Soccer: Prolific duo on target for greatness

Luis Suarez. Photo / Getty Images

After less than 18 months in tandem, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are headed for footballing immortality. They are currently — by a considerable distance — the best attacking partnership in the English Premier League and already compare favourably with the great duos of the past.

On statistics, they are third best in Premier League history in terms of a single season performance. Before this weekend's games, Suarez and Sturridge had scored 48 goals — more than the squads at Manchester United, Everton or Tottenham.

Only two other partnerships have bettered the Anfield 'SAS' — Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole, who struck 55 goals for Newcastle during the 1993/1994 season and Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, who recorded 49 goals for Blackburn Rovers in their title — winning 1994/1995 season.

Their true legacy will only be known in a few seasons, if trophies have been lifted along with solid runs in the Champions League, but already they must be seen as one of the best partnerships to grace the English game.

They have been prolific even without the benefit of penalties (Steven Gerrard is the regular taker and has scored eight of nine attempts this year).

They have also been providers. Suarez has made countless opportunities for Sturridge, shrugging off his reputation as a selfish player. The two have developed an almost telepathic understanding, illustrated vividly in the demolition of Arsenal at Anfield and the 5-1 win against Spurs at White Hart Lane.

It was also shown last week in the comprehensive win over Cardiff, when the England player's brilliant backheel was read by Suarez and he sprinted into the area to notch his second of that match.

They apparently aren't close off the field and there have been moments of frustration throughout the season.

"I'm demanding," Sturridge told British media last month. "Stevie's [Gerrard] demanding. Everyone's demanding. It's not just Luis that's demanding of the players. The manager's very demanding of the players. It's important that everyone's demanding if you want to be successful and everyone's pushing each other to get the best out of each other, and that's what we all try to do. I think we combine very well. He's someone who wants to win, and I want to win, we both enjoy to score goals, both like to assist each other."

The duo are also headed towards the Liverpool hall of fame, especially if they keep up their strike rate. There have been many great partnerships at Anfield, including Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish, John Aldridge and Beardsley, John Toshack and Kevin Keegan, plus Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore — and Sturridge and Suarez are heading towards that kind of level.