He was an enigmawhose next move couldnt be foretold. Be it going for audicious lobs to scoring from tight angles to creating opportunities from dead-ball situations he did it all!Four eventful seasons and countless memories later, Luis Suarez has swappedthe red of Merseysidefor the Scarlet and Blue of Catalonia. As both teams look to make a fresh start to the new season,hereI look back at7 of El Pistoleros best ever goals for Liverpool.
#7 Zenit St. Petersburg - Europa League (home game), 2012-13
A night when a Luis Suarez-inspired comeback almost worked out completely for Liverpool.
Liverpool had lost 2-0 at Zenit and an early Jamie Carragher error handed a 3-0 lead on aggregate to the Russian side. A Joe Allen goal adding to Suarez’s earlier freekick meant Liverpool needed another two to qualify on aggregate. As the shoulders began to drop, the Uruguayan raised hopes even further to set up a nail-biting finish at Anfield.
Another freekick, another goal. This one started off well outside the post before curling into the corner of the net to spark off wild celebrations.
#6 Stoke City - League Cup (away game), 2010-11
Trailing at the Britannia Stadium in the second half of the Capital One Cup tie, Liverpool were in desperate need of some inspiration from somewhere. No prizes for guessing where that came from!
Collecting a long pass, Suarez nutmegged Ryan Shotton, before curling a clinical right-foot shot from the edge of the box beyond a helpless Thomas Sorrenson into the far corner to ensure parity. Luis Suarez later went on to claim an 85th minute winner silencing the Stoke fans’ jeers and helping Liverpool progress to the next round, in a competition they later went on to win at Wembley.
#5 Norwich City - Premier League (home game), 2013-14
Luis Suarez has bullied Norwich City in the Premier League. Poor John Ruddy needs to be only fractionally out of position to be punished. Before the ball was even kicked, you knew it was going to be only one man’s night.
And that definitely did happen. A quickfire 20-minute hattrick lit up Anfield as the Uruguayan was simply unplayable. Although his first goal stole all the headlines, the third goal characterised what Luis Suarez’s game is all about – quick speed of thought, intelligent first step and strong shooting.
A swarm of Norwich bodies closed in Suarez down the inside-left channel. He reacted by flicking the ball over Fer, letting it drop on the edge of the penalty area and angling his body to drive a wonderful half-volley across Ruddy and into the far corner.
#4 Manchester City - Premier League (home game), 2012-13
In Brendan Rodgers’ first match as Liverpool manager, the Reds slumped to a 0-3 loss at West Brom. Another daunting test awaited them in the form of champions Manchester City at Anfield in the next game. It finished all square heading into the break, as Yaya Toure cancelled out Skrtel’s opener.
In the second half came what will remain Luis Suarez’s first and probably his best ever dead-ball goal for Liverpool. From 30 yards out, Suarez managed to find the right technique to place the shot low, around the wall, past Joe Hart, and into the bottom corner.
Liverpool outplayed Manchester City that day and should’ve walked home with all 3 points in the bag, if not for the two silly defensive blunders which handed City a share of the spoils.
#3 Norwich City - Premier League (home game), 2013-14
Another day, another hattrick against Norwich. Liverpool were dominating proceedings 15 minutes in but without anything to show for it.
Cue Suarez to pull a rabbit out of the hat in such circumstances. Striking a bouncing ball hard and high from 40 yards out, with the right touch and movement to make it dip under the bar and beyond Ruddy for the opener. Seemed so inevitable and yet magical!
The super strike opened the floodgates as Suarez went on to score another three, before setting up Raheem Sterling to cap off a 5-1 demolition and send Liverpool top of the league at Christmas.
#2 Norwich City - Premier League (away game), 2011-12
He wouldn’t just leave Norwich alone, would he? Now this is some way to complete a hattrick! Liverpool were in cruise control at Carrow Road, leading 2-0, when Suarez decided to cap off his maiden hattrick for the Reds in extraordinary fashion.
Spotting John Ruddy off his line, Suarez took a remarkable shot from the half-way line, over the goalkeeper’s head, into the net to the sheer delight of the travelling Liverpool support.The mark of a great striker is his ability to create goals out of nothing. That outrageous lob sealed Suarez’s treble and a comfortable 3-0 win for the Reds.
#1 Newcastle United - Premier League (home game), 2012-13
As so often is the case, after dominating the game, Liverpool had nothing to show for it. The first half was heading towards a stalemate when, out of nowhere, a Newcastle counter paid dividends. Hatem Ben Arfa jinked to the byline and raced past Jose Enrique before crossing to the far past, where Yohan Cabaye controlled the ball and struck a sweet half-volley past a hapless Jones. Advantage Newcastle.
The second half began in a similar fashion with Liverpool controlling possession and creating scoring chances as Suarez and Sahin both saw their shots saved. Just when it looked like Liverpool’s problems in front of goal would continue, Suarez provided a moment worthy of rewinding and playing, over and over again. He raced past Coloccini, latched on to a long searching ball from Enrique, controlled the ball on his chest with one touch, went past Tim Krul with another and slotted into an empty net.
People often talk about the half-way line stunners, but for me this goal here stands out as his greatest goal ever in the Liverpool shirt. The instinctive speed of thought, accuracy and control – everything just so perfect!
