NEIL WARNOCK offered a far more considered view of Luis Suarez than the travelling fans.
Whilst the Queens Park Rangers faithful rather crassly compared the Liverpool striker to a rat, the visiting manager was effusive in his praise of the Uruguayan.
But Warnock – a character to divide opinion with the best of pantomime villains – made an astute point about Suarez and one which perhaps also summarises Liverpool’s conflicting season.
“He’s not a great finisher but you can’t have everything. If he scored every chance he’d be worth 50 or 60 million,” he offered.
“What you’ve got to hope with Suarez is hope he’s suspended when you play them.
“He’s got everything, in your squad he’s just amazing. He gives 110% every game, never lets the defender settle, he twists and turns.
“His finishing was not so good today but he still won the match.
“I don’t know how much they paid for him but I think it was worth every penny.
“Any team without him are a far poorer side and I thought he was head and shoulders above.”
Suarez and Liverpool were even further ahead of QPR in terms of quality on Saturday at Anfield than Warnock suggests but again frustration mixed with the cheer at the final whistle.
The weekend’s 1-0 win, thanks to Suarez’s early second half header, was only their third at Anfield this season as the powers of memorable goalkeeping and bouts of profligacy transpired against them once more.
Liverpool again dominated the game and should have won by a far more handsome margin - but that is nothing new this season.
Draws with both the Manchester clubs are not to be sniffed at, yet dropping points to Norwich City, Swansea and Sunderland were not to be expected.
Saturday’s richly deserved victory over the other of this season’s promoted teams came under those familiar circumstances with Suarez the embodiment of what continues to make Liverpool that archetypal work-in-progress.
The Uruguayan was electric, the game’s outstanding player but for all his qualities and match winning goal, he left the field amongst a group of players who knew the scoreline should really have reflected their stranglehold on proceedings.
In the week Kenny Dalglish reiterated his belief that Liverpool had done enough to win every game this campaign, apart from their trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
Monday night’s defeat Fulham fell into that list and following a testing evening for Suarez, he responded to the weekend’s taunts with the gesture of a goal.
Suarez’s header from Charlie Adam’s cross came after an opening 45 minutes during which Liverpool – winning 10 corners – had squandered and been thwarted in equal measure.
As part of a breathless start, Suarez was picked out by Stewart Downing’s centre but his header was directed straight at Radek Cerny before the Uruguayan wriggled along the by-line and saw his effort sneak inbetween the goalkeeper and post and then flashing across the goal face.
