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Dear Fernando Torres,
Thank you for the years of service, passion and dedication to Liverpool FC.
Reds fans will remember your flashes of genius — the goal against Blackburn where you magnificently controlled a deep cross to the ground and, with your back to the goal, looped a volley from an acute angle over the head of the keeper, will remain among greatest strikes in the club’s storied history.
But Merseyside has moved on.
Liverpool restaurants are no longing serving tapas, instead firing up their grills for some Uruguayan asado to welcome expatriate Luis Suarez. The striker’s recent $43 million transfer to Liverpool has spiced up a struggling Liverpool side, the latest installment of manager Kenny Daglish’s revolution at Anfield.
At first glance, the differences between Torres and Suarez suggest Liverpool downgraded their talent and simply made a savvy business deal in selling their No. 9 for $79.5 million to Chelsea. Liverpool bought both Suarez and British transfer-fee record Andy Carroll with the proceeds from the sale.
Moreover, Suarez lacks Torres’ individual genius that generated some of the Reds’ most inspired play in the last three seasons. The Spaniard’s ability to track down long balls from the likes of Xabi Alonso — and exploit the havoc Javier Mascherano caused opposing midfielders — accelerated his status as the world’s premier striker.
But those are just memories. Mascherano and Alonso are gone and Liverpool’s bastion of consistency, Steven Gerrard, has turned in disaffected displays when not sidelined by injury this season.
Torres’ lone-wolf style became increasingly petulant and lazy as the goals dried up. His departure makes sense, as the new crop of players have imparted a grittier, harder-working spirit to the team.
Unlike the Spaniard, Suarez is willing to close down larger defenders who have bullied him over, winning the ball back without resorting to desperate lunges and needless fouls. The Uruguayan is much more involved in linking the midfield with the attack and creating open space to receive passes and get teammates involved in-game.
Suarez’s industriousness is characteristic of his personal style, à la Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. Unlike his lesser talents, Suarez’s enthusiasm to hassle defenders is not a symptom of overcompensating for his lack of class. He thrives off the momentum his work rate creates, giving spark and creativity to the Liverpool attack, while simultaneously imparting confidence in his teammates.
In Liverpool’s win over Man U, the forward put in a magnificent display, terrorizing the Red Devils’ defense. At the end of the first half, the striker received the ball in the penalty box and with his back to goal and little room to operate, dummied around defenders Wes Brown and Fabio before darting past another defender.
Though his goal-bound shot was slammed home by Dirk Kuyt, it was Suarez who was rightfully swarmed in congratulations by teammates.
In the club’s recent win over Sunderland, Suarez struggled to find an opening in the first half, instead taking a less prominent role in working to back track toward midfield and win the ball. His patience and dedication would pay dividends in the second half. Racing down the sideline, Suarez cut into the penalty box.
Feigning a cross into the center, Suarez blasted a shot from a near-impossible goal-side angle to wrong-foot the goalkeeper.
It remains to be seen whether Suarez’s success will last. As defenders learn to anticipate the striker’s tendencies, Suarez will likely have less and less space to operate. Instead, his willingness to be involved in the team’s build-up play sets him apart and will determine his long-term success.
Liverpool’s Spanish influenza looks to be over as the Uruguayan remedy has revitalized the club’s season.
