Luis Suarez - Liverpool

Luis Suarez’s Liverpool legacy is not one that can be simply measured in trophies. Throughout his three-and-a-half year stay on Merseyside, he only won the League Cup.

Nor can his impact necessarily be measured by goals alone. With 82, there are another 21 Liverpool players ahead of him on the all-time top goalscorers list.

But Suarez’s brief stay at Anfield was memorable nonetheless, for the thrills he provided and the endless controversy he generated.

Luis Suarez to Liverpool

Suarez was signed by Sir Kenny Dalglish on January 31, 2011, and was very briefly Liverpool’s most expensive player.

The Reds paid around £22.5 million to Ajax for the Uruguayan striker, who had scored 111 goals in 159 matches for the Dutch side after signing from Groningen for €7.5m in 2007. However, hours later that fee was eclipsed by the £35m paid to Newcastle United for Andy Carroll.

Early Success and League Cup Victory with Liverpool

The duo was signed as a brand-new strike force to replace the outbound Fernando Torres, who had joined Chelsea in a record-breaking £50m deal. Dalglish intended to play his new signings in a partnership but that never worked out.

At the time Suarez was signed, he was serving a seven-match ban for biting PSV’s Otman Bakkal during a game. It was a portent of things to come; that bite on Bakkal would be the first of three such incidents which blighted his career.

Notable Performances and Memorable Goals for Liverpool

Suarez netted on his debut versus Stoke City and barely relented until he left. In his first half-season, he scored four times in 13 outings as Liverpool finished sixth.

The following campaign, he played his part as Liverpool won the League Cup and reached the FA Cup final, netting in the semis against Everton.

Controversial Moments: Biting Incidents and FA Charges

Suarez’s time at Liverpool was also marked by controversy. In April 2013, during a league game against Chelsea, he bit Branislav Ivanovic. This led to a 10-match ban by the FA, his second major biting incident after the one involving PSV’s Bakkal. A similar incident occurred in the 2014 World Cup, where he bit Giorgio Chiellini, resulting in an international ban.

The Racism Row with Patrice Evra

Another key controversy during Suarez’s Liverpool tenure was his racism row with Manchester United's Patrice Evra. In October 2011, Suarez was accused of racially abusing Evra. The FA investigation resulted in an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine.

Suarez’s refusal to shake hands with Evra in a subsequent match deepened the controversy, forcing both Dalglish and Suarez to publicly apologise.

Suarez's Role in Liverpool’s Premier League Title Chase

During the 2013-14 season, Suarez was in sensational form, scoring 31 goals and propelling Liverpool into a Premier League title challenge. His standout performances included a four-goal haul against Norwich City and a masterclass against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. His efforts won him the Premier League Golden Boot and saw him share the European Golden Shoe with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Record-Breaking Goals and Achievements at Anfield

Suarez became the first Liverpool player to surpass 30 goals in a Premier League season since Ian Rush in 1987. He also won both the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year for his performances that season.

Leaving Liverpool: The Move to Barcelona

Despite his personal success, Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title, and after the World Cup in 2014, Suarez moved to Barcelona for £65m. This brought an end to his Anfield career, leaving behind a legacy of brilliant football and controversial incidents.

Post-Liverpool Career Highlights: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid

At Barcelona, Suarez formed part of the legendary MSN strikeforce alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. He won multiple La Liga titles, Copa del Rey trophies, and the Champions League in 2015. After leaving Barcelona in 2020, he joined Atletico Madrid and helped them to their first La Liga title in seven years.

Suarez's International Controversies at the World Cup

Suarez’s international career was also highly controversial, marked by his infamous handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals and his biting incident against Chiellini in 2014. Despite these controversies, his talent on the pitch made him one of the most feared strikers in the world.

Return to South America and Recent Career Moves

More recently, Suarez has returned to South America, helping Atletico Nacional win the Uruguayan Primera Division title in 2022 and leading Gremio to second place in Brazil’s Serie A in 2023, where he was named player of the year. He has now joined Inter Miami, reuniting with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

Legacy at Liverpool: Unforgettable Moments and Lasting Impact

While it can be argued that Suarez is not among the most ‘beloved’ of Liverpool’s former players, his contributions for the club are no doubt unforgettable. His relentless running, dribbling ability, and finishing, coupled with his work rate and will to win, have solidified his place in Liverpool history.