Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is in revelatory form for the Reds this season, and all bias aside, he's clearly the front-runner for the Premier League's 'Player of the Season' award. With 28 league goals already this year, Suarez is banging in goals for fun, but former LFC midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes he still has one minor flaw that needs to be corrected.
In his column for the Daily Mail this week, Redknapp compared the 'lethal' Uruguayan to Thierry Henry, but highlighted one aspect of his game that needs to improve. He observed:
"The only criticism you can make [of Suarez] is that he doesn’t always perform in the big games. In 26 matches against Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs, he has only scored seven goals"
Since signing for the club in 2011, Suarez has:
* Scored two goals apiece against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, and one against Man City.
* Scored only one goal this season against those sides (vs. Man United last week)
A 26% strike rate against the top clubs doesn't look great, but Suarez contributes in others areas too, namely assists, of which he's provided four in 26 games (which takes his overall goal-creation rate to 42%).
It's definitely an area in which the Suarez could improve. Over Christmas, for example, Liverpool lost vital games against Man City and Chelsea, both of which were conspicuous for the absence of the Uruguayan's goals/assists.
As a comparison, consider Daniel Sturridge's record compare against the top sides. Since signing in 2013, Sturridge has scored 5 goals in 10 games against Utd/City/Chelsea/Arsenal (50% strike rate). Add in two assists, and his over goal-creation rate is an impressive 70%.
Sturridge is clearly more likely to score against Chelsea, Man City etc, which is why it's great news that both he and Suarez will be available (barring injuries) to gun down those two clubs over the next month.
Statistically speaking, there's a high probability that either one or the other will score/assist against City and Chelsea, and in Suarez's case, he has the perfect opportunity to show that he can make the difference against the top sides.
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for the Daily Mail this week, Redknapp compared the 'lethal' Uruguayan to Thierry Henry, but highlighted one aspect of his game that needs to improve. He observed:
"The only criticism you can make [of Suarez] is that he doesn’t always perform in the big games. In 26 matches against Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs, he has only scored seven goals"
Since signing for the club in 2011, Suarez has:
* Scored two goals apiece against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea, and one against Man City.
* Scored only one goal this season against those sides (vs. Man United last week)
A 26% strike rate against the top clubs doesn't look great, but Suarez contributes in others areas too, namely assists, of which he's provided four in 26 games (which takes his overall goal-creation rate to 42%).
It's definitely an area in which the Suarez could improve. Over Christmas, for example, Liverpool lost vital games against Man City and Chelsea, both of which were conspicuous for the absence of the Uruguayan's goals/assists.
As a comparison, consider Daniel Sturridge's record compare against the top sides. Since signing in 2013, Sturridge has scored 5 goals in 10 games against Utd/City/Chelsea/Arsenal (50% strike rate). Add in two assists, and his over goal-creation rate is an impressive 70%.
Sturridge is clearly more likely to score against Chelsea, Man City etc, which is why it's great news that both he and Suarez will be available (barring injuries) to gun down those two clubs over the next month.
Statistically speaking, there's a high probability that either one or the other will score/assist against City and Chelsea, and in Suarez's case, he has the perfect opportunity to show that he can make the difference against the top sides.
Author: Jaimie K
I would guess that top sides simply have better defenders who, one on one, will be given the job of focussing on Suarez. If they do that effectively then no matter how good he is he will find it tough. I'm not sure it's a flaw ... the simple logic of playing against a "bigger" club is that they are going to be better. They will have better defenders and a better defensive setup. Everyone on the team is a little less effective against big clubs.
ReplyDeleteThose stats seem interesting but the sample size is too small. There just are not enough games to come to a meaningful conclusion.
in all fairness .. what are his assists and goals tally against bigger clubs? he may not always score but he does get assist when we do score or he plays a big part in the goal scoring
ReplyDeleteThe big teams are aware of Suarez. They know what he can do and they try to prevent him from playing. They concentrate more on him then on others and for that reason others have the opportunity to step up. One way or other way his presence is a treat. It is not him scoring but his presence. Without his presence on the pitch the whole team would struggle. That is my opinion anyway. And he will get the goals in big games. It will come!
ReplyDeletePlease. This is typical LFC-fan revisionism. Suarez has Sturridge, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Henderson etc around him. All excellent players.
ReplyDeleteThe top English sides are difficult to play against. Even Messi every time he plays against Chelsea he's never the same player. I think Suarez with a bit of luck can improve on it but he obviously gets targeted by the top teams.
ReplyDeleteNot quite at the same level man for man but Henry had much more pace than Suarez. Personally I think that is what it is. He has ticks and skill which can hurt but the better teams with better defenders can deal with that better. The one thing that no one likes is pace. Henry had it all.
ReplyDeleteSuarez simply being in the team makes things happen. He makes more shots, makes so many key passes works none stop. The defenders may be able to stop him scoring but that means there is space for someone else.
If we are being fairer to Suarez he has played all these teams when his teammates were not Coutinho, Sturridge, Henderson and Sterling. Try scoring those goals whe you are playing with Carrol, Downing, Adam, Jay Spearing and even Henderson (he has improved greatly but didn't do a great deal to begin with). Like the guy said above teammates help score goals and Suarez has played through a period were his teammates were less help than now. This affects the stats. It's fair to say that he has now scored against all the best teams. As we as a team improve further these stats may improve too.
