him? So be it. The people that matter appreciate and adore him for not only his footballing talent, but his unique and unbeatable desire and determination to win every game he participates in. He wears the mighty red jersey with pride and passion and I am very sure that most opposing teams would love him to play for them.

He is often criticised by the media and opposing fans for displaying such anger in the face of decisions not going his way, of fouls not being given and such like, but Suarez has begun to simply laugh at such mistakes. Having been kicked from pillar to post for 90 minutes only to receive nothing, most players would be spitting blood, enraged and inconsolable. It is remarkable that his temperament is criticised under such ridiculous treatment from opposition players and referees, but sadly it is.

Because the world needs a villain. The world needs a talking point. And right now, Luis Suarez is English football’s answer to both.

But to us Liverpool fans, he is something else entirely……

His goals, assists, nutmegs, chance creations and now famous comedy celebrations bring joy to all.

He has been involved in 80% of Liverpool’s goals this season, and in his 4 Merseyside Derby games to date, he has been involved in six goals, with three of his own and three assists.

Love him or hate him he is our number 7, our magician and Kop Hero – and don’t forget the party we are going to have when he finally gets a pen!

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
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I am a lifelong Liverpool supporter from Huyton Liverpool just like Stevie G and go all over the world supporting my team I go the games in my wheelchair as I suffer from Cerebral Palsy however that does not stop me having a ball cheering on the World’s Best Team.
I write a weekly column talking about various topics whether that is tactical analysis of matches, opinion pieces, looking through the archives of previous matches, former players and current articles on Brendan and the first team.
It is great being part of the first class writing team at Live4liverpool.com and bucking the trend in being the first woman to write for the site.
Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG to keep up to date with my articles. Y.N.W.A

9 comments

  • Dan says:

    I would like to make a point:
    A lot has been said about Suarez’s conversion rate, I read an article today saying he’s on 12% and 6 goals in the league, and that the top league scorers currently on 7 (van persie 33% and ba 25%) so but for the dodgy decision last Sunday Suarez too would be joint top scorer! So what this shows is really our disappointment that he hasn’t scored more from his 56 shots he has taken in the league this season. 56 shots on van persie’s conversion rate of 33% is 18 goals this season!!!
    Does anyone know his conversion rate at Ajax? Or how many shots he took to get his 81 goals for Ajax? As I would be very interested to know.

  • scouser says:

    it would be nice to see him using his skill every week, it’s what the fans want to see but he does have a very nasty side, it appears that the liverpool players, fans and managers don’t see the nasty side of suarez, they have stood by him no matter what, his tackles on distin and mirallas were intended to get both players stretchered off, there’s absolutely no excuse for tackles like that and the f.a. should have looked at his actions after the game and given him a 3 game ban or longer, i’ve no doubt that he will leave liverpool soon and the fans will blame everyone but suarez for him doing so

    • charles says:

      I think you only hate Suarez because he is a nightmare for your team defense, stop hipocrisy please, Fellaini deserved the red card and nobody said nothing, pure hipocrisy, stop to cry like a girl. SUAREZ SUAREZ I JUST CANT GET ENOUGH!!!

      • Dan says:

        I totally agree Charles, and what about all the media coverage of Suarez’s dive… He definitely did dive but Philip Neville dives and there’s hardly any comparison in the media reaction.
        Also I’m not condoning the bits of petulance like scouser said but what would you be like if you got kicked, fouled, flagged etc all game and nothing was given, I know I would start to try to buy a foul as a last resort. Remember he is in no way alone, bale, Neville, rooney, ronaldo, young, nani, drogba, Ashley cole, they all dive but not with nearly the same media reaction.
        There IS definitely an in balance with decisions.

  • LFC Dean says:

    i love him . but he needs to behave himself from now on . no more diving or naughty kicks . its costing us free-kicks , penalties , goals and points because of his reputation .

    someone other than suarez – i bet you that flag doesn’t go up on sunday last

  • gazz says:

    “His goals, assists, nutmegs, chance creations and now famous comedy celebrations bring joy to all.”

    To all? All of who? How about his dives ,his cynical fouls and racist remarks ? Are Liverpool FC enjoyed to be associated with this to? It seems so,doesn´t seem to matter that the Image of LFC is being destroyed by one man . It´s sad to think that the fortune of LFC is in this mans hands ,because if it is ,it is surley doomed to failure.

    • Sal ford says:

      what would you all saying if he done exactly the very same actions and antics and played for Manchester United ?

  • stevieG says:

    look i love suarez as a player and a guy , but to be honest , he has dived a bit . i hated diouf for being scummy + a diver , i didnt like kewell because he was a diver or ngog . divers embarrass me – they are for other clubs not liverpool

    it would be hypocritical not to criticise suarez , because we like him , and he is a fantastic player . so please luis please – dont dive again

  • Kevo says:

    How about the fouls on Distin and Miralles ?
    Always the victim never his fault
    If thats your view on a game you are wasting your own time going the match. On youtube type in Steven Gerrard diving and see a dozen examples.

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