New Liverpool signing Luis Suarez pushes the boundaries

14 February 2011 01:03
Luis Suarez had just shuffled out of Anfield clutching a magnum ofman-of-the-match champagne when Roberto Martinez was asked for histhoughts on Liverpool's new darling. [LNB]While Suarez clearly has a swaggering talent, a number of incidentsfor his former club Ajax and his country Uruguay show he has no qualmsabout pushing the boundaries of fair play to the limit in his pursuitof victory. [LNB]Certain managers, then, would undoubtedly have taken umbrage withsome of the striker's antics in the frantic closing stages ofLiverpool's 1-1 home draw with Wigan but there were no complaints fromMartinez. [LNB] No complaints: Wigan's Roberto Martinez (right) has no problem with Suarez (left)[LNB]The visiting manager said: 'He came from a difficult league to play in a different culture and his type of football will change over the months. [LNB]'There is nothing wrong with players trying to buy free-kicks but take nothing away from the quality of his play. His movement behind the centre halves is very good. He is the type of player who will find the net regularly and he will be outstanding for Liverpool.' [LNB]Liverpool fans might be waiting impatiently for a first glimpse in a red shirt of Andy Carrol l but Suarez's performance on Saturday confirmed he will make as many headlines in the future as the ?35million man signed from Newcastle.[LNB] Possessing a tasty combination of speed and skill, Suarez should have become the first Liverpool player since Nigel Clough in 1993 to score on his first two appearances for the club. If Carroll's fee appears exorbitant, Suarez's ?22.8m could be a snip. [LNB]One glorious turn that was reminiscent of Robbie Fowler in his pomp ended with a shot that struck the post in the first half, while a free-kick that thudded against the bar after Suarez had tangled with Wigan defender Gary Caldwell deserved better. [LNB]Most encouraging of all for his boss Kenny Dalglish was the way Suarez was always trying to make things happen. [LNB]'Luis works really hard to help the team,' said Brazil midfielder Lucas. [LNB] Free falling: Gary Caldwell (right) brings down Suarez[LNB]'It was a shame that he couldn't score but he will, I'm sure of that. He is settling in well.' [LNB]For all the quality in Suarez's play, this was not the collective display Dalglish was anticipating on the back of the victory over Chelsea six days earlier and it was impossible not to make comparisons with a period earlier in the season.[LNB] Liverpool, after all, in late October and early November embarked on a four-game winning spree that culminated with a dismissal of Chelsea but was brought to a halt with a 1-1 draw against Wigan at the DW Stadium. [LNB]Booed off that night , Liverpool - who lost four of their next six league games - were given warm applause this time despite running out of ideas after Steve Gohouri cancelled out Raul Meireles's first-half volley at Anfield. [LNB]This setback may be the one that prevents Liverpool reaching the top four but the fact they have been mentioned in relation to the Champions League shows the astonishing transformation in the mood around Anfield. [LNB]'A lot of things still need to improve,' said Lucas, who made his 100th Premier League appearance. [LNB]'I don't think it would be clever on our part to talk about the top four. Two months ago, we were only three points above the relegation zone. But we are playing better.' [LNB]So much better, in fact, that Martinez was much happier with this point than the one he gained on home soil three months ago. [LNB]'The intensity they play with now is a lot higher and makes it very difficult,' he said.[LNB] Kenny Dalglish: Can Wilshere make his mark against the real giants of football?Liverpool 1 Wigan 1: Bogey continues as Gohouri puts skids on Reds' revivalAll the latest Liverpool FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Wigan FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Robbie Fowler, Nigel Clough, Gary Caldwell, Kenny Dalglish, Roberto Martinez Places: Newcastle, Liverpool, Brazil

Source: Daily_Mail