Liverpool got a great deal for Luis Suarez, says Mark Lawrenson

Liverpool got a great deal for Luis Suarez but will struggle to replace the Uruguayan, according to Mark Lawrenson.

The 27-year-old signed a five-year deal with Barcelona on Friday after the four-time European champions agreed a £75m deal with Liverpool for their prized asset.

Suarez can’t realistically play until November, and you make the calculations and that would have meant paying him more than £3m to do absolutely nothing

Mark Lawrenson

Suarez, who is the reigning PFA player of the year, scored 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last season as the Reds finished two points behind champions Manchester City.

“It’s no wonder Barcelona have spent £75million on his talents,” Lawrenson wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.

“Considering the current situation, that is a great deal for Liverpool.

“Suarez can’t realistically play until November, and you make the calculations and that would have meant paying him more than £3m to do absolutely nothing.”

Former Republic of Ireland defender Lawrenson likened Suarez’s exit to Greame Souness’s departure from Liverpool in 1984.

“I liken it to the loss of Graeme Souness when I was a player at Liverpool,” Lawrenson added.

“Charlie was such a huge miss. Two players, Kevin MacDonald and Jan Molby, were brought in to fill the breach, but it wasn’t quite the same.

“We had to change our approach, and so will Rodgers’ side.

“Souness was a warrior and that, in a way, is similar to how Suarez was seen among the Reds squad.”