Luis Suarez: I hate you like I love you

God makes talented idiots and Luis Suarez is a perfect example. It was a simple tug on Suarez by Ivanovic and nothing about it was instigating enough for Suarez to have bitten Ivanovic on the arm, but he did it anyway. The last time he stepped out of line, it cost the much revered ‘King’ Kenny his job for backing him so blindly; this time however he might just have booked himself a one way ticket out of John Lennon Airport forever.

Last season, Suarez found himself in hot waters after racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra – the result was the FA imposing an eight game ban. It had the fans outraged, the manager baffled and United fans happy, but there was a general consensus among people that the ban was particularly harsh because of his ethnicity and the fact that the word ‘Negredo’ does not mean the same in his native state as it does in Britain. It took almost an entire year for people to move on and then, yesterday happened.

Luis Suarez is easily one of the most talented footballers to have ever graced the Premier League. He is the kind of player that oppositions know can turn the game on its head with a moment of pure genius. That is exactly what he has done this season and to good effect, scoring a total of 23 league goals so far. At times, the Uruguayan is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; it takes you a couple of blinks and a big gulp to fathom what you just saw him do with the ball. Liverpool have only managed a handful of league victories this season and Luis Suarez has been the fulcrum of the pulley that has helped them do so; unfortunately good things always come in small packages.

With his rich vein of form this season and his focus on football rather than simulation or abuse, there were people who lauded new boss Brendan Rodgers for finally making Luis Suarez’ talent the talking point, unlike the past. At yesterday’s press conference, even the Irishman seemed visibly disappointed at the dunce approach adopted by the man he wants to build a ‘successful’ team around. Managing Director Ian Ayre had everybody in a fix by stating that the club will punish him but are still not willing to sell him, in clear contrast to manager Rodgers, who has always emphasized on the fact that team ethos and respect for the club are first and foremost but now looks to be secretly hoping for a bumper-deal from any of the many sheikh-owned clubs in the world. Club legends have had varying views, with three-time European champion Graeme Souness deeming this as something unacceptable at a great institution like Liverpool football club, and John Barnes saying we need Suarez as much as he needs us. Maybe what Rodgers really needs to do is call up his opposite number down the M-62 highway and take copious notes on how he turned Eric Cantona – the beast – to King Cantona – the heart and soul of the Theater of Dreams.

The club has announced that they have punished Suarez, with his week’s wages going to the Hillsborough Support Group, while still awaiting the verdict from the FA. Things appear gloomy at Anfield and some fear that they might just have seen him in action at Anfield for the last time ever. If that is so, the only thing I’m grateful for is that atleast it ended with the Kop roaring and fans delighted that the club did not succumb to its fifth home defeat of the season.

There are certain moments which change the career of a footballer forever – maybe this is Suarez’ – but what remains to be seen is which way the scales of fate end up balancing themselves. Either way, for the time being I think I’ve had enough of Luis Suarez (pun intended on the famous twitter #tag #justcantgetenough).