Luis Suarez scored 82 goals at Liverpool Football Club. Rush The Kop ranks his top 21.
I watched all of Luis Suarez’ 82 goals for Liverpool in researching this list. I told myself I wasn’t going to cry.
What a player Liverpool had. It hurts a little on the inside whenever I see him scoring goals for Barcelona but I feel in some way it’s a win for Liverpool. Being a Liverpool fan, you’ve got to take the anterior wins when you can get ’em.
The striker turned world class on the fields at Anfield Road. His evolution was incredible and we got to watch every step of the way.
At first, as will be elongated in the first goal that kicks off this list, he was an inconsistent player. He had moments. A world class player was somewhere underneath it all if he could just unlock it. That sentence rings true for many players who never do find the key.
But, slowly, Suarez figured it out. He became more consistent and more mature. His 2013/14 PFA Player of the Year winning season was the culmination of it all. He became more of a leader than a polarizing striker.
I love a lot of things about Luis Suarez. For a Liverpool fan, it’s easy to create a pile. But I found a new one. In watching all of his goals successively, every time he’s assisted, within five seconds he’s either ran to the man who set him up or pointing and smiling. I love that. He was quick to share the spotlight, show his gratitude to his companion.
Luis Suarez scored 82 goals for Liverpool Football Club. Here are his top 21.
Dear Jon Ruddy and those related to him… I’m sorry. You might want to look away.
Next: 21
21. Season: 2010/11 Opponent: Stoke City Total Suarez Goal Number: #1
Luis Suarez entered that match for Liverpool a highly anticipated substitute. Liverpool had just bought the Ajax star and were eager to see what £22 million was worth.
It was his debut.
This should’ve been an omen to Liverpool fans. This describes the beginning of the mercurial striker’s time at Merseyside: silk dribbling, unconvincing finishing. He rounds the keeper as if he’s just a garbage bin, then weakly pushes a shot towards goal giving the defender a chance to break his heart.
Watching at the time, because I was all about stats and superstitions that a striker needs an early goal to get his career off the mark at a new club, I was scared to death the statisticians would take his debut goal away and render it an own goal. Thankfully, and rightfully, it stood as Suarez’ goal. His first at Liverpool.
No one could’ve expected 81 more would follow in just a few short years, as well as two biting incidents as well as a racial controversy.
Next: 20.
20. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Tottenham Total Suarez Goal Number: #67
The Uruguayan’s finish, the pure finish of where he struck it and how he struck it, was rather elementary.
Leading up to that point? Class.
It began with an attempted through ball to Jordan Henderson that failed, a terrific interception it must be said, but Suarez was relentless. Henderson recognized his teammate moving when everyone else stopped, gave him a layoff he may have been accustomed to in South America.
Nah, on second thought it was much too English.
As he’s running through on goal he leaves Kyle Walker to slide away and have a think about life with a deceitful hesitation then left Hugo Lloris stranded in the center of the goal with his, as previously described, elementary finish from about ten yards out.
A goal that blended innovation, skill, movement and work rate. The fusing of these skills that don’t typically come together is what lifts him to world class status.
Next: 19.
19. Season: 2010/11 Opponent: Sunderland Total Suarez Goal Number: #2
This goal has slipped through the net and largely gone unnoticed. This was his second goal for Liverpool and, like the first against Stoke City, it forecasted the future.
Notice how it starts: a throw in. A harmless, innocent throw in towards the corner. How many times do these just lose possession?
Not when Luis Suarez is on the team. He lays it back to the thrower, moves silently to receive the ball back, holds off his defender and non-suspiciously (as far as the goalkeeper and central defenders were concerned) dribbles down the end line then (selfishly) unleashes a vicious shot that beats the keeper at an impossible angle with the element of surprise.
Fun game: if you were the keeper, would you have rather saved that with your face or had it gone in as it did?
Next: 18.
18. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Cardiff City Total Suarez Goal Number: #78
This is semi-cheating. It’s more about Daniel Sturridge than it is Suarez.
