Luis Suarez may have left Liverpool more than ten years ago, but one former Red still looks back at the Uruguayan’s brilliance and dedication at Anfield
Former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has admitted he had never seen a first-team player train with the reserves the day after a match until Luis Suarez turned up every Sunday morning. Over the course of four years, Suarez entrenched himself as one of the best forwards club’s history.
Whether it was unforgettable goals, amazing assists or the occasional game when he seemingly dragged Brendan Rodgers’ side to victory on his own, Liverpool fans and players will never forget him.
But it’s not just his brilliance on matchdays which has stuck with Kelly. The now-retired defender will never forget seeing the South American regularly show up for training on a Sunday, even when he was not expected to be there.
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In an interview with the Athletic, Kelly said: “He did something I’d never seen before. He would play 90 minutes on a Saturday and then train on a Sunday with us lads who hadn’t featured.
“He didn’t want to just do recovery. I did a few sessions with him. We would do one v one, first to eight goals in a penalty box with a goalkeeper.
“It was intense. The way I was brought up was: ‘Don’t take a step back.’ At one point, we squared up to each other and he was laughing at me.
“He was saying: ‘Kelly, you’re crazy.’ I said: ‘Just stop kicking me. Why are you kicking me?’ He was always so game — that will to win.”
Suarez’s tenaciousness, even in Sunday training sessions, which were mainly made up of unused substitutes and reserve players, demonstrated his immense will to win every game and drill he took part in. It also highlighted his character and leadership traits as a player, which came so close to inspiring the Reds to the 2013/14 Premier League title.
In his final season, which saw Liverpool finish just two points behind eventual winners Manchester City, after losing at home to Chelsea and drawing 3-3 with Crystal Palace in their final three matches, Suarez contributed 33 goals and 13 assists in 33 Premier League appearances.
His time at Liverpool ended with him crying into Steven Gerrard’s arms at Selhurst Park, after they handed the initiative to City. Suarez moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for £75million.
In his debut campaign, he hammered 26 goals and 25 assists in 46 appearances as the Catalans won the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa Del Rey. He went on to win three more La Ligas with Barcelona, before scooping up another league title with Atletico Madrid in 2020/21.
He is still scoring goals alongside Lionel Messi for David Beckham’s franchise Inter Miami. Suarez notched nine goals and 10 assists in his first season for the Florida side.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
