Four years after leaving Anfield on a free transfer, Suso lit up the Milan derby with two sublime finishes. Are you watching Brendan?
It’s human nature to want what you can’t have. The feeling is only exacerbated if you had it and lost it. And, despite witnessing an almost-weekly exhibition of buccaneering attacking brilliance under Jurgen Klopp this season, the sight of Suso netting two varying yet equally sublime goals on one of the European games most vaunted stages is guaranteed to encourage the odd chorus of ‘what ifs’.
Joining the Liverpool academy at the age of 17, it didn’t take long for the typically silky Spaniard to make his mark on Brendan Rodgers. Alongside Raheem Sterling, Suso appeared the pallbearer of Liverpool’s next generation, the two young wideman lit up an otherwise disappointing home defeat to Manchester United by displaying flair and efficiency in abundance.
However, three years later, both had departed. While Sterling joined City for a British record deal, Suso slipped out the back door on a free after falling dramatically out of favour under the erratic Rodgers. How much he’d be worth now is anyone’s guess.
Whipping a gorgeous strike into the bottom corner on the stroke of half time before dancing past former Atletico stalwart Miranda to slot home a second, Suso ensured Milan remained content and comfortable in the Champions League places in Serie A after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Inter.
And, despite the thrilling performances of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana of late, Liverpool fans are entitled to wonder just what might have been had they given another chance to one of the most naturally gifted players to emerge out of Anfield in recent seasons.
After all, in the two Premier League games Lallana has not started this season, Liverpool are yet to find the back of the net. Suso, a well-balanced, technical player of the England skillster’s ilk, could have slotted effortlessly into the trequartista role at St Mary’s and provided The Reds with that extra dash of incision and creativity requited to prise open a solid, deep-lying defence.
Liverpool fans may have relished the sight of Paul Pogba ambling ineffectually at Anfield a month ago; ‘the one that got away’ failing to live up to the romanticised expectations.
But, with more displays like Sunday nights, the decision to let Suso leave for nothing appears increasingly costly.
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