Big changes for Liverpool - how will they fare without Suárez?
Can Mario fill the boots left by Suárez at Anfield, or are they simply too big to fill?
It has been a summer of drastic change for Liverpool F.C.. After missing out on the Barclays Premier League title last season by two points to Manchester City, Northern Irish boss Brendan Rodgers decided that bulk is best, and has so far made no less than nine signings for the club, including the loan of young fullback Javi Manquillo from recently crowned Liga BBVA champions Atlético Madrid.
But not before selling the star of last season Luis Suárez, whose contribution to the team was crucial in their impressive season. The Uruguayan striker notched a fantastic 31 goals in the league - meaning there was bound to be interest from Europe's elite, and it was F.C. Barcelona who came knocking. Rumours flew around that the Spanish giants would offer Alexis Sánchez to Liverpool, as well as cash in exchange for Suárez, but the Chilean winger sealed a move to league rivals Arsenal, forcing Barcelona to up their bid. Liverpool and Barcelona eventually reached an agreement for a deal after another controversial incident from the flawed striker - a worldwide ban from all competitions for several months for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil - this was the third time the incident had occurred during the 27-year-old's career. Liverpool accepted a club record sale of £75 million from Barcelona.
Media speculation arose as to who would replace the world class striker, and Liverpool broke the news that they had agreed a deal to bring Queens Park Rangers forward Loïc Rémy to the club. However, it later transpired that the French striker had failed his medical due to heart problems. He later signed for Chelsea, leaving many wondering whether Rodgers was going to spend the money made from the sale of Suarez on a viable replacement. Having signed Rickie Lambert prior to Suarez's departure, Liverpool fans were not satisfied with having an ageing striker as a replacement to a player of Suarez's calibre and demanded action from Rodgers.
Heartbreak: Problems with Rémy's heart prevented Liverpool from signing the Frenchman but he later signed a deal with close rivals Chelsea.
Eventually a 'replacement' striker was found - it came as a complete shock to most people, not least Liverpool fans themselves, when eccentric Italian Mario Balotelli arrived at the club, taking his favoured number 45 shirt. Many questioned the decision, with doubts over the 24-year-old's work ethic, with others pleading that they give the former Manchester City striker - who put the final nail in England's coffin in Brazil - time to prove himself.
Whether he will do that or not, only time will tell, but some fans claimed that the replacement to Suarez had been there all along, in the shape of the Uruguayan's strike partner from last season - Daniel Sturridge.
Liverpool dished out over £100 million on players during the summer, with Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren, Divock Origi, Alberto Moreno and Balotelli.
The departure of a club legend left some fans with a lump in their throat as Daniel Agger left for his native Denmark to rejoin Brøndby IF. The Liverpool vice-captain left a void difficult to fill, both as a vice-captain and at the heart of the defence. It is hoped that Lovren will serve as Agger's replacement at the centre of the defence, but speculation as to who would succeed Agger as Steven Gerrard's second-in-command.
Liverpool confirmed that 24-year-old Jordan Henderson would replace Agger. The decision was met with praise by large sections of Liverpool supporters, with many feeling that the midfielder deserved to be rewarded for his performances for the club.
It will take time for the new signings to gel together, and Brendan Rodgers knows this as much as anyone. We are unlikely to see the entertaining style of football that Liverpool provided us with last season instantly, but given time, those performances could be back before long.
