Will Liverpool live to regret pulling the plug after striker's failed medical

In the overall scheme of things we may lose 20 goals with the loss of Luis Suarez, but if we can tightened up defensively in the midfield and more importantly at the back, ultimately it make us not just harder to beat, but able to close out games rather than going hell for leather for 90 minutes as against Stoke (3-5) and Man City (3-2) because we didn’t have the wherewithal to shut up shop.

The transfer of Emre Can has given the midfield the sturdy athletic ball player  we’ve been looking for, but  another robust midfielder would certainly not go amidst to compete with the Man City’s and Chelsea’s of this world who have improved the depth and certainly the physical nature of their midfield’s.

In saying that, Suarez moving on presents Rodgers with the chance of making Daniel Rodgers his premier striker by playing him as a lone striker and adopting an extra man in the midfield, thus making Coutinho the pivotal component in the team in behind the England striker.

Suarez will be missed, but there are positives in the sense that Rodgers has players who are improving year on year and can thrive with the extra responsibility.

Sturridge improvement has been exponentially of prodigious proportions, but just as impressive has been the rise of Coutinho, Sterling and to a lesser extent Flanagan.  I say to a lesser Flanagan where the Liverpool native is concerned only because because his explosion on the scene was in his first real season and one always wants to see whether youngsters can push on again over a second season or like many his form tapers off before pushing again.

Rodgers commented recently that Coutinho was now 'brain of Liverpool's team'.  While the comment may have be designed as a shot in the arm for the little Brazilian, there is no doubt that this is an extremely important season for him in taking on the mantle of one of the team’s leaders and with the Brazilian teams total failure at the World Cup and one of its few pure footballing talents he now has the the footballing world at his feet for club and country.  Sterling will almost certainly share the burden interchanging from out wide to in behind Sturridge and looks assured in either position for club and country.

Twenty four hours day ago we looked odds on to tie up the bargain of the season with Loic Remy, who suited the Brendan Rodgers philosophy of being able to play in more than one position and blessed with pace.  The non-transfer smacks of a decision taken by committee and is one which Liverpool could live to regret.  The player’s heart problem is a long standing one well known in the game having been revealed by Marseille during his 2010 transfer to them from Nice, so if he has failed over that complaint then I feel that it’s shoddy work by Rodgers and the transfer committee.

Although, the Lallana injury (out for 6 weeks with a knee injury) is disappointing, we have plenty of midfielders to cope in absence, but there are very few players with Remy’s attributes, let alone available strikers to fill the void.  If we look to Romelu Lukaku, a different type of striker, given the trouble we are having signing Ryan Bertrand which smacks of desperation I hasten to add, Chelsea are unlikely to sell, still bearing a grudge after what they perceive as our shoddy handling of Victor Moses.

Which leaves Wilfried Bony as the only available striker on Liverpool’s radar.

One hopes that Liverpool do not reaction rashly, buying a front man who doesn’t fit into the team ethos and lacks the class to help us compete for the Premier and Champions Leagues respectively.

After Suarez departure Rodgers must look to change team dynamic

Luis Suarez move to Barcelona and the failure to capture Alexi Sanchez probably the nearest player out there to him in terms of style and attitude, conversely leaves Brendan Rogers with options to change the set up of his team. 

Suarez is the preeminent striker in world football and definitely one of the most creative influences in the game, but after losing him, the potential signing of Loic Remy is one of intent.  The French International does not resemble the Uruguayan in style, but is a proven Premier League marksman able to lead the line as a lone striker and is more than capable of playing alongside Sturridge.  There is every hope if he stays fit the ex-Newcastle striker will leave last seasons 14 league goals behind.

 

As good as Remy is he is not Suarez.  But then, who is?

Rogers must think of ways to plug the yawning gap and strengthening his team's dimensions and its spine is certainly the way to go.   A top class central midfielder (Paul Pogba?) replacing Lucas, a centre-half capable of providing the leadership we've lacked at the back since Jamie Carragher's retirement, although Sakho hinted at stepping up to the plate with his performances at the World Cup. 

Whether Pepe Reina returns to the fold or Rodgers buys in a new goalkeeper, Mignolet needs cover to help keep him on his mettle.

Suarez forces his way out of Anfield and into the Camp Nou

A part of me did not wish to see Liverpool Football Club present Luis Suarez with the platform to say goodbye on his terms.  But this is Liverpool Football Club and he has been allowed to say his goodbyes on the club's website where he stressed how difficult it was to leave, but he is following his dream.

He statement on the club website read as follows, "It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain. Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city.

 

"But most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans. You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it, we will always be Liverpool supporters.

"I hope you can all understand why I have made this decision. This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife's family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right.

"I wish Brendan Rodgers and the team well for the future. The club is in great hands and I'm sure will be successful again next season.

"I am very proud I have played my part in helping to return Liverpool to the elite of the Premier League and in particular back into the Champions League.

"Thank you again for some great moments and memories. You'll Never Walk Alone."

Suarez No.9 shirt already on sale

His shenanigans have been well documented and his actions have thrown the club into dispute through its unfettered support and the shameless way he has thrown the fans love back in their faces with his attics and the brazen way he tried at the start of the last two seasons to expurgate his way out of the club.

He may be living his dream of "playing and living in Spain..." but one should remember that if the player had had his way a year ago, he would now be playing at the Emirates and living in North London as opposed to Barcelona.

Conspiracy theorist may say this was a stich up in the making.  One moment Barcelona cannot make transfers and the next the block on transfers is lifted, Suarez apologises, Sanchez moves to Arsenal (which helps fund the transfer) and Suarez then moves to Barcelona.  What's the betting UEFA does not follow through with the substantial nature of the original ban or re-instigates it only once Barcelona have filled their stocks to cope over the period of the ban? 

Ours is not reason why as it serves no purpose where Platini and UEFA are concerned because many of that organisations decisions are tilted towards Spanish and Italian clubs who are waylaid with debt or in the cases of Real Madrid and Barcelona have televisions deals which tilt La Liga in their favour before a ball is kicked each season and are not calculated in UEFA's Financial Fair Play calculations.

Luis Suarez is a thrilling football player and there is probably no other player in the world who could, half fit, have demolished, devastated and demoralised England in such stunning fashion.

 

He is a force of nature on the pitch whose will to win is a trait one cannot teach, but, to my mind he leaves behind a blemished reputation and a tarnished memory because at his worst he disgraced the game of football.

No player is bigger than Liverpool Football Club, but in saying that, the list of world class players leaving us over the last few years makes uncomfortable reading and is beginning to bite.  It will be difficult to replace the world's most consistent and pre-eminent striker who not only topped the list in goal-scoring, but was the joint top in terms of assist in the Premier League.  In essence, we are looking for two players to replace one.

We will always be susceptible to losing big players to the Spanish giants until we consistently challenge for and start winning big prizes which Brendan Rogers knows only too well as did Kenny Dalglish (Torres) and Rafael Benitez (Mascherano and Alonso) before him.

The pressure has ramped up a couple of notches following last seasons exploits and Rogers will be determined to prove that there is life after Suarez and that Daniel Sturridge improves again as he takes on the mantle as Liverpool's premier striker.