Liverpool Remains Upbeat Despite Loss of a Star

A file photo of Luis Suarez playing for Liverpool.

© AFP

At nearly every stop during Liverpool's preseason tour in the United States, manager Brendan Rodgers has been asked how he planned to replace star forward Luis Suarez, who was sent to Barcelona for $130 million shortly after the World Cup.

Rodgers understands why the questions are being asked and even shares in the worry about replacing Suarez. But at a news conference Tuesday in New York, held before Liverpool's win over Manchester City on penalty kicks at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, he said: "I'm certainly not crying. We're looking forward to the start of the season. I'm very hopeful we can have a similar, if not a more successful, season."

A more successful season without Suarez would certainly be quite an accomplishment for the Reds, who finished a surprising second in England's Premier League last season and earned a place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Suarez's Premier League-leading 30 goals earned him Player of the Year honors from both the English Football Writers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association. The statistical website WhoScored.com gave Suarez an 8.43 rating for the season, which ranked him far ahead of his closest rivals - Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (7.74) and Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey (7.72). Suarez also finished with 12 assists, second only to Gerrard's 13.

Suarez achieved that despite missing the first six matches of the season while completing a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a match in April 2013.

One thing Liverpool will not miss is the controversy that inevitably swirls around Suarez. Before joining Liverpool, Suarez was suspended while playing for Ajax of the Dutch league for biting an opponent. This summer he received a four-month ban from FIFA for biting an Italian opponent, Giorgio Chiellini, while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup.

Suarez was also suspended eight matches and fined nearly $70,000 in 2011 for racially taunting Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a match.

But the volatile Suarez is now with Barcelona, and Rodgers seemed somewhat relieved. While he will miss Suarez's production, Rodgers is not likely to miss the controversy.

After a reporter said at Tuesday's news conference that he had named his dog after Suarez, Rodgers quipped, "Did the dog bite?"

Both of Liverpool's goals Wednesday were scored by emerging young players, an encouraging sign for the Reds. Jordan Henderson's goal in the 59th minute tied the match at 1-1, and Raheem Sterling's goal in the 85th minute tied it at 2-2 and sent the game to penalty kicks. (Liverpool went on to win in penalty kicks, 3-1, before an announced crowd of 49,653.) Liverpool will further depend on Sterling and Henderson this season.

"You have to look for that regardless of whether Luis is here or not," Henderson said about taking on a bigger role. "You have to keep improving as a player, and that goes for everybody."

The former Southampton forward Rickie Lambert is the closest thing Liverpool has to a direct replacement for Suarez, although Rodgers said, "There's no doubt we will look where we can, if we can, to bring in another striker, if that is possible."

Like Suarez, Lambert is an able passer. His 10 assists placed him third in the league. Rodgers said he also expects Daniel Sturridge, who finished second in the league to Suarez with 21 goals, to continue to develop into a dominant scorer.

But Rodgers would prefer if players at other positions pick up the offensive burden.

Liverpool spent near $140 million in this transfer window to improve the overall quality of the club. In addition to Lambert, the Reds brought in defender Dejan Lovren and midfielders Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Emre Can.

"We have a number of players who can go and facilitate in that role," Rodgers said. "But you're never going to replace someone like Luis, like for like, just like you can never replace Lionel Messi, like for like. You have to find players with different qualities."

Lallana, Lambert and Lovren all played together last season at Southampton, which may help in their integration into the team. Liverpool will hope to avoid the fate of last year's Tottenham Spurs, who replaced Gareth Bale with a slew of signings that resulted in a lack of cohesion on the field and a sixth-place finish.

"It's a different club, it's a different vision that we have here," Rodgers said. "At Liverpool there is a strategy behind what we're doing."

So while the team will have a different look without Suarez, Rodgers believes the team can still be the offensive force it was last year.

"We play a highly gifted technical game,'' Rodgers said. "We really emphasize our ability to press. So, the dynamics of the team don't change."