Liverpool’s Luis Suárez a fighter like Wayne Rooney, says Ian Rush
Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush says Luis Suárez is a fighter like Wayne Rooney - and will continue to give 100 per cent to the Reds
Ian Rush says Liverpool striker Luis Suárez is a fighter like Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney – and has backed the Uruguayan to continue to give 100 per cent to the Reds’ cause.
The 26-year-old has not featured for Liverpool since April following his 10-game FA ban for biting Branislav Ivanović in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield in April.
The Reds have fended off interest in the want-away South American during the summer, most notably from Arsenal, and Rush reckons Suárez now understands he is not bigger than the club.
“Luis Suárez has had his problems. He is in a different environment. The supporters love him and the owners and manager have stood behind him when things have been difficult. Nobody is bigger than the club. When everyone’s gone, the club will still be there. I think Luis knows that,” Rush told the Daily Mail.
“The good thing is that he is here to stay now and he is looking forward to it.
“Like Wayne Rooney, he is a fighter, and no matter who he is playing for, be it a Sunday league side or Liverpool, he will still give 100 per cent.
“Sometimes, when he is in different environments, like when he is away in Uruguay, he might think differently but when you come back to Liverpool and you are back training with the lads, you get back into the swing of things. Everyone is glad to see him stay.”
Suárez has been no stranger to controversy following his £22.75m move to the Reds from Ajax in January 2011, receiving an eight-game ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
But Rush praised the Liverpool owners – and manager Brendan Rodgers – for giving the 26-year-old another chance despite his latest indiscretion.
“Of course, you only get so many chances,” he added.
“That’s down to the owners to decide. A lot of owners of managers may not have been so tolerant of Luis’s behaviour.
“I would have been because he gives everything to Liverpool. Him and Gareth Bale were the best two players in the league last season.
“Bale is worth over £80m, so how much is Suárez worth? He’s a lovely, family man off-the-pitch. He will learn with experience.”