But this team in 2013/14 ticked with Suarez and his movement got him in that position to finish off Studge’s bold flick. The only problem with this goal is it gave Sturridge the irrational confidence that Suarez would always be there on the other end, that he tried this ploy another handful of times after this goal in successive games to no avail.
Suarez picked up on the potential, saw what might happen before it happened. As they were most of that season, it was almost telepathic. He hardly peered over his shoulder to find Suarez in his periphery moving in the general direction of the center of the box, and ruthlessly found him.
Earlier in the match, Suarez finished off a move with a tap in that included something like 26 passes in the buildup. This match against Cardiff City was a masterpiece at times.
Though it finished 6-3. A bit sloppy. Suarez had a hat trick. That was 2013/14 compressed into one match.
Next: 17.
17. Season: 2012-13 Opponent: QPR Total Suarez Goal Number: #36
A moment of silence for Richard Dunne, please. Have some decorum.
The poor QPR defender was overmatched and received inadequate support. How many times out of 100 would, with space and a little momentum, would Suarez dribble Dunne and beat him? Like, 97?
Suarez dropped into the midfield to receive the ball and Dunne’s first mistake was being in no man’s land: he pretty much followed him, but gave him more than enough time to trap, turn, and start moving. It was all over at that moment.
Incredibly, like a player who has a mismatch in basketball, calls an iso and spreads the floor, all of a sudden it was just Suarez v Dunne in a 15 yard square area. Suarez opens his body, lulls Dunne to sleep (not so hard at his advanced age) and rolled him back across, spun him around and finished.
Luckily for Dunne, he wasn’t megged. Yay?
Next: 16.
16. Season: 2012/13 Opponent: Stoke City Total Suarez Goal Number: #15
Running from deep, Suarez puts the ball forward and combines about 25 yards out and combines finesse and power to smack one into the bottom corner.
This goal shows the Uruguayan’s prowess from anywhere within 30 yards. He must be closed down anywhere in the final third and is liable to score and create from any distance. Furthermore, if closed down much too tightly, he’ll spin of a defender or combine with a teammate.
Suarez displayed signs of world class. This is why Liverpool fans who watched him week in, week out weren’t surprised by his ascension in 2013/14. A goal such as this is what led to those assumptions.
In 2012/13, this goal would happen then he’d shoot from 25 yards out and be incredible wayward. Or attempt one dribble too many. The foundation was always there, the nuances manifested themselves through his years at Liverpool.
Next: 15.
15. Season: 2012/13 Opponent: Zenit Total Suarez Goal Number: #46
The first free kick on a Suarez top goals list wasn’t even his first goal in this match against Zenit. The first one ripped through a jumping, turning wall. As for this, there was no one to blame. Just pure class.
The likes of Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger accompanied Suarez over that dead ball, but it was the other two acting as decoys.
Another goal coalescing power and finesse, it’s thumped up and over the wall then whips in.
The keeper wasn’t left stranded, though maybe he should have. He had a long way to shuffle across the goal to try and meet this effort but couldn’t get to it. An admirable attempt.
Suarez’ passion is beautiful after it goes in. Liverpool were down to Zenit in the knockout rounds of the Europa League and Suarez was the inspiration force leading the reds back. The comeback failed, but at this moment Suarez celebrated just as everyone home watching were.
That sums him up and another reason why he was so amazing for Liverpool fans, his passion.
Next: 14.
14. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Crystal Palace Total Suarez Goal Number: #54
THIS GUY FELL AND STILL PUT THE PALL PAST THE KEEPER TOWARDS THE CORNER.
I remember watching this live, just manically laughing, in total disbelief. Gravity couldn’t even deter him from scoring goals.
The keeper reacted late, likely because with three defenders ahead of Suarez combined with his falling, he couldn’t have possibly expected a shot to come through.
Another staple of Suarez’ game, absolutely nothing was out of the question. Nothing.
All of the Crystal Palace player act as perfect summations of this goal, look at their reactions. A few just lay on the floor and realize he’s borderline unstoppable. The rest go for the more standard hands on hips, grim facial expression and defeated look towards the sky.
