Brendan Rodgers was in Melbourne when news arrived of the most insulting pound thrown at Liverpool by Arsenal since Jamie Carragher was struck by a coin at Highbury in 2002.
Preparing for a pre-season friendly before 95,000 fans at the MCG, the Liverpool manager was shown confirmation of Arsenal's latest offer for Luis Suarez by the managing director Ian Ayre: £40,000,001. "We looked at it and laughed," recalls Rodgers.
Liverpool can afford to smile now. Third in the table, two points behind the league leaders and with their manager predicting a sustained challenge for Champions League qualification for the first time since 2009-10, Liverpool's hardline stance on Suarez is gaining merit by the week.
Last weekend the Uruguay international scored a hat-trick, taking his tally to six goals in four games, as Rodgers' team turned in their finest overall display of the campaign so far against West Bromwich Albion.
The credit
Today Liverpool can underline those Champions League credentials, and suggest perhaps even more, at Arsenal's expense at the Emirates Stadium.
That cheeky pound can take some of the credit if they do. A brief moment of brevity in Australia apart, Liverpool were deeply offended by the bid that Arsenal believed