Brendan Rodgers has praised Luis Suarez for his commitment to the Liverpool cause following his return from suspension.
The controversial Uruguayan sat out the first five games of the Premier League season, having been suspended for biting the arm of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic last term. He has been sensational since making his return to action, though, with three goals to his name from just two matches as the Reds continue their start to the campaign.
Many pundits expected Suarez to be in a sulk following his suspension, after spending much of the summer trying to force a move to Arsenal. But Rodgers has nothing but praise for the 26-year-old forward, and he insists that those who doubted the commitment of the former Ajax star must now realise their doubts were very much misplaced.
“With Luis, he demands the best from himself and his team-mates at all times, and we saw that against Crystal Palace, even right at the end when the game was won,” the former Swansea City boss told the official club website. “You see his work-rate and his demand for a better ball into the box, and that’s what we want.
“There was a moment in the first half where he chased back on the left and won the ball, too. There is no doubting his commitment and there is no doubting he will always have that desire at all times. That attitude from Luis to demand the best is exactly what we want at Liverpool. We can’t accept just winning and say it’s all right.”
Liverpool, who have not won the title in the Premier League era and not since 1990, have made a terrific start to the season, and they head into the international break in second place with the Gunners ahead of them only on goal difference. As impressive as Suarez has been since his return, most of the plaudits have gone to six-goal Daniel Sturridge, and managing director Ian Ayre is praying the strike duo remain fit.
“I think everyone recognises that they really do have some kind of natural partnership there,” he said at the Asian Football Awards. “The more they can do that, the more they can profit from it in terms of goals. I think we are already a force to be reckoned with and hopefully we can continue to improve on that when we get our full squad back.”