Next: 13.
13. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Cardiff City Total Suarez Goal Number: #69
Beautiful, clinical finish from the top of the box. A full volley mid stride, he put it in the corner as if he was alone on the training ground and the ball was stopped on the grass ahead of him.
Clinical is the operative word here. This looks so easy to him.
Suarez started the move and never stopped moving. The ball went wide to Jordan Henderson who only had eyes for Suarez who drifted into open space. Henderson found the striker and it was all over when the ball was in the air.
What I never understood is how a player in such form ever gets space as such? For Cardiff City, who’s more dangerous? Hint: it’s always Suarez.
It’s more than quite possible he would score anyway, even if a player is hawking him at all times. But, for the defenders, he certainly should have been priority number one. Always.
In that situation, if a player made certain to follow Suarez off the pass, and there were ample defenders around, where Henderson receives the ball with the lack of other options around him, it’s likely the attack ends.
Freeze the video when Suarez is striking the ball. There are nine defenders in frame plus the keeper. Surely, that just cannot happen.
Such is why Cardiff got relegated.
Next: 12.
12. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Cardiff City Total Suarez Goal Number: #70
Oh, hey, Cardiff City.
If your math and memory are sharp, you’ll notice the last goal was #69 and this was #70. So Cardiff didn’t learn from losing Suarez in situations that seem innocent earlier in the game, and it happened again.
Again, there are nine defenders plus the keeper in the frame. But Suarez creates something out of nothing, a thwarted meg attempt, combines with Henderson, then it’s all over.
Suarez uses the players ahead of him as a screen and whips a shot that starts outside the post and curls just inside the side netting. What a finish.
Mesmerizing. Completely mesmerizing. Well, not to Suarez. When his balance returned to him he was preparing his celebration. The ball was still in the air, the keeper had just begun to dive but he knew it right off his foot that it was destined for the bottom corner.
FIFA aficionados would call that a stupid glitch, an overpowered finesse shot. That’s what he was like: a kid playing a video game on the easiest difficulty.
Next: 11.
11. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Norwich City Total Suarez Goal Number: #64
The first (of many) entries against Norwich City. He scored four goals this game. Just one of them failed to make it on this list.
Poor John Ruddy, in all seriousness.
Suarez had already scored his hat trick and Gerrard stepped away from the free kick to give it to his mate. 30 yards out, Suarez smashes a free kick into the top corner.
The shot bulged the net so hard that it recoiled out towards the six yard box and an angry defender smashed it back into the net. What else could he do?
Related to what else could he do: Ruddy. He just rolled over after his futile attempt to save.
Unfortunately for Norwich, it gets worse on this list. As well as two goals from earlier in this very match.
Next: 10.
10. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: West Brom Total Suarez Goal Number: #56
SUAREZ SCORED A HEADER FROM 18 YARDS OUT ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!?
Ally Cissokho played that ball in– hopeful at best. I can’t believe that counts as an assist. Suarez deserves the goal and the assist.
A fitting way to stride into the top ten with a goal that not many would have even shot. Not many should have shot, either. The smart play there would’ve been attempted control with the chest as he’s running forward and play for a shot then or questionable tackle for the penalty.
This is what confidence is. This is why it’s so precious, a player bereft of confidence simply doesn’t try this. The absolute temerity needed to attempt this is off the charts.
West Brom’s keeper wasn’t flat footed, he wasn’t out of position. It was just a powerful header just under the crossbar, incredible.
Another game in which multiple goals make this list, the one he scores before this one was even better.
Next: 9.
9. Season: 2012/13 Opponent: Manchester City Total Suarez Goal Number: #22
Another free kick, Suarez opted not to try to go over the wall, he just went around it. The Uruguayan conditioned the rock to whip around in the wall and inside the post, as well as not curling too far towards Joe Hart.
Where the foul was and the ball placed, a lot of teams would loft this into the box. If a team was to go for it, a left footed attempt would be statistically best. This way, a curling effort is travelling away from the keeper rather than at him. It’s easier to tuck it inside the post and into the side netting for a left footed player than a right footed.
