Liverpool star who left below Rodgers is now on par with Mbappe & Haaland

Liverpool’s victory over Actual Madrid in midweek was their first over the Spanish aspect in eight video games, stretching again to the beautiful 4-0 thrashing of Los Blancos in 2009.

Regardless of their sturdy begin to the marketing campaign, many had claimed the Anfield aspect had but to defeat a real world-class crew. The two-0 victory in midweek will certainly put that argument to relaxation.

Ending this winless run in opposition to the 15-time European champions will even give them a psychological enhance, particularly if the 2 sides meet within the latter phases of the Champions League this season.

The barren spell began approach again in 2014 when Brendan Rodgers was in cost. Having completed second within the 2013/14 Premier League desk, the Reds certified for the group phases, drawn in the identical group in opposition to Madrid.

A 3-0 loss at Anfield was adopted by a 1-0 defeat on the Bernabeu as Rodgers’ aspect struggled within the competitors.

Regardless of coming so near the league title simply months earlier than, Rodgers failed to actually enhance his squad throughout the summer time switch window.

Liverpool’s enterprise within the 2014 summer time switch window

Rodgers had cash to spend forward of the 2014/15 marketing campaign and with the prospect of taking part in in opposition to Europe’s elite, the supporters regarded ahead to an thrilling summer time.

Southampton had been focused, as Adam Lallana, Ricki Lambert and Dejan Lovren made the transfer to Merseyside. Lazar Markovic was one of many extra thrilling signings, because the Reds splashed out £20m on thrilling Benfica winger Lazar Markovic, whereas Mario Balotelli returned to the Premier League.

A few attention-grabbing signings for positive, however they weren’t fairly of the required high quality to fireplace the membership to glory throughout the 2014/15 season.

Whereas cash was obtainable because of Champions League qualification, Rodgers secured a monetary windfall for one in every of his key gamers – Luis Suárez.

Liverpool’s sale of Luiz Suarez

The 2013/14 season was a exceptional one for the Uruguayan as he scored a staggering 31 targets within the Premier League whereas registering 13 assists. This was made much more particular contemplating the striker missed the primary 5 matches of the season because of suspension which had carried over from the earlier marketing campaign.

These performances below Rodgers had been sure to draw consideration from elsewhere and when the summer time switch window opened, it was clear Suarez could be leaving Anfield.

Certainly, when Barcelona got here in with a proposal of £75m, Suarez left for La Liga, linking up with fellow South Individuals Neymar and Lionel Messi.

He’s nonetheless remembered fondly among the many Anfield devoted and if he remained on the membership, simply what number of targets would he have scored?

Luis Suárez’s Liverpool statistics

The centre-forward signed for the membership in January 2011 with Kenny Dalglish spending round £22.7m to lure him from Ajax.

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He signed alongside Andy Carroll and he went slightly below the radar because of the Reds spending £35m on the Englishman. This new strike partnership regarded prefer it may fireplace Liverpool to glory sooner or later, particularly given each gamers had been below the age of 24 on the time.

Just one left their mark at Anfield, nonetheless, as Saurez grew to become probably the greatest strikers on this planet.

He netted 17 occasions throughout the 2011/12 marketing campaign because the Reds received the League Cup whereas reaching the FA Cup last, earlier than including one other 30 targets the next season – though this was marred in direction of the tip when he was given a suspension because of biting Branislav Ivanovic in a tie in opposition to Chelsea.

Regardless of this, 2013/14 was unimaginable for the participant. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher lavished reward on the Uruguayan for his exploits on the membership, saying:

“He’s merely one of many biggest gamers who ever performed for the membership. Whenever you speak about all-time greats, he’s within the prime 5. The targets he scored and the best way he performed, it was mind-blowing.”

Luis Suárez’s profession statistics
Membership	Video games	Targets	Assists
Barcelona	283	195	113
Ajax	159	111	68
Liverpool	133	82	34
Atlético Madrid	83	34	6
Gremio	53	26	17
Inter Miami	37	25	10
FC Groningen	37	15	12
Nacional	20	8	3
By way of Transfermarkt

Regardless of leaving Liverpool greater than a decade in the past, the 37-year-old continues to be going sturdy.

What Luis Saurez has executed since leaving Liverpool

The previous Ajax gem spent six seasons at Barcelona, lastly getting his palms on the Champions League trophy whereas scoring 195 targets for the La Liga aspect.

A spell at Atlético Madrid noticed Suarez safe one more league title, earlier than he had spells at Membership Nacional in his homeland and Gremio in Brazil.

It was his transfer to MLS aspect Inter Miami in December 2023 which has seen him get pleasure from an Indian summer time to his spectacular profession. Linking up with former Barcelona teammate Messi in Florida, the duo aimed to fireplace the membership to glory.

Throughout 30 MLS and MLS Cup Playoff video games throughout the 2024 season, Suarez scored 21 targets together with grabbing 9 assists as Miami ended the common marketing campaign with a factors complete of 74, the best within the historical past of the league.

They had been surprisingly defeated by Atlanta United within the first spherical of the playoffs, however for his performances, the striker was rewarded with a new one-year contract extension.

“I am very completely happy, very excited to proceed for an additional yr and to have the ability to get pleasure from being right here with this fanbase, which for us is like household,” Suarez mentioned.

His exploits for Miami have even seen the participant nominated as probably the greatest attackers on the Greatest FIFA Soccer Awards 2024, rating him alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland to call simply a few stars.

He may not win the title, however simply being named alongside a few of these gamers is a testomony to Suarez’s superb longevity and the very fact he’s nonetheless scoring frequently for his membership aspect.

Eternally a Liverpool icon, the Uruguayan will likely be aiming to complete his profession on a excessive subsequent time period by main Miami to MLS glory, that’s for positive.