For those Fantasy managers who captained Luis Suarez last weekend, there was a bitter irony to the Uruguayan’s brace at the Britannia last night…
Liverpool’s game with Norwich saw Suarez manage double figure goal attempts but a defiant display by John Ruddy in the visitors’ goal, combined with some wayward finishing, left him goalless
Having netted the second, and decisive, goal of the Carling Cup win, Suarez was removed by Kenny Dalglish with four minutes left on the clock. Reports suggest he left the field limping – this was confirmed by Dalglish in the post-match press conference…
“He got kicked right at the end of the first half. He turned Jonathan Woodgate. He made contact with him but he tried to stay on his feet to take the chance. That’s where he hurt his leg. That just emphasises what we say about the wee man. He had the opportunity to stay on his feet and did.”
While at present there’s no reason to suggest Suarez will miss out on this weekend’s trip to West Brom, Fantasy managers are clearly having second thoughts about him right now, regardless of a possible injury doubt. So far this week, he’s been transferred out by over 35,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, the most of any forward in the game, though he’s still the second most-owned forward, second only to Wayne Rooney.
With a match at home to Swansea in gameweek 11, there is some merit in retaining Suarez, particularly given the poor form of Brendan Rodgers’ side on the road. The following two gameweeks see Liverpool face Chelsea and Man City, however, and many will perhaps be planning an exit strategy at this point.
Last night’s “knock” could well be similar to the situation involving Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen – a muscular problem amounting to nothing more than cramp. Certainly Suarez appeared to be in good spirits as Liverpool saw out the final minutes of last night’s tie, but Fantasy managers will be waiting on more news from Anfield in the next 24-hours before making decisions ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
