Do Liverpool really need Suarez?

LUIS SUAREZ’S future at Liverpool has been thrown into doubt after he sank his TEETH into Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The Uruguayan is sweating over what action the FA will take to punish his shameless bite during yesterday’s 2-2 draw — with a lengthy ban the most likely outcome.

The striker has been fined by his club and some pundits have even suggested his days could be numbered at Anfield.

There’s no doubting his ability, as the 30 goals he scored this season underline.

But with this moment of madness the latest in a long line of controversial incidents that have blighted his Reds career, club chiefs may feel now is the time to cash in.

So the question is: How much do Liverpool need Suarez? SunSport have crunched the numbers to find out.

SUPER SUAR ... Suarez scores his 23rd Premier League goal of the season against Chelsea

It is undeniable Suarez has been one of the stand-out performers in the Premier League this season.

He has hit 30 goals in all competitions from just 44 matches — including 23 in the Prem, which ranks him as the league’s top scorer.

His all-round game is among the very best the English top flight has to offer. He can pick a pass, he can take on players — as a striker, he has it all.

Suarez for Liverpool	Appearances	Goals	Yellow cards
2012-13	44 (from 50 games)	30	11
2011-12	39 (from 51 games)	17	6
2010-11	13 (from 14 games)	4	2

And he’s consistent, which for many experts and commentators — including a few of our own — makes him the favourite to scoop the PFA Player of the Year gong.

But despite all the goals and the assists, Brendan Rodgers’ side have still had a mediocre season with Suarez a virtual ever-present.

In fact, Liverpool’s win percentage in all competitions WITH Suarez is just 37 per cent — that's just 16 wins in 43 games.

When their Uruguayan talisman has not played this year, the Reds have actually fared very well — winning five out of their six fixtures without Suarez.

With Suarez	W	D	L	Win percentage
2012-13	16	14	13	37
2011-12	17	10	12	44
2010-11	7	2	4	54
Overall	40	26	29	42

This win percentage of 83 would be more impressive if the opposition had been stronger — with the majority of those wins against minnows in the Europa League, although a 3-2 win at West Ham in the Prem is nothing to be sniffed at.

In 2012-13, Liverpool’s offered up a 44 win percentage WITH Suarez.

But when the Reds had to make do without the striker during his eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, their form actually IMPROVED.

Liverpool managed to win seven of their 12 matches without Suarez that season — including a victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup, League Cup wins against Chelsea and Manchester City and Premier League wins over Newcastle, Wolves and Blackburn.

Without Suarez	W	D	L	Win percentage
2012-13	5	0	1	83
2011-12	7	2	3	58
2010-11	1	0	0	100
Overall	13	2	4	68

The season before, Suarez joined the Reds in January and could only play in the Premier League games — missing just the impressive win away to Chelsea.

These stats may suggest Liverpool CAN cope without their talisman.

Many might think that if you took away Suarez’s goals this season, Liverpool’s average campaign would be a disastrous one. But the table below suggests otherwise.

Any team that loses 23 goals is going to suffer, but Liverpool would only be three places worse off in the table than their current seventh spot WITHOUT the Uruguayan’s tally.

Liverpool in Premier League 2012-13 without Suarez goals

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts	Difference
8	Swansea	33	10	12	11	2	42	0
9	West Ham	34	11	9	14	-7	42	0
10	Liverpool	34	11	7	16	-4	40	-11
11	Fulham	34	10	10	14	-7	40	0
12	Sunderland	34	10	9	15	-4	39	2

They would lose 11 points, but with Europa League qualification out of sight for the seventh-placed team this year, would it make much difference?

However, if you take away Suarez’s goals AND assists, then the Reds would be bang in trouble — as the table below shows.

The Reds would be just four points above Wigan, having played a game more, meaning the risk of relegation would be very real indeed.

Liverpool in Premier League 2012-13 without Suarez goals and assists

Position	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts	Difference
16	Liverpool	34	9	8	17	-9	35	-16
17	Aston Villa	33	8	10	15	-24	34	0
18	Wigan	33	8	7	18	-18	31	0
19	Reading	34	5	10	19	-27	25	1
20	QPR	34	4	12	18	-25	24	0

This could mean one of two things.

Either Suarez is such a great all-round player that Liverpool turn into a very poor side without him.

Or Liverpool rely so heavily on Suarez in how they are set up, that they struggle when he is not there.

But who is to say that should Liverpool sell Suarez, they could not reinvest the money and buy players that would make them a better, all-round team with multiple attacking threats?

The club’s win percentages without Suarez suggests that could be the case.

And it is no surprise that Liverpool’s form has picked up since signing Daniel Sturridge in January, giving the team more options in the final third.

CHEWY SUAREZ ... the latest incident surrounding Suarez is his bite on Branislav Ivanovic

Verdict

Ultimately, Suarez is a world-class player — up there with some of the best the Premier League has seen.

But he is NOT irreplaceable.

Liverpool may become a more complete side if they use the £40million or so they would get for him wisely.

And there would be no more nonsense that surrounds the controversial striker which is damaging the club’s image.

That could be the key in deciding whether Suarez stays or goes this summer.