Luis Suarez: Stats Guide to Liverpool Striker and Rumored Real Madrid Target

Luis Suarez was one of Liverpool’s most productive players during his most recent English Premier League campaign. 

In fact, in terms of goals and creativity, Suarez was one of the most statistically notable players in the entire English Premier League. 

The Uruguayan made 33 league appearances, scored 23 goals, dished out five assists and received 10 yellow cards.  No other player received more than 10 yellow cards, and only three others matched that figure: Matthew Lowton (Aston Villa), Craig Gardner (Sunderland) and Bradley Johnson (Norwich).

His 23 league goals ranked him second behind only Manchester United’s Robin van Persie (26) in most goals scored in the English Premier League.  Only one other player notched more than 20 total goals: Gareth Bale, who netted 21 for Tottenham.   

It is no wonder the mercurial Suarez was able to score so frequently for the Reds: He led the English Premier League in shots per match with an impressive 5.7. 

Next closest was Demba Ba (Newcastle United and Chelsea), who recorded five shots per match over the course of his 20 league appearances.  No other player recorded more than five total shots per match, as the third-highest total came from Van Persie, who unloaded 3.7 shots per match. 

Despite his gaudy shots figure, Suarez was wasteful when compared to the other abundant shooters in the Premier League.  In fact, of the top five players in the aforementioned category, Suarez was the second-least accurate with his attempts. 

Apart from scoring the second-highest English Premier League total, receiving the most yellow cards and taking the most shots per match of any player in the English Premier League, Suarez was also among the league’s best in terms of key passes. 

Only two other Premier League players completed more key passes per match than Suarez: Manchester City’s David Silva (3.3) and Everton’s Leighton Baines (3.1).  Chelsea’s Juan Mata was tied with Suarez, as each completed 2.7 key passes per match. 

It does not stop there in terms of Suarez being one of the top statistically creative footballers in the English Premier League this past season, as he also made the most successful dribbles per match.  The aggressive striker completed 2.9 dribbles per match, ahead of QPR’s Adel Taarabt (2.7) and Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla (2.3).   

The general passing numbers are far more pedestrian for Suarez, whose 76.6-percent passing accuracy and 36.5 passes per match are not near the top of the English Premier League rankings. 

Not much to report in terms of defending for Suarez, who is clearly in Liverpool’s lineup for offensive purposes.

Should Real Madrid nab Luis Suarez, the numbers suggest they are getting a multi-faceted striker, a player who can not only find the back of the net himself but can break defenders down off the dribble and create chances for those around him. 

If Ronaldo stays in Madrid and is joined by Suarez, the rest of Spain—nay, every top club in the world—will be on notice.  For that would be a very dangerous tandem. 

All stats provided by Whoscored? and Squawka.