Luis Suarez was arguably the world's most inform striker over the past 12 months and the infamous centre forward has eventually ended speculation by ultimately completing a £75 million transfer from the Merseyside club, that stood by the scorned attacker, to the cultured and refined European heavyweight, Barcelona.
Signed as a delirious forward who once showed promise of becoming something other than a adequate goalscorer, Liverpool landed the Uruguayan with the burden of a £25 million price tag as well as adding extra weight on the shoulders of the callous Ajax striker by giving him the famous number 7 shirt, famously worn by the clubs most profound player 'King Kenny'.
On the back of a 7 game ban for a biting incident which took place with Ajax and a World Cup campaign that made Luis Suarez virtually one of the most despised characters in the beautiful game, by stopping Ghana from progressing by a last minute goal line clearance with his hands.
Instantly the Kopites took a liking to this extreme player, after a frantic goal on his debut against Stoke City as well as numerous YouTube clips doing the rounds , showing the determination, goal scoring ability and more importantly the touch of magic that had been absent from the Anfield turf since the days in which John Barnes would electrify the Anfield crowd.
An upbeat song of Suarez' name was soon announced around the Kop and it was clear that Suarez was a favourite around Merseyside, even if the rest of the nation couldn't see it.
Single handily Suarez turned Alex Ferguson's Man United defence into a vulnerable cluster, as he wiggled his way through in mesmerising fashion, as Liverpool won 3-0.
At times Suarez was wasteful, looking around him to find the likes of Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing waiting for a pass. Suarez often felt he had to do it himself. Blazing shots from the touch line, attempting audacious chips from his own half was the norm around Anfield, and the crowd didn't seem to mind, when the next piece of action usually consisted of a 'double nutmeg' or a purely special goal.
Suarez was loved by his team mates too, which suggested a side of Suarez that we hadn't come across yet on the pitch. This was evident after the narcotic Uruguayan was accused and then charged with racism following a coming together with Man United defender, Patrice Evra. The Liverpool players warmed up with printed Suarez t-shirts prior to a Premier League clash with Wigan Athletic. The Liverpool player's obviously felt strongly about the scenario, with Luis Suarez claiming he said a word that is meant in a friendly way in South America, although it was obviously interpreted differently by Frenchman, Evra, who had previously accused three men of racism, including a Chelsea groundsman, on all three occasions, each of the accused were cleared of all charges. After being handed a 8 match ban for racism, the downward slide commenced simultaneously with the xenophobic treatment implemented by the English FA, after former England captain, John Terry, was also charged for racism, after a video occurred of Terry using a racist term towards Anton Ferdinand, subsequently the Englishman was handed a 4 match ban.
Suarez made even more headlines in England for the wrong reasons when the Uruguayan was handed a 1 match ban for a hand gesture towards the Fulham fans one night. He was next ridiculed by most of the league's managers and almost all of the press pointed the finger at Luis for every problem with the British game.
The Uruguayan soon went into a phase of building any sort of a reputation in England during Brendan Rodgers' first season. The forward became even more loved by the Liverpool fans when he first spoke English in a televised interview, and the superstar gave off a slight scouse twang. Furthermore , Suarez was shown in a different light, as he was portrayed as a family man, caring for his wife and daughter. Pro footballers from all across England came out to say how humble the striker is.
After former Everton boss, and Man United flop, David Moyes enlightened the British media about Suarez diving problem prior to the Merseyside derby, Suarez was soon to score against Moyes' blue's and in comical fashion, seemed to leap in front of David Moyes.
On one January evening, Luis Suarez came off the bench against non-league outfit, Mansfield, and was seen handling the ball before knocking the ball into the net, once again Suarez was ridiculed. And again, the Liverpool fans, players and officials stood by their man.
But after an absolutely superb season on a personal basis for Luis Suarez, rebuilding his reputation alone, to add to the superb goals he scored, including a tremendous goal against Newcastle, which I'd still knock down as the greatest goal I've ever seen at Anfield, as Jose Enrique found Luis Suarez with a precise 60 yard pass, which Suarez neatly took down on the highest point of his chest before rounding Tim Krul, and slotting the ball away, all in one swift movement. However, Suarez ended the terrific season with yet another moment of madness when he bit Chelsea's Ivanovic. Suarez was subsequently banned, and was given a 10 match ban.
After a torrid summer for Liverpool, John Henry and Ian Ayre managed to keep their star man, Suarez, even though the Uruguayan pleaded with the Liverpool board to be allowed to leave Liverpool with Arsenal and Real Madrid waiting to pounce. After Suarez was sentenced to training alone, by Brendan Rodgers, Suarez soon announced he was happy to stay put and soon signed an illustrious contract worth a reported £210,000 a week.
The sensational forward returned in the 2013/2014 and reignited his prolific goal scoring partnership with Daniel Sturridge. The courageous forward managed 31 goals, landing himself as double player of the year. Liverpool's bond with Suarez grew and grew with the Uruguayan's family now being labeled as adopted scousers. He expressed how he finds it hard to understand his daughter as she has a scouse tone as well as expressing how happy he was that his son was born on Merseyside. Suarez' mesmerising performance were perfectly summed up with his majestic display against Norwich prior to Christmas, when Luis scored 4 goals, including 2 volleys from outside the box as well as a perfectly executed costless-kick.
Suarez was probably the most courageous player I've ever seen in a Liverpool shirt, his never die attitude went hand in hand with his 'win at all cost' mindset, which was perfectly evaluated by his performance against Zenit on a cold Thursday night down on Anfield Road. Furthermore, Suarez' willingness soon made his emotions boil over when the Uruguayan desperately cried after Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace which meant it was virtually impossible for Liverpool to lift the Premier League trophy.
Now, just a few short weeks after Suarez bit for the third time, the Liverpool officials have called it time to grant Luis Suarez the wish of playing for Barcelona, and cashed in on him.
It's an emotional day, as ever, when a Liverpool great leaves the clubs, reminiscing to thoughts Liverpool fans suffered after the sale of Owen and Torres as well as the day that Steven Gerrard was nearly sold to Chelsea, but this time it feels different.
Luis Suarez was a truly extraordinary player, probably the best player I've ever witness playing in a red shirt, but the time is probably right. Unlike the previous sales, if feels as though we've gotten as much out of Luis Suarez as we could've probably have wished for, and quite possibly Luis Suarez feels the same, with him feeling that Liverpool were simply just a stepping stone to success and more significantly a stepping stone to one of the Spanish giants. Although, Luis has gotten so much more. Memories he'll never forget, adulation from the fans and his name in the history books along side the greats of Dalglish,Rush and Fowler.
Although he leaves almost empty handed in terms of silverware, his stories will never be left bare, and his final success story came at a bitter/sweet moment for the Kopites as Suarez finally gave the ultimate knock out blow to the British press and society as he waved goodbye to Roy Hodgson's England team in one last encounter, when former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson claimed Luis Suarez wasn't truly world class, before the Uruguayan knocked two goals past Joe Hart, to send the English home from Brazil.
I wish Suarez all the best, but hand on heart, Suarez won't realise how well he had on Merseyside, he won't be treated with the same gratitude next time he tries and audacious chip from 40 yards out or bites his next opponent which seemingly goes against Barca's philosophy- 'Mes Que Un Club'
Finally to rob a quote from an illustrious Hollywood film
' He’s the hero Liverpool deserves, but not the one it needs right now'
Good luck, Luis.
You'll Never Walk Alone