Brendan Rodgers will unleash Luis Suarez at Old Trafford tomorrow with a message ringing in the striker’s ears that he owes Liverpool his unwavering commitment.
The Uruguayan has not played a competitive game for Liverpool in 155 days, while serving a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, but he is now available and, according to his manager, ‘champing at the bit’ to relaunch his career.
Given the offence for which Suarez was banned, Rodgers’ attempt to describe Suarez’s enthusiasm was clumsy but the sentiments were obvious.
The 26-year-old has been working his way back to peak condition and will almost certainly start against Manchester United on Wednesday.
While there is little doubt that Suarez’s glittering talents will enhance Liverpool’s hopes of progressing in the Capital One Cup and add to their great rivals’ torment, it has not been forgotten how he flirted with Arsenal in the hope of securing a move to a Champions League club.
Rodgers castigated Suarez when his attitude tailed off in August at the height of Arsenal’s pursuit and though bridges have subsequently been repaired, the Liverpool manager will not hesitate to tell his star what he expects from him going forward.
‘He just can’t wait to get playing again,’ said Rodgers. ‘There’s a real determination in him now.
‘Obviously there was a lot going on over the course of the summer, but he’s trained hard and his entrance back into the squad now is perfect timing really.
‘We’ve got a few injuries, so to have someone of that quality to come into the squad is good.
‘Do I think he is committed? Yes, I do. Absolutely. That’s the one thing about Luis Suarez, because of the type of character he is. He can’t play football any other way.
‘He knows what the club’s stance was and he stayed,’ added Rodgers. ‘We stayed strong in our belief that we wanted to hang on to him. The minute that passed, he’s been working tirelessly. It was difficult for everyone in the summer but that’s behind us now.’
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