Carragher: Liverpool are facing impossible search for Suarez replacement

Posted Tuesday, July 15, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has told, the Reds will struggle to find a like-for-like replacement for Barcelona-bound Luis Suarez this summer.

The frontman ended a prolific, yet controversial, three-year stay on Merseyside after agreeing a big-money move to the Catalan giants, just weeks after receiving a four-month worldwide football ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

Suarez netted 31 Premier League goals last season to help the Merseyside outfit secure Champions League qualification and while the loss of such a talent will be a big blow to the side, manager Brendan Rodgers is confident Liverpool will come back stronger this term.

The Northern Irishman has wasted no time is bolstering his squad in time for their return to European competition, landing Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert as well as Bayer Leverkusen winger Emre Can, while they are also thought to be keen on deals for Benfica starlet Lazar Markovic and Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.

The club have already lost out on one top target with Chile star Alexis Sanchez opting for a £33million switch to Arsenal, and as Liverpool’s striker search goes on, Carragher admits a genuine replacement for the world-class Uruguayan is practically nonexistent.

"It will obviously be very difficult to replace Luis Suarez,” the former defender told Drivetime.

"Liverpool are spending the money in a different way by strengthening the squad in lots of different positions, but they’ve almost had to do that because you’re not going to get anyone better than Suarez.

"I’m sure Brendan will be looking to sign a top class forward now, but we’re talking about replacing one of the best players in world football.

"Maybe only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been above him over the last few years, so chances of finding someone better are very slim.

"But with Champions League football returning this season, Liverpool need a bigger squad and more quality and it seems like they’re addressing that at the moment."

He added: “It will be difficult to replicate last season, not just because of Suarez’s absence, but because of the additional pressure and fixtures that comes with European football.

"It’s something Liverpool didn’t have to contend with, so it’ll be totally different for the squad, a lot of the players haven’t played at that level before.

"It will be an interesting season, no one predicted that Liverpool would have such as good campaign last term, so if the side can reproduce that again this season, without Suarez as well as coping with Champions League football, it will be an even bigger achievement.”