Suarez's 10-match suspension: Suarez did it, Liverpool had to bear it

Luis Suarez admitted he and his wife, Sofia, cried a lot during the time travelling back and forth between Manchester and Liverpool to defend him in the Evra racism case.

He was devastated when he was found guilty and handed an eight-match ban. We can only imagine the grief in the Suarez household after he was handed a 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic. But Liverpool were certainly more bitter.

It's all Suarez's fault.

Suarez was advised to undergo anger management counselling following Sunday's incident, and renowned psychologist Steve Peters will be at Melwood once a week to help him. He also met chief executive Ian Ayre on Monday to discuss his fine, and lawyer Natalie Wignall on Tuesday to submit a written request to the disciplinary panel that imposed his punishment. Suarez argued that a standard three-match ban would be sufficient to show remorse, but the panel rejected his request and imposed a hefty 10-match ban.

Now, all that remains is for him and his agent Pere Guardiola to meet manager Brendan Rodgers for a talk that could shape the club’s future. Liverpool’s stance on Suarez has not changed since the Evra affair, nor has it changed since the Ivanovic affair: he is not for sale. He himself has never indicated any intention of leaving, despite the controversy of last season, the change of manager at Anfield and the offers from Juventus.

Rodgers called Suarez’s punishment “a sacrifice”. That comment reflects the mood in the Liverpool dressing room. Was Suarez’s punishment justified? Certainly, given the shocking nature of the incident, despite Liverpool’s strong objections, and the FA will have to reconsider its approach to the punishment. There is only one person to blame for this, Suarez.

Should Suarez be sold?

Suarez has scored 30 goals this season, 34% of Liverpool’s total. But in the past two seasons alone, he has been suspended for a total of 20 games. He will be out of action for the next 21 weeks (unless he wins his appeal), but will still receive £2m in wages during that time.

Suarez’s suspension will severely impact Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions next season. But he could have avoided that by leaving. When he was banned for seven games for biting PSV’s Otman Bakkal, Suarez left Ajax just two months later.

If Suarez is sold, Liverpool can invest wisely in new faces to strengthen the squad. But first, they need to know whether their main striker wants to stay or go. Liverpool's transfer strategy, as well as the start of the upcoming crucial season, will depend on his answer.

What future awaits Liverpool?

Brendan Rodgers has a plan to take Liverpool to the top of the table in August, if he can secure quality signings and the team plays to his philosophy. This season, the only remaining target is to finish above city rivals Everton. But if he starts next season without Suarez for six games, that plan will face a mountain to climb.

When Suarez was handed an eight-match ban for the Evra affair, Liverpool were playing well: winning four, drawing two and losing two. Three of those games were in the cups, helping them reach the finals of the League Cup and FA Cup. In Suarez's absence, Craig Bellamy inspired Liverpool to beat Man City in the League Cup semi-finals, Dirk Kuyt to beat United and Andy Carroll to shine in the FA Cup win over Everton.

All three scored in the 3-0 win over Wolves, Suarez’s final game before his return. But they all left Anfield afterwards, with Liverpool betting big on the Uruguayan. They thought they had won that gamble, until the Chelsea game.

According to Thethaovanhoa - DT