Suarez faces Chelsea on the back of England skipper Steven
Gerrard’s ringing endorsement that the controversial Uruguayan is
the greatest Liverpool striker he’s ever played with.
And boss Liverpool Brendan Rodgers has even compared Suarez to
Lionel Messi.
That’s one in the eye for Torres as he seeks his first goal in
four matches against Liverpool since his sensational £50 million
move almost two years ago.
But Suarez is still blighted by his diving reputation — a stigma
he says is driving him mad.
“I insist I don’t dive in the penalty area,” he said. “This is
my career and the bad reputation created around me is unjust.
“If you analyse the statistics I am one of the forwards who
receives the most fouls and free kicks.
“There always seems to be controversy surrounding me but I
accept the referee’s decisions — they are only human.
“I accept the criticism against me but many people attack me
without reason. That doesn’t please me but I try to do my best day
by day.”
However, while Torres still struggles to reproduce his Anfield
form, Suarez is enjoying his most prolific spell in English
football with seven goals — more than half of the Reds’ total — in
the Premier League so far.
But he still needs a leg up. Whatever he does, wherever he goes,
Suarez will never be football’s “boy next door” given his race row
bust-up with Patrice Evra and constant accusations over alleged
diving.
But Gerrard’s warm words in a midweek tweet have given him a
vital leg up as inconsistent Liverpool head for Stamford Bridge and
Torres today, while Rodgers hailed Suarez’s goal against
Newcastle.
He said: “He plays the false nine role like Messi does for
Barcelona where he moves freely and others have to get in behind
him to penetrate.
“Suarez’s goal was brilliant. He is a world-class striker.”
The fact is that against a background of constant brickbats the
mercurial striker continues to give belting performances on his own
up front after the loss of Andy Carroll to West Ham. And he’s ready
to show Torres a thing or two.
Suarez said: “Steve is friend and a worldwide star, the boss in
the dressing room and a symbol for Liverpool over the past
decade.
“He merits total respect so his quote about me is high
praise.
“Torres is highly regarded by Liverpool fans but I prefer not to
draw comparisons between us because we are a different type of
forward.
“I am not envious of anything he did for Liverpool. Maybe we are
similar in the way we battle against defenders and our passion is
the same, but technically we are different.”
The Uruguayan said his secret to scoring goals is simple — it’s
work, work, work.
He explained: “I undergo many videos sessions to analyse
characteristics in opposing defenders and goalkeepers.
“While it’s difficult to suggest a goals target for the season
if I score more than 20 goal I will be happy.”
Often Suarez is picked to toil alone in attack but he insists he
doesn’t find it too much pressure and is happy to play wherever
boss Brendan Rodgers picks him.
He said: “My mission is to play and to score goals for
Liverpool.
“Liverpool are one of the top clubs in England and we are
obliged to fight for all the titles, including the Premier
League.
“This has become complicated because of results so far so we
need to give our maximum in every match.
“Rodgers is a new coach and is normal that things will get
better match to match. I’m confident it will work.
“My dream for this season is to make the top four. Our squad
should be fighting against the biggest rivals in this division.
“Sunday’s game with Chelsea is hard because they have been
league leaders and are at home.
“But it’s a challenge for Liverpool. We needs to improve our
positions and this is the best moment to do it.””
