Luis Suarez “Remains Connected” to Liverpool

It’s been five seasons since Luis Suarez played for Liverpool, but the 31-year-old Barcelona striker says that, like any player who has spent a significant stretch of his career at Anfield, he remains connected to his former club.

“Anyone who has ever played for Liverpool remains connected to the club for a lifetime,” Suarez said, adding that he’s been impressed by his former side this season and has high expectations for what they can achieve.

As for what precisely his expectations are, Suarez isn’t saying, but it’s hard not to think he must be hoping that this time—unlike the painfully close title challenge of 2013-14—they will bring home their first title of the Premier League era.

“The team plays terrific football and I am very interested in how they will do this year,” added the striker, who has 15 goals in 19 La Liga games this season and shows no signs of slowing down. “I think we can still expect a lot.”

A big part of that is their manager. The fans know it, and so too does Suarez, who noted that “every player would like to train under Jürgen Klopp.” Inevitably, that already has a few tabloids saying he’s on his way back to Liverpool.

That seems unlikely—and quite the leap to make from a former player saying nice things about his old team and their current manager. It’s clear, though, that the Liverpool of 2018-19 is a long ways away from the one Suarez left.

They may have been involved in an unlikely, ultimately futile challenge in Saurez’ final year at the club, but this time they look one of Europe’s best sides from front to back. This time, expectation and not hope is the right response.