Suarez shines again but Liverpool crash out again... so should he stay at his Anfield of dreams or join Pep's revolution at Bayern?
Another game, another chance for Luis Suarez to show he is a cut above the rest at Liverpool.
Against Zenit St Petersburg the Uruguayan scored twice and almost single-handedly dragged his team back from European embarrassment to incredible triumph.
But even his colossal efforts were not quite enough.
Game on: Luis Suarez proved his class once again by scoring twice against Zenit St Petersburg
Contrast: Suarez holds his head in his hands after Liverpool went out of the Eurpopa League on away goals
In vain: Vyacheslav Malafeev tries to reach Suarez's free-kick at Anfield last night
Suarez has been dazzling for Liverpool all season, scoring or assisting 25 of the club’s 49 Premier League goals, but at the end of the game last night he looked truly devastated.
Knees bent, face in hands – the image of him at full time contrasted sharply with his arm-waving, chest-thumping devilment after his second successful free-kick, when it seemed the great escape – having been 3-0 down on aggregate – was actually on.
The Europa League may be the Continent’s second-rate competition but it is still silverware Suarez wanted to win and at the final whistle he could be forgiven for contemplating his lot.
The stand out player in a team that flatters to deceive, the one world class talent operating at the top of his game – head, shoulders, and a large part of his torso above the rest.
Where does Suarez go from here?
In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail at the end of January, the former Ajax striker firmly stated he would stay at Anfield even if Liverpool failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
He revealed: 'I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don't qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay.'
Nine points behind a resurgent Tottenham in fourth, having played a game more, that hope to dine at Europe’s top table once more is surely long gone.
Really? Would Suarez snub a move to join Arjen Robben at Bayern to stick with Jordan Henderson (right)
Ruthless: Suarez could join Bayern maestro Toni Kroos rather than playing alongside Stewart Downing (right)
SUAREZ SHOW'S HIS DARK SIDE
P.S. We all know Suarez is no saint. And he showed his ugly side too last night, stamping on the back of Zenit defender Tomas Hubocan as the ball ran loose. No card of any colour came. Would anyone at Liverpool consider accepting a bid to get rid of a player who causes such controversy.
Would crashing out of the Europa League last night have shaken his stance? If one was needed, it at least provides a wake-up call that challenging the likes of Real Madrid, as rivals Manchester United are doing, rather than the likes of Zenit St Petersburg, remains a long, long way off.
Bayern Munich presented a football masterclass at the Emirates on Tuesday night and, were he watching, Suarez is likely to have done so enviously. He is human after all.
Top target: Pep Guardiola has his eyes on Suarez as his first signing at Bayern Munich
Not-so magnificent seventh: Liverpool are nine points off the top four
Pep Guardiola, who takes up the reins in Bavaria this summer, has already made Suarez his top target. A £40million bid could well materialise.
How much resolve would it take for a man of 26 – at the peak of his powers – to turn down the opportunity to play in a side that not only oozes talent in every position but has the genuine chance to become Europe’s best?
While he may harbour deep affection for Liverpool Football Club and its fans, he is unlikely to think, ‘Bastian Schweinsteiger? Arjen Robben? Toni Kroos? No, I’d rather play alongside Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Fabio Borini.’
That is not to dismiss the standard of those players, it’s just they do not compare to the level Suarez is at. They are top-half Premier League, he is top 10 in the world.
What is probably most worrying is that as he gets better and better – the brace last night made it 25 goals in 37 appearances this season – Liverpool slump lower and lower. Losses to Oldham and West Brom preceded the exit to Zenit.
Where once there was genuine hope for the future under Brendan Rodgers, such set backs illustrate the sheer scale of his task. Liverpool have regressed to the point where Suarez has to think long and hard about what he wants from his career in the game.
Wrapped up: The Uruguayan has made no secret of his love for Liverpool
Big ask: Brendan Rodgers (right) has a tough job in persuading Suarez to stay at Anfield
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