5 Reasons Why Liverpool No Longer over-Rely on Luis Suarez

From being completely in awe and reliant upon Luis Suarez's world-class footballing abilities in December, Liverpool have shaken off the "one-man team" tag.

The Reds are now producing quality from all over the pitch and, more importantly, winning games through different methods and players.

The Uruguayan swept in his 18th and 19th goals of the Premier League season against Cardiff City before Christmas, but has since only scored four more.

That's not to say Suarez has slammed on the breaks or dipped in form, though—he is now making a bigger all-round contribution to a flourishing team.

Neither have Liverpool's goals dried up. Quite the opposite—they've scored 13 goals in their last four games, and it could have been more with 55 chances created in that time too, according to Squawka. 

The source of winning has started to come from more places than just the 27-year-old No. 7—something that will please Brendan Rodgers and shows the progress of his team as a unit.

Pinpointed for you here are five reasons why Liverpool no longer carry that over-reliance on Suarez. 

Daniel Sturridge's Goals

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Key to getting crucial goals when Liverpool need them of late has been Daniel Sturridge, who came back from a mid-season spell on the sidelines to pick up where he left off—scoring goals for fun.

His superb movement to read through-balls, latch onto them and finish expertly was no better illustrated than his goal to equalise for the first time in the night against Fulham on Wednesday.

Later, he troubled the Fulham defence to force a clumsy challenge from Sascha Riether and win Liverpool a priceless last-minute penalty, which Steven Gerrard converted.

By far the most in-form and prolific English striker there is right now, Sturridge has notched up 16 goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season and has created 18 chances, according to Squawka.

Furthermore, he boasts an average pass accuracy record of 79 percent and is able to use his strength and power to hold the ball up—essentially defending from the front.

Steven Gerrard's New Role

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Gerrard is looking very good and very comfortable in his new role as Liverpool's holding midfielder.

The 33-year-old appears a more relaxed figure with less of the attacking responsibilities that lit up his career previously.

Sitting in front of the back-four, Gerrard is often deep enough to sink into a third central defender role for the Reds, which allows more comfort at the back, and Jordan Henderson to push up between midfield and attack.

The captain also continues to play a vital role in leading the team—no better shown with the brave way he took and scored Liverpool's late winner from the penalty spot at Fulham on Wednesday.

Philippe Coutinho's New Role

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Philippe Coutinho wasn't having the best of times mid-season, looking a pale comparison to the Brazilian wonder-kid that sparkled in the second half of Liverpool's 2012/13 campaign.

When he was slotted back into a role in the hole between midfield and attack, it was like someone had flicked a switch: Coutinho's football was back on.

From that role behind the front three of Suarez, Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, Coutinho can do what he does best, and that is sitting on the ball looking to create opportunities.

Furthermore, the 21-year-old can take the ball forward and advance Liverpool's relentless attack into more threatening positions.

On Squawka's performance score index, Coutinho has scored 96 over his last four games, compared to 16 in the previous four, in his old position.

Raheem Sterling

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Sterling has quickly gone from a player who looked like he would benefit from a loan spell in January to arguably Liverpool's most important attacker right now.

His dazzling and pacey runs on the right side are really putting Liverpool's attacking movements in top gear.

Sterling showed against Arsenal last Saturday that he can play down the left too, having a mesmerising game that left Arsenal's defenders wincing at the thought of facing him again in the FA Cup this Sunday.

Being played down the left meant that full-back Aly Cissokho was provided with more cover from Sterling's presence, with Jon Flanagan allowed the freedom to bomb up the right wing.

Now Sterling has added goals to his game, with five league goals this campaign, and is looking like a must-pick for Roy Hodgson's England team at the World Cup this summer.

Team Mentality

Jon Super/Associated Press

But while Liverpool did start to look like a "one-man team" during Suarez's rush of goals in early December, their ability to score and win games without relying on him is nothing new.

At the start of the season, Liverpool won three, drew one and lost one, scoring five goals in the five league games Suarez missed to complete his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013.

Prior to that, Liverpool finished the 2012/13 season with 10 goals in their last four games, winning three and drawing one—all without Suarez.

Rodgers has infused a happy and successful attitude among his players, which means that collectively they are working together, in unison, for the same cause.

It is a very similar philosophy to those set out by Bill Shankly at Anfield back in the 1950s and 1960s.

Now that Liverpool have found their game all over the pitch, and have players who can win them games from several positions, the system works better as a team.

With Suarez in the side, as well as the other players who are on-song for the Reds, the sky is the limit for Rodgers' men.