Liverpool Rumors: Can Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres Co-Exist?

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Sure, he's talented. But can Luis Suarez work with Fernando Torres?

The rumors swirling around Liverpool FC for some time now have finally been confirmed, as multiple media outlets are reporting the club has agreed to a £ 22.8 million deal to receive striker Luis Suarez from Dutch club Ajax

There had been rumblings that a deal like this one was in the works, and now that it's done, the question becomes, can the Uruguayan goal-scorer coexist with Anfield's biggest star, Fernando Torres

On the surface, the answer appears to be no. Torres and Suarez are very similar players with similar playing styles. Both are superb finishers from anywhere inside the offensive-third and are dangerous from just about anywhere. 

Suarez and Torres are two of the world's best forwards in the air, and both are capable of pulling off the spectacular. 

Oftentimes, there simply isn't room at a club for two players of such stature, and, given the transfer rumors that have seemed to be constantly swirling around Torres over the last two seasons, it is possible the Spaniard could be on his way out the door. 

Even if he stays, it remains to be seen how he will handle a second star occasionally stealing his spotlight. After all, this will mark the first time since Fernando arrived in Anfield that the striker has had a second pure goal-scorer to contend with.

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Can Torres keep his strong form with a new striker in the spotlight?

Given Torres' tendency to disappear without the ball, there is a very real possibility he could fade into the background with a second striker on the pitch. 

Under new manager Kenny Dalglish, Torres has just begun to recapture the spark that made him one of the most electric forwards in all of football. The move to add Suarez could prove to mess up the chemistry Torres has with the club and could hurt the team as a whole down the stretch. 

However, there is also the very distinct chance this could work out beautifully for the Reds. After all, while their base styles are similar, Torres and Suarez differ in that the Uruguayan striker prefers to make his attack from the outside, making him a perfect complement to Fernando's game. 

Additionally, while Torres hasn't had another goal-scorer at Anfield during his tenure (and no, the Michael Owen experiment does not count), his recent resurgence came when Dalglish moved Raul Meireles up into an attacking midfield position, using him in place of the injured Steven Gerrard, who scores a fair chunk of goals himself.

Once Gerrard returns to form, Liverpool can run the stellar Englishman with Meireles in the center of the midfield, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez on the outside and Torres and Suarez finishing the job up front. 

That sounds like plenty of offense for a team trapped near the middle of the pack offensively, who have scored just 11 goals in 12 matches away from Anfield this season. 

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Suarez and Torres could combine to form quite the dynamic duo up front; doesn't that sound tempting?

Suarez frees up Torres from the chokehold many defenses have held him in this season, forcing them to account for a second offensive force in the box on most possessions. That, in turn, frees up space for Gerrard, Meireles, Kuyt and Rodriguez to run rampant. 

As for the chemistry that seems to have been found at Anfield, consider that Suarez balances the cool, collected persona Torres embodies with passion and energy. Biting incident aside, he plays with a drive that could help Torres in regaining his mojo. 

In the end, this feels like the kind of move Liverpool needed to help them attempt to rally in the second half of the season. Suarez is a talented player, who meshes well with the Reds' superstars quite well and provides them with someone who can score goals if Torres isn't playing well. 

Suarez and Torres are similar in many ways, but different enough that the Uruguayan makes an excellent complement to the streaky Spaniard. 

There is no guarantee Fernando will stay with Liverpool (after all, Chelsea just made a £ 35 million bid for his services and was rejected), but even if he does leave, Suarez provides them with a strong backup plan. 

Should Torres decide to stick around, there is little to suggest he and Suarez can't coexist, meaning their strike-team should have The Kop rocking once again. 

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