What are other "top" players' stats against "top" teams?
ReplyDeleteHow can we tell if Suarez's goals/assists rate against other upper echelon teams is noteworthy without comparing to other top players. Sure, it's nice that Sturridge is listed, but we're comparing 10 games to 26, and one player to one player as opposed to a group of players (Van Persie, Rooney, Hazard, Giroud, Aguero, etc.)
Who cares what happens with other top players? What RVP et al do has no bearing on LFC.
ReplyDeleteJust remember though that Suarez in most of those games did not have Coutinho, he did not have Sterling as the player he is today, and he did not have Henderson as the player he is today.
ReplyDeleteDifference was Arsenal had 5 world class players supporting Henry.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. The best defenders in the league singling out Suarez as our best player and giving him extra attention. Pretty straightforward
ReplyDeleteI think it's relevant in as much as how do the other top strikers in the league measure up to the best defences in the league. It would give us a better idea as to whether Suarez is behind RVP et al or if it is a recurring theme throughout all the strikers for the simple fact that they're up against better defenders
ReplyDeleteFor top 6 weapon of choice: Sturridge
ReplyDeleteFor the rest: Luis Suarez
I have no problem as long as we win.
I think it has some relevance. If all of the top players have similar stats against the top teams then Suarez stats are noting to worry about.
ReplyDeleteYou need something to compare it to, to see if it is a real issue.
I think, obviously, all players will score less goals against the top teams, i would be interested to see how much there conversion rates differ.
Agree...They are top teams because nobody scores many goals on them. And we wuz robbed at the Etihad anyway...it should have been at least a draw and maybe a win if a couple of sitters were properly put away.
ReplyDeletemaybe it's because these teams are effective to a large extent in marking Suarez out of the game. Because they have the talented players who can do it.
ReplyDelete28 goals and counting, sick note Redknapp can do one.
ReplyDeleteIvan ratikic
ReplyDeleteYou made my point for me. And this also contributes to Sturridge scoring. Like Suarez said, if Defenders are marking me then that creates space for Sturridge.. (I suppose old Rednapp has to find something to put in his column! Lol)
ReplyDeleteFair point things have moved on and up. But I shall certainly store away that comment from JK about excellent players ....
ReplyDeleteThe stats are flawed. You are counting Man Utd as a top club.
ReplyDeleteI think too that Suarez tends to play a slightly withdrawn or wider role in those games and that Sturridge tends to play centrally. Might have something to do with it. Also our games against the top teams when we've been in form have tended to coincide with Suarez' suspensions and injuries, haven't they?
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to see Sergio Aguero's stats vs Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea to put things into perspective
ReplyDeleteI remember people said the same thing about Cristiano Ronaldo when he played in the EPL, and we all know how good he is. I think a worse strike rate against the big boys for a player of Suarez's caliber is almost to be expected. Every team in the league knows Suarez's threat and wants to neutralize it, but the big teams are able to cope with that threat far more effectively. If Chelsea or Man City want to make it their mission to keep Suarez from scoring they're probably going to be able to do it a fair amount of the team, while on the flip side if, say, Cardiff makes it their mission to stop Suarez they're not going to have as easy a time because they simply don't have the personnel. So I don't think it's that Suarez isn't up for the spotlight really, I'd say it's just as simple as the fact that the big teams can do it if they really really want to. And if they do want to, they'll leave spaces open for Sturridge to get into and score, so they're welcome to try.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, imagine how many league goals Suarez would have if he was our penalty taker. Ronaldo scored his 31 with plenty of penalties...anybody know how many of the guys at the top end of the all time single season scoring charts weren't penalty takers? I bet that'd give some cool perspective to just how amazing a season Suarez is having right now.
Jamie Redknapp got paid to state the obvious with a sense of discovery and demonstrate that he hasn't the critical analysis skills of every other commenter on this thread.
ReplyDeleteCoaches of big teams with good defenders can target a best player and make the lesser players have to beat them. This is true of every sports team on the planet...because it has proven time and time again to be effective. Liverpool have two such players so it is risky to take Suarez out of the match and leave Sturridge to beat them...because as he showed last night, Sturridge CAN beat them.
I truly believe from watching the match again that Sturridge easily had a hat trick had Suarez looked for him instead of trying to score on his own. Twice a simple dish to Sturridge would have seen him walk one in and one had Sturridge alone at the top of the box with no one within five yards with nobody between him and the GK. Easily could have been 4-1. If I have one beef with Suarez it is that. He can be a bit greedy...which is not necessarily bad when when the situation calls for it, but it can get the better of even him at times.
I think the main point I'm trying to make (which has been reverberated by others below) is that we really don't know how good Suarez's numbers are except compared to Sturridge (in this particular example).
ReplyDeleteThere's no point of comparison except to Sturridge, and it doesn't really tell us whether Suarez is with or below the pack. Just that he's behind Sturridge.
To be clear, I'm not disagreeing or agreeing with your or Redknapp's original assertion. I'm just stating that there's not really any evidence except to compare Suarez and Sturridge.
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ReplyDelete