Reasons for optimism

With Luis Suarez likely to leave, Daniel Storey believes there are reasons for optimism at Anfield.

It seems increasingly likely that Luis Suarez's time at Anfield is drawing to a close. The Uruguayan may be on international duty at the Confederations Cup, but the striker still took time out to further push forward his case for a move to Real Madrid. "A player always aspires to be at the top of their profession and Madrid is at the top for any football player. I will give my soul every time I step on the pitch. I have done this with Uruguay, Ajax and Liverpool. I do not hold anything when I finish a game." Such talk is adventurous from Suarez given Real's continued silence on the issue. The Spanish club currently seem more intent on unsettling Tottenham's Gareth Bale than adding to their collection of strikers, but it does appear that a deal is likely to be completed. Skybet offer 4/11 that he leaves Liverpool by the end of August, with the same odds that Real Madrid is his next destination. However, perhaps the most interesting part of Suarez's latest charade is that the tide of judgment appears to have turned on Merseyside. After standing by their player through thick and somewhat thinner, Liverpool supporters are justified in their feeling that their star player has used the club's trust and support for personal gain, engineering a deal that the Uruguayan is only too happy to play out in the media eye. Part of this feeling is that of resignation. Football has evolved (or devolved, depending on your opinion) to such an extent that once a player of Suarez's magnitude has made the decision to leave, there is very little point in fighting such an opinion. In real terms, it does not matter whether or not supporters or club feels that Suarez has misplaced or misused their loyalty in a divisive character - there is little point crying over milk that will inevitably be spilt. However, there is another reason for optimism on Merseyside. The assumption is that Liverpool should expect to command a fee in the region of £35-£40million for their star striker, which will then be handed to Brendan Rodgers to improve his squad. Such a figure will go far on a side that improved impressively during the last campaign. After 19 Premier League games Liverpool were 14 points off the top two, a gap that increased by just three points over the second half of the season. Whilst there is no doubt of Suarez's positive effect (a total of 23 league goals speaks for itself), Liverpool were too reliant on their star striker during the first part of the season. By mid-November, taking out his goals and assists would have left the club second bottom of the Premier League with five points, but to Rodgers' credit he sought to address that in January. Whilst Fabio Borini failed to hit the ground running after his summer transfer, the form of Daniel Sturridge (10 league goals in 15 games) and Philippe Coutinho (seven assists and three goals) lifted Liverpool spirits inordinately. With Borini, Sturridge and Coutinho joined by Iago Aspas, an early summer signing from Celta Vigo, it appears likely that Rodgers will aim to create a fluid attacking trio operating behind a principle attacker, with Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan also a potential capture from Shakhtar Donetsk to bolster the aforementioned names. Another reason for Liverpool positivity is that such a set-up still leaves room for the purchase of another striker. Andy Carroll appears certain to join West Ham in the near