[ad_1]
Jamie Carragher says Luis Suarez initially tried to deny that he had bitten Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea seven years ago, but that it could ultimately have cost the Reds the title the following season.
Suarez was banned for 10 games after the incident in April 2013, reflecting one similar to the one he played for Ajax.
The Uruguayan missed the last five games of the 2012/13 season and the first five of 2013/14, which ended with the Reds running to Manchester City near the title.
After three consecutive 1-0 victories in their first three league games of the season, the Reds tied 2-2 at Swansea and lost 1-0 at home to Southampton, dropping five points that would have been crucial in the race for the title at the end of the season
(Image: AFP / Getty Images)
And Carragher, who retired between the two seasons, says Suarez’s absence was crucial.
“When he entered the locker room, Luis denied it at first, probably hoping the cameras hadn’t caught him,” Carragher told Sky Sports when asked about his memories of the game on the seventh anniversary of the incident.
“I think he missed the first four or five games the following season when Liverpool almost won the title, Suarez was his best player.”
(Image: Action Images)
“There were two games in which Liverpool lost points, I think they lost to Southampton 1-0 and walked away in Swansea, so five points fell in the first four or five games and Luis Suarez did not play.”
“The way he was that season, there was a good chance that he could have turned one of those games.”
“That act and the ban he got probably affected Liverpool the most next season as there wasn’t much of a career in that season before.”
(Image: Action Images)
Carragher said the incident summed up Suarez’s character.
“He did it before at Ajax before he got there, there was a situation after which he pushed Liverpool to move on, he wanted to go to Barcelona anyway and something happened at the World Cup,” he added.
“He gets frustrated, I’ve played alongside him, you know he’s wrong, but you go out there and defend your player and try to stick together as a club and support him.”
“I think it affected him at the time.
“Having seen him against Liverpool last season, I’m not sure there is a player who wanted to win that much … we talked about crossing the line, he does it numerous times.”
“Facing a former club in Liverpool, he was not concerned that the Kop would beat him up or send off Andy Robertson or face the Liverpool players.”
“Although it bothered me to see him, I also admired him because that is what made him a fantastic player, he was a man who won at all costs.”
[ad_2]
