Biting a fellow professional did little for Luis Suarez’s player-of-the-year candidacy last year. Eleven months and one rehabilitation later, however, Brendan Rodgers believes there is no disputing the striker has been “a model of brilliance” for Liverpool this season.

The Uruguay striker equalled Robbie Fowler’s club record of 28 goals in a Premier League season with a hat-trick against Cardiff City on Saturday. He has eight games remaining to break the league record of 34 goals held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer – both over 42-game campaigns, with Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers respectively – despite missing the first five league matches of the season through suspension.

That punishment stemmed from a bite on the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last April, an act that resulted in Suarez’s second lengthy suspension in English football and ended his chances of beating Gareth Bale to the player-of-the-year award.

The Uruguayan was not in contention for the honour in 2011-12, the season of his ban for using racially abusive language towards Patrice Evra.

But having avoided major controversy, improved his already outstanding form and worked on his public image this season, the 27-year-old Suarez has few rivals outside Anfield, according to his manager.

Unfortunate incident
Rodgers, whose team can move to within a point of the Premier League leaders, Chelsea, with victory over Sunderland tonight, said: "I wouldn't have thought there are any reasons against him this year. I think he was well on the way to winning it last season when he had that unfortunate incident towards the end, which may have curtailed that, but this year he has been a model of brilliance.

“On the pitch his quality has never been questioned and if anything he has improved on that level this year. But I think it’s been nice for people to see the other side of him. People don’t see he’s really quite a humble guy off the field who becomes a gladiator when he crosses the white line. A few people have seen the other side of him this year. In this country I think we like to see good people doing well so certainly for him it would be a wonderful step forward in his life and his career, if he gets it.”

Aside from Eden Hazard at Chelsea, the Liverpool manager believes Suarez's only challengers for the annual award come from the same dressing room thanks to the club's unexpected pursuit of a first league title in 24 years. Rodgers is taking nothing for granted.

Outstanding players
"Listen, nothing surprises me in this country. There are some outstanding players in this league so you never know because nothing surprises you.

“They tell me the young player of the year goes up to 23, which I find remarkable. You’re 23 years of age and getting the young player award?

“I’m not sure how the voting works but if it’s down to the majority of football people and supporters, I’m sure they’d vote for someone like Luis. In terms of ability he is right up there.

“Hazard has been great and of our own boys Steven Gerrard has been brilliant, and Jordan Henderson. And Raheem Sterling, a young player of 19, in terms of the impact he’s had.

“Look at the goals Daniel Sturridge has scored too but Luis consistently, from when he came back into the team, has been remarkable. He’s up for every game. He’s a real strong pillar of our team. He’s really dominant and that’s why I had no hesitancy at the time making him skipper against Tottenham. He’s a player of dominance on the field and off it he’s very supportive and encouraging of his team-mates.”

Suarez has scored 58 goals in 73 appearances for Liverpool since Rodgers became manager in June 2012 and focused the team’s attacking style around the former Ajax captain.

“At first when I came in I thought we needed to get more goals into the team, not for any individual but for the team. I looked at it from the season before, saw the type of player he is and how he would suit the way I wanted to work. So we structured the team around his qualities and built around that.

“Obviously, as time goes on, you focus on the team, of which he’s a very important member. The ability and fluency really help him. We have the ball for long periods and that gives him more of it in dangerous areas.

"He's been brilliant for me on and off the field. Of course, he makes me earn my money at times but he is a good man and has been incredible for Liverpool in my time here."
Guardian Service