Luis Suarez is Liverpool's Lionel Messi, says Brendan Rodgers

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Suarez technique incredible - Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers described Luis Suarez as his side's equivalent of Lionel Messi after the striker's display against Newcastle.

Suarez scored a delightful equaliser against the Magpies and was a constant threat during the 1-1 draw at Anfield.

"He plays the false nine role like Messi does for Barcelona where he moves freely and others have to get in behind him to penetrate," Rodgers told Sky.

"Suarez's goal was brilliant. He is a world-class striker."

Suarez was his side's main threat as he played in the hole between Newcastle's defence and midfield, with his movement and penetrating forward runs causing the visitors plenty of trouble.

Magpies centre-back Fabricio Coloccini was given a torrid time by the Reds striker and was red-carded for an 84th-minute challenge on Suarez, who has scored seven goals in his last nine league matches.

Rodgers told BBC Sport: "Seeing it again I think it was a [red card]. The intent, it was a naughty challenge.

"I don't think there was a great deal of contact there, if I am being honest, but the ball had gone.

"Once you see the replays, he deserves to go for that. People talk about diving but I have seen a lot worse going on in the game this season going unpunished.

"It was probably frustration from Fabricio Coloccini because Luis Suarez was unplayable. I thought he was outstanding."

Liverpool had gone behind to a Yohan Cabaye strike against the run of play before Suarez levelled for the Reds after the break.

"We are disappointed we couldn't get the win because it was the very least we deserved," added Rodgers.

"We had enough chances in the game to have won it but I have no complaints.

"Once we get a number of other players that can fit the profile and the model of our game, when we dominate games like that and finish the chances it will be great for us."

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906 comments

  • Comment posted by down_the_rabbit_hole, at 22:22 4 Nov 2012

    Brendan Rogers' quote within the article: "He plays the false nine role like Messi does at Barcelona."

    The BBC's headline for the article: "Luis Suarez is Liverpool's Lionel Messi, says Brendan Rodgers"

    How is saying he plays the same role the same as saying 'he is our Messi'? Shameful reporting BBC, shameful

  • Comment posted by Matt, at 21:53 4 Nov 2012

    Is this the BBC or the Daily Mail?, the amount of misquoted articles is ridiculous.

  • Comment posted by harel1tLFC, at 21:37 4 Nov 2012

    I question the people on here. He is not saying Suarez is as good as Messi, because this is obviously not true, no one is. He is saying that they play similar 'false 9' roles which is completely true. Hate Luis all you want, but to deny his talent is just stupid, right now he is the second top scorer in the league, and is making defences around the league look like school children.

  • Comment posted by U14755192, at 21:47 4 Nov 2012

    Ahahahahaha, wait no. I'm not like some of the others on here that read the article title and decided to comment straight away without reading the depth of what was actually there. All it says is that Suarez plays the same False 9 role that Messi does. Nowhere in there does he compare Suarez to Messi at all. Read the article before you make yourself look silly.

  • Comment posted by U15451804, at 21:31 4 Nov 2012

    Does that make Jonjo Shelvey Iniesta then?

  • Comment posted by Steeeeeeeeeeeve , at 22:15 4 Nov 2012

    He didnt say anything about him being our messi, he said he plays that false no.9 role lol

  • Comment posted by U14832827, at 22:20 4 Nov 2012

    What misquoted rubbish. The way that article was headlined, it makes every false-nine type player sound as good as Messi. Whilst Suarez is obviously nowhere near as good as Messi, his performances for Liverpool for the best part of two years have been consistently world-class. It's only a matter of time before he heads off to La Liga or Bundesliga.

  • Comment posted by U12034843, at 12:40 5 Nov 2012

    Does anyone else feel that the BBC are doing too many blogs and features on an average midtable premier league Team like Liverpool? You don't hear a blog every week on West Brom or Fulham do you. I want to enjoy my phone ins and blogs without the constant referals to past glories and delusions of grandeur. Please vary your blogs on other teams.

  • Comment posted by heighwaysmoustache, at 10:14 5 Nov 2012

    Poor journalism. Rodgers is being misrepresented because everybodywantstofollowLiverpool. Where on Sky Sports website, where he's supposed to have made the comment, does it say "Saurez is our Messi" ? Credit to Sky Sports for not running that headline.

  • Comment posted by paullakesknees, at 22:26 4 Nov 2012

    Nobody is putting Suarez on a par with Messi, it's s imple comparison based on their respective positions and their importance to the their team. In fact, you could argue that Suarez is more important to his team than Messi, given the number of great players at Barcelona and the serious lack of quality around Suarez.

  • Comment posted by U15490918, at 21:13 4 Nov 2012

    he said he plays the same position as him, he hardly compared their abilities

  • Comment posted by U15059924, at 23:16 4 Nov 2012

    Today the BBC sent me a questionnaire asking about what I like and dislike about the site. And this is a perfect example of a dislike. You completely made this up. Its absolute rubbish. Brendan Rogers should sue you for making him sound like a moron. Even more of a moron. This isn't news. Its bad fantasy fiction.

    I gave you a 3/10 for how much I trust this site. I must have been feeling generous.

  • Comment posted by U15321929, at 14:33 5 Nov 2012

    What does a Liverpool fan do after watching his team win the premier league?

    Turn off the playstation. HA, HA, HA

  • Comment posted by Hawk, at 19:33 5 Nov 2012

    must have missed the past where brendan rodgers actually compares suarez to messi??? terrible reporting!

  • Comment posted by shoesonblues, at 14:43 5 Nov 2012

    "I have seen a lot worse going on in the game this season going unpunished" - Rodgers.

    Such as Suarez's "tackle" on Mirallas, for which he was not even booked, and his "tackle" on Distin, for which he only got a yellow?

    Coloccini deserved to go, but Suarez wouldn't have been on the pitch - he would have been serving a ban had he been (correctly) sent off in the Merseyside derby.

  • Comment posted by I am better than Messi at walking footy, at 12:41 5 Nov 2012

    If Suarez has any sense, he will be heading for Spain next season.

    Liverpool are a shockingly average team, and what will Rodgers have to say when Swansea finish higher above them this season!?

  • Comment posted by BeerTalk, at 10:17 5 Nov 2012

    This article speaks volumes about the standard of journalism at the BBC.
    They have deliberately misquoted and falsley represented what Rogers actually said.
    How many other made up stories are we being force fed by this corrupt media organisation?

  • Comment posted by U15491014, at 23:38 4 Nov 2012

    Owen should just get on with playing his game, if he has any left.

  • Comment posted by None Of The Above, at 13:46 5 Nov 2012

    Welcome to the latest edition of The Liverpool FC Weekly Echo (formerly known as the BBC football website). In this week's issue:

    Where does Rahem Sterling buy his socks?
    Martin Kelly - the truth about his pet hamster
    Lucas Leiva's thoughts on 17th century Italian furniture

    Seriouslty...is all this LFC coverage on here some BBC wag's wind-up of Everton FC fan McNulty?

  • Comment posted by U15293856, at 12:51 5 Nov 2012

    To those who still think Rodgers was comparing Suarez to Messi directly, you are stupid. Sort it out.

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