Something from our Number 7
Liverpool forward Luis Suárez insists his eye-catching performances offer just a taste of what is to come
Luis Suárez claims that his stunning early performances for Liverpool are a shadow of what is to come when he has a run of games in Kenny Dalglish’s side.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
In just four appearances for Liverpool since his £22.8 million move from Ajax, the Uruguayan forward has scored one goal and created four - including all of Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
That has convinced the Anfield club’s fans that Suárez is a suitable replacement for Fernando Torres in their affections.
The 24 year-old, though, believes his attempts to show his best form are being hampered by his stop-start schedule. Liverpool’s absence from the FA Cup, his ineligibility for the Europa League and the international break mean Suárez will play just once more before April, and the striker feels it will not be until he plays every week that his new fans will witness the full range of his talents.
“It is very difficult for me to play one week and then have to wait two weeks for the next chance to play,” said Suárez.
“I am playing one game, and then there is not another game I can play in for a long time, and so it is hard for me to get to the right level physically.
“But I am training well, so that when the chance comes to play again I am ready if the team needs me.
"I think it will take some time before the fans can see the best of me. That is what I am working towards every day, doing my best for the fans.
“It is great for a new player, someone who has played only four games since coming to Liverpool, to have the support of the public like I did [against United]. It was fantastic.”
Few who witnessed his display against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would suggest Suárez did not deserve that adulation. He tormented the Premier League leaders’ makeshift central defence all afternoon with his two quick feet, craft and guile, and ceaseless running.
All that was lacking, of course, was a goal, though Suárez insists he bears no grudges towards Kuyt for depriving him of the opener.
“I spoke with Dirk about the first goal,” he said with a laugh. “It is not important who scored it. It is important that it went in! Dirk has the ability to be in the right place at the right time, and he showed it on Sunday.”
The right place, it would be easy to suggest, is alongside Suárez, a fact that has not escaped his new team-mates.
“Luis’s influence has been really good since he arrived,” said Kuyt. “He scored in his first game, went close against Wigan, created a goal against West Ham and against United he was important.
"He said he was happy to have created the first goal - I was not sure if there was someone behind me, so I had to make sure.
“It is impossible to be at your best when you have only been at a club for a couple of weeks. I think he can show he can be a great player for Liverpool, and I think there is a lot more to come from him.”
It is a sentiment shared by all connected to Anfield, with Brazilian international midfielder Lucas suggesting Suárez’s fine form has helped ease the pain caused by the defection to Chelsea of the man whose house the forward now occupies, Torres.
“He has already settled and he looks like he has been with us for a long time,” he said. “He is really happy. We are trying to help him settle, especially away from the training ground.
"We know it is important to give him the confidence to show what he can do. When you lose a striker like Fernando, you expect to get another one in, and Luis has done really well.
"He is a fighter, and he has lots of quality. He can change a game.”
For 15 minutes at the end of the victory over United, Suárez was joined by Liverpool’s record signing, Andy Carroll, as the £35 million striker continued his rehabilitation from a groin injury which ruled him out for two months.
Though the pair are yet to have any significant chance to build a partnership, the former Newcastle player, too, already seems to have won Anfield’s support.
“When I was running back [to come on], all the fans were shouting and screaming, and so I got a little bit excited. I was over the moon to get on there and get back playing.
"The support was unbelievable for me. The fans have been great since I signed and even when I was warming up, they were fantastic. It was an incredible atmosphere, one of the best I have ever experienced,” Carroll said.
source
Haha, loved that he "talked" to Dirk about that first goal. I really, really want him to get on the scoresheet again; you can see he's so hungry for it and he deserves it. He's a joy to watch.
Luis Suárez claims that his stunning early performances for Liverpool are a shadow of what is to come when he has a run of games in Kenny Dalglish’s side.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
In just four appearances for Liverpool since his £22.8 million move from Ajax, the Uruguayan forward has scored one goal and created four - including all of Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
That has convinced the Anfield club’s fans that Suárez is a suitable replacement for Fernando Torres in their affections.
The 24 year-old, though, believes his attempts to show his best form are being hampered by his stop-start schedule. Liverpool’s absence from the FA Cup, his ineligibility for the Europa League and the international break mean Suárez will play just once more before April, and the striker feels it will not be until he plays every week that his new fans will witness the full range of his talents.
“It is very difficult for me to play one week and then have to wait two weeks for the next chance to play,” said Suárez.
“I am playing one game, and then there is not another game I can play in for a long time, and so it is hard for me to get to the right level physically.
“But I am training well, so that when the chance comes to play again I am ready if the team needs me.
"I think it will take some time before the fans can see the best of me. That is what I am working towards every day, doing my best for the fans.
“It is great for a new player, someone who has played only four games since coming to Liverpool, to have the support of the public like I did [against United]. It was fantastic.”
Few who witnessed his display against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would suggest Suárez did not deserve that adulation. He tormented the Premier League leaders’ makeshift central defence all afternoon with his two quick feet, craft and guile, and ceaseless running.
All that was lacking, of course, was a goal, though Suárez insists he bears no grudges towards Kuyt for depriving him of the opener.
“I spoke with Dirk about the first goal,” he said with a laugh. “It is not important who scored it. It is important that it went in! Dirk has the ability to be in the right place at the right time, and he showed it on Sunday.”
The right place, it would be easy to suggest, is alongside Suárez, a fact that has not escaped his new team-mates.
“Luis’s influence has been really good since he arrived,” said Kuyt. “He scored in his first game, went close against Wigan, created a goal against West Ham and against United he was important.
"He said he was happy to have created the first goal - I was not sure if there was someone behind me, so I had to make sure.
“It is impossible to be at your best when you have only been at a club for a couple of weeks. I think he can show he can be a great player for Liverpool, and I think there is a lot more to come from him.”
It is a sentiment shared by all connected to Anfield, with Brazilian international midfielder Lucas suggesting Suárez’s fine form has helped ease the pain caused by the defection to Chelsea of the man whose house the forward now occupies, Torres.
“He has already settled and he looks like he has been with us for a long time,” he said. “He is really happy. We are trying to help him settle, especially away from the training ground.
"We know it is important to give him the confidence to show what he can do. When you lose a striker like Fernando, you expect to get another one in, and Luis has done really well.
"He is a fighter, and he has lots of quality. He can change a game.”
For 15 minutes at the end of the victory over United, Suárez was joined by Liverpool’s record signing, Andy Carroll, as the £35 million striker continued his rehabilitation from a groin injury which ruled him out for two months.
Though the pair are yet to have any significant chance to build a partnership, the former Newcastle player, too, already seems to have won Anfield’s support.
“When I was running back [to come on], all the fans were shouting and screaming, and so I got a little bit excited. I was over the moon to get on there and get back playing.
"The support was unbelievable for me. The fans have been great since I signed and even when I was warming up, they were fantastic. It was an incredible atmosphere, one of the best I have ever experienced,” Carroll said.
source
Haha, loved that he "talked" to Dirk about that first goal. I really, really want him to get on the scoresheet again; you can see he's so hungry for it and he deserves it. He's a joy to watch.