Alright, fine, IF a righty is to take this and shoot, power rather than a curling effort makes most sense.
But probability and common sense means nothing when a player like Suarez is on the books.
Look at where Hart is standing before the kick is taken: the middle of the goal. He wasn’t standing a few steps off the wall. He didn’t have all that far to travel, that’s how great the effort was. Hart reacts well. This cannot be down to the keeper. All Suarez.
Next: 8.
8. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Everton Total Suarez Goal Number: #60
Suarez’ only goal against the team opposite Stanley Park that makes this list, it’s another free kick. This goal is next after his free kick against City as it’s very similar.
Steven Pienaar creeps about four yards in and Suarez still beats him as well as the encroaching wall. Suarez knew this was goal-bound simultaneous with his foot striking the ball. He was heading off towards the corner before Tim Howard reacted to the shot.
This is the enigmatic striker’s second greatest moment against Everton for me.
First? Well, Liverpool were playing the David Moyes era Toffees. Moyes was in the media chatting on about Suarez’ affinity for the dark arts, namely how easily he’d go down or fall without contact at all. So Suarez scored, an average goal which is why its not on this list, and must’ve read those comments about him. He sprints over in front of the dugouts, jumps in the air, goes limp and falls in front of Moyes, a “dive.”
That was so beautiful.
Next: 7.
7. Season: 2012/13 Opponent: Norwich City Total Suarez Goal Number: #26
This goal is a microcosm of Suarez. He senses a defender is in danger, creeps towards picking off a back pass to the keeper. That ball didn’t go to the keeper, it went to an adjacent defender. Undeterred, Suarez hounds the defender and picks his pocket.
Suarez’ work rate and hunger to retrieve the rock when out of possession is abnormally high for a player with his quality, it’s a great trait to have for a world class player. But, Fabio Borini can do that, other forwards can work hard.
Liverpool’s striker then goes straight into attack mode and is painfully unforgiving to the defender who was desperately trying to reconcile his mistake. Suarez shamelessly rolls the balls through his legs, whips a shot with the outside of his foot into the bottom corner.
“Ruddy had no chance.”-something said after most of Suarez’ goals against Norwich.
This goal was in 2012/13, another sign his star was budding just under world class. He showed flashes, typically against Norwich apparently, but this goal would turn into the norm just a season later.
Next: 6.
6. Season: 2012/13 Opponent: Newcastle Total Suarez Goal Number: #31
We have a Jose Enrique sighting! What a ball this is!
What a touch this is! Suarez brings a 50 yard pass down mid-stride over his head with his chest/shoulder, doesn’t lose a step and that ball is tamed right on his foot. Furthermore, he had the presence of mind to roll the ball past Tim Krul rather than rush a shot. This man could trap a ball with any part of his body if requested. It’s mental.
I enjoy the first angle. Newcastle piss the ball away, Suarez recognizes the Enrique can get his head up, subtly points in front of him and takes off. Synergy!
The second angle quells mysteries that the first angle left unsolved. Such as: did he really bring that down that perfectly?! He must have caught it, no?!
Then it’s watched. No, he didn’t illegally bring it down!
Words are tough to conjure for Suarez. Some of these goals– nothing can be said.
And we’re only at #6. Let’s push on.
Next: 5.
5. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: West Brom Total Suarez Goal Number: #55
The Europa League qualifying fifth placed Suarez goal. We’re on our way to the top of the table.
This is the Champions League of goal lists no less. A top five effort cannot be scoffed at.
Suarez had a hat trick this game and Sturridge added the fourth. This goal is the football version of pulling the defender’s pants down and pushing him over. The Uruguayan steps hard with his left foot, leaves the ball tied to his right boot and drags it through the defender’s legs then smashes his shot into the bottom corner.
His first goal on the day, Suarez was playing as a man possessed. The good will from this strike aided him in scoring the header that was shown earlier on this list, you know, the one FROM THE 18 YARD BOX. For arguments bubbling why his first goal on the day lands at number five when the header is still being talked about, well, this goal shamed his defender and sprung his hat trick.
Also, I just love a nutmeg. Another reason Suarez is so endeared by me.
I have no shame in watching others’ shame. Imagine if I was thrown into an arena with 50k people watching as Suarez picks up the ball to dribble me 1v1? Oh man. I’d just lay down. He’d still find a way to ruin me anyway.
Next: 4.
4. Season: 2011/12 Opponent: Norwich City Total Suarez Goal Number: #21
Suarez picks his head up, has a sly little look to gauge where Ruddy was standing, put it down for another dribble and unleashed. What a goal.
The worst part about this goal is Stuart Downing the first to join in Suarez’ celebration and reminding Liverpool fans that he existed. Reminding me how excited I was for him to be on board to “get the best out of Andy Carroll.” I was so naive, so innocent.
Ruddy’s positioning was like opening milk a week past its expiration date: highly questionable. He gains nothing from standing 18 yards off his line so early, other than humiliation.
Suarez punished Ruddy, one of many times. Maybe Ruddy wronged Suarez in a past life, we can never know for sure. If you’re counting at home, this is the third entry on this list against the Canaries.
Next: 3.
3. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Norwich City Total Suarez Goal Number: #63
Onto the medal podium, this is the bronze medal winner.
Part of his four goal effort against Norwich, Suarez tormented the defense and Ruddy. He receives a bad pass from Raheem Sterling, but because he’s Luis Suarez, he springs a bad pass into a ludicrous goal.
The ball bounces up on his as he had to jump and chest it down to which he continued to bounce it, enabling him to lift it over the covering midfielder. Then he allows it to bounce again, teeing himself up for a half volley that volleys into the side netting.
Ruddy’s reaction says it all. He, as usual with Suarez, futilely dives in attempt to keep the ball out of his net, fails, throws his hands up and lays limp on the ground for a few seconds. Suarez is unbelievable and Ruddy recognized that in the moments it was happening.
Speaking of reactions, Suarez’ too yields a lot of information. He could hardly believe it! In all the worldie’s Suarez scored, he was always happy and grinning ear to ear, but this celebration he threw his hands to his head and was manically laughing.
We all were too.
Next: 2.
2. Season: 2011/12 Opponent: Stoke City Total Suarez Goal Number: #10
This goal Suarez scored gets lost in translation as it was early in his Liverpool tenure and more quality goals were dumped on top of it but it’s absolute class.
Another nutmeg accentuating its beauty like tasteful makeup. If he double-scissored his defender and cut it right, that would’ve been cool too. But the nutmeg brings it to another level. The defender falls in his attempts to deter Suarez from retrieving the ball and imploring help defense to come bail him out. That help never came.
Suarez rips a curling effort into the side netting. Indefensible.
The player loved scoring goals in bunches and this League Cup match against Stoke City was no different, he found the back of the net after this belter later in the game.
1. Season: 2013/14 Opponent: Norwich City Total Suarez Goal Number: #61
20 goals later, here we are. Number one. Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.
Not this list, of course, but Suarez’ time at Liverpool. What a player Liverpool were lucky to employ for as long as they did. He almost vaulted them to the most improbable and exciting league title in recent Premier League history. Thanks to Liverpool’s free flowing attacking, most neutrals found themselves pulling for his team.
The number one strike on this ranking is the purest hit of them all. Suarez decides along the way as he passes midfield, and Ruddy stuck closer to his line this time, “screw it, I’m just going to smash this one.” Smash it he did. It dipped and swerved over Ruddy and bulged the net.
Over the course of these goals Suarez proved the complete striker, he could score any way possible. He had headed efforts. He went for pure power on a few. He dribbled in others to create for himself. He combined with teammates in others. He finessed shots, he finessed free kicks. He smashed free kicks. He picked the ball up from deep or poached. He defended hard and pressed and won the ball: he had so many different ways in finding the back of the net.
Next: Liverpool’s 32 Best Signings Under Brendan Rodgers
Luis Suarez is a world class player, simple as. One of the purest footballing abilities to ever grace the famous Liverpool kit.