Luis Suárez 'Chomping At The Bit' To Make Liverpool Return
Suárez 'Chomping At The Bit' To Make Liverpool Return
The Huffington Post UK
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Luis Suarez of Liverpool gestures during the match between the Melbourne Victory and Liverpool at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 24, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suárez is "chomping at the bit" to make his first team return five months after he bit Branislav Ivanović.
The Uruguay international is available for Wednesday's League Cup tie at Manchester United after serving a 10-match ban for gnawing on Ivanović's arm.
"It has been a really difficult time for him not playing games," said Rodgers, who confirmed a decision would be made in the next 24 hours whether the 26-year-old would start at Old Trafford.
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Suárez watches on as Liverpool lose to Southampton
"How he has prepared himself over the last number of weeks has been fantastic. He's really chomping at the bit to help the team.
"Everyone knows the depth of his quality and his attitude.
"Once he gets back on the field again he will show what he has shown since he's been here."
Luis Suárez Controversies
(01 of18)
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Suárez stops the ball with the hands during the extra-time of Uruguay's 2010 World Cup quarter-final match with Ghana... (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of18)
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He is shown a red card after his handball by referee Olegario Benquerenca, but Asamoah Gyan misses the spot-kick... (credit:PA)
(03 of18)
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And Uruguay go on to win on penalties as Suárez is demonised by the Ghanians (credit:Getty Images)
Dutch Eredivisie - Bite incident Luis Suarez(04 of18)
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Suárez was not sent off for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal's shoulder while Ajax captain in November 2011... (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of18)
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But he did receive a seven-match ban (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of18)
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An early glimpse of Suárez's nature came in March 2011 when, after a Rafael da Silva tackle on Lucas Leiva, he slyly tugged the Brazilian's hair in a bid to wind him up (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of18)
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Suárez feigns agony as Jack Rodwell is erroneously sent off by Martin Atkinson in the October 2011 Merseyside derby. Liverpool win the game 2-0 and Suárez scores. (credit:PA)
(08 of18)
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Later in October, a foul by Suárez on Patrice Evra sparks off his most infamous misdemeanour... (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of18)
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When he racially abuses Evra, calling him a "negro" eight times... (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of18)
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Suárez is fined £40,000 and banned for eight matches (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of18)
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Suárez is suspended for one game for making an offensive gesture to Fulham fans in December 2011.
(12 of18)
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On his first start since his ban for racially abusing Evra, Suárez refuses to shake his hand in February 2012 (credit:PA)
(13 of18)
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Suárez executes a pathetic dive in a 0-0 draw against Stoke in October 2012. He later admits to cheating (credit:AP)
(14 of18)
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Bemusing irony as Suárez opts for a diving celebration in front of Everton manager David Moyes, who accused the Uruguayan of simulation after the Stoke tumble (credit:PA)
(15 of18)
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Suárez is fortunate not to be red-carded after he rakes his studs down Sylvain Distin's heel in the same game. Everton fans enjoy poetic justice when he scores a late header which is wrongly disallowed for offside (credit:PA)
(16 of18)
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Suárez controls the ball with his hand at Mansfield Town to score Liverpool's winner in the third-round of the FA Cup, January 2013 (credit:AP)
(17 of18)
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Chewy Suárez: A shocked Branislav Ivanović reels from being bitten by the controversial striker (credit:Getty Images)
(18 of18)
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Giorgio Chiellini shows off the bite mark from where Suárez bit him. (credit:Getty Images)
During those five months Suárez attempted to engineer a transfer to Arsenal and invited Real Madrid to bid for him when he held an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca to his house.