Luis Suarez- Hitman or Wing-man?

There has been much debate about where the little Uruguayan should be deployed, up front or down the wings. Suarez has played on the wings before, in fact, he started his career down the right flank, he impressed at FC Groningen from this position, notching up 10 goals in 29 games, impressive, to say the least for a winger. At Ajax, he scored 17 goals in 33 games in his debut season, again from the right flank, in the process setting up numerous goals and forming a deadly partnership with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, whom might I add has drawn many similarities to Liverpool’s new striker, Fabio Borini for their pace and deadly finishing.

In his final two seasons at Ajax, Luis was moved up front for his knack of finding the net and he finished the 2008/09 and 2009/10 Eridevisie seasons with 22 goals in 31 games and 35 goals in 33 games respectively. In both seasons picking up the Ajax player of the year award and in the 09/10 season the Dutch footballer of the year award. In January 2011, he was brought to Liverpool to replace Fernando Torres up front. He has since scored 15 league goals in 44 games, not the best tally for a striker.

Last season he hit the post many, many times. If you look at the times he’s hit the post, most of them have come from 1 v 1 situations with the goalkeeper, an example being against Aston Villa where he won the ball back from Richard Dunne and was one-on-one Shay Given and about 7-8 yards out but he smashed it against the crossbar. Don’t get me wrong, Suarez is an amazing striker and finisher, 111 goals in 159 games at Ajax speaks for itself, I just feel that some times, Luis tries to make his goals a bit too extravagant, like against Bolton where he could have easily gone round Jaaskelainen but he chose to lob the ball over him and over the goal, away to Norwich this happened again, where he was on a hat-trick and one on one with Ruddy but he decided to attempt a cheeky chip, which was horribly mistimed and the chance was gone. The ideal striker would calmly roll the ball into the back of the net if presented with a clear cut chance.

Suarez to me is ideal for the flanks. He has scored numerous goals and created many, many chances for the wings. In quite a few games his ability out wide impressed me. Such as against United at Anfield two seasons ago, at home to Everton and Chelsea last season and most with his performance at Carrow Road where he bagged that sublime hat-trick. In these games, he showed how good he is from the right, forcing his way horizontally across the box and setting up teammates or pressuring opponents into mistakes (own-goals etc.). Many people are saying that Suarez lacks the pace that a winger normally possesses- I think his quick feet, trickery and vision more than makes up for it. He is also capable from the left as he displayed against Bolton where he played in that exquisite cross with the outside of his boot.

I think we’ll see a lot of our number 7 down either flank next season, Rodgers signed the clinical Fabio Borini for a reason, and in my opinion that reason is for him to take over the striker’s position and for Suarez to be shifted to the wing. But that’s just me. Where do you guys think he should play? Comment below.