During the past week, two Liverpool centre-forwards have placed themselves at the centre of their own respective media storms.
That Luis Suarez’s latest exhibition of reptilian behaviour wasn’t greeted with quite the broad astonishment that a similar act might if carried out by the vast majority of professional footballers, says much about the nature of the man. Incredible though his biting of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic was, the Uruguayan’s antics were far from incongruous when considered against his history for singular distasteful episodes.
An overriding feature of the predictable outcry that has followed Sunday’s incident at Anfield is the call for Liverpool to wash their hands of their finest talent – for that, by some distance, is Suarez’s undoubted status at his club side.
For evidence of that fact you need look only as far as the same afternoon on which the centre-forward added a fresh stain to his already checkered reputation. Without reaching the consistent rarefied heights of which he is capable, Suarez evinced enough flashes of genius to clarify for any onlookers who still need convincing of his worth as a contender for this year’s PFA Player of the Year Award.
There was the typical sublime movement and speed of mind to draw a sharp first-half save from Peter Cech, a wonderful first time lofted pass into the path of Daniel Sturridge for the Reds’ first equaliser and, of course, the added time poacher’s header to steal a point when he should have already been dismissed by the day’s referee, Kevin Friend.
It is perfectly reasonable to argue that, without the cunning and guile of Suarez, Liverpool would have ended yesterday’s contest empty handed. The same is true of many other encounters this season, and indeed during the previous 18 months the former Ajax man spent on Merseyside.
For all his apologies subsequent to past indiscretions, Suarez has proved himself incapable of reigning in the disagreeable aspects of his character. He has nevertheless, not waned in his on-pitch contribution.
Why, therefore, are Liverpool being encouraged to allow Suarez to flourish elsewhere? Make no mistake, if the Anfield club were struck by a sudden bout of self-righteousness and declared their best player to be for sale, the possible vultures would read as a reference list of European football’s genuine super-powers.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich would all deem Suarez as being of sufficient quality to improve their already potent attacking artilleries. Domestically, the two giants of Manchester, in addition to Chelsea, would relish the opportunity to name Suarez on their team-sheet – and in the process steal a giant march on all of their immediate rivals. It would be a move with the potential to alter the face of the English game to the same effect as Robin Van Persie’s switch to Old Trafford from Arsenal.
Any sale would at once not only strengthen an adversary but, more crucially, severely weaken a Liverpool team which is struggling to cling to the coat-tails of the Premier League’s biggest hitters. Replacing Suarez with an individual of equal ability would be impossible. Firstly, there are not many who can boast of possessing gifts to match the 26 year-old. Secondly, any such performer will not wish to join a club which is about to embark on its fourth consecutive season with no Champions League football.
The F.A. is sure to impose a deserved and swingeing ban on Suarez. Any team due to face the Reds while their striking talisman watches from the side-lines will approach that task with less trepidation than would otherwise have been the case.
Which brings us to Andy Carroll. The Geordie centre-forward’s registration is still held at Anfield. The lack of flexibility in the thinking of Reds’ manager Brendan Rodgers, however, would seem to have ended Carroll’s embryonic Liverpool career – barring any unforeseen change at the club’s helm.
Rodgers espouses the virtues of slick passing football, which places enormous premium on retention of possession. The Northern Irishman’s desire for an easy-on-the-eye, fast moving style doesn’t fit with Carroll’s robust demeanour. Reflecting on his first term in charge, Rodgers might wonder whether the presence of a bustling Carroll in his ranks would have provided the option to attack opponents via a different route – or to change tack when his preferred method is bearing no fruit.
It was Carroll’s powerful display for his loan team, West Ham United, against Manchester United last week which drew the nine-time England capped man back to national attention. The 24 year-old gave the stellar United centre-back pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand as tough a 90 minutes as they have experienced this campaign.
It was Carroll’s towering header which led to his team’s opening goal. The moment which dominated all post-match chat though, came prior to half-time. Following a feisty tussle for ground with Wayne Rooney while waiting for delivery of an attacking corner, Carroll launched himself recklessly through Patrice Evra and David De Gea in his attempt to connect with the ball – the visiting players being mere collateral damage to the focused forward’s endeavours.
The natural consequence to such a domineering display against his eminent opponents has been a debate on Carroll’s potential worth to the England team. There is no greater advocate for the player’s international credentials than his current manager, Sam Allardyce. Apparently challenging Roy Hodgson to consider his star man for a call to his next squad West Ham’s boss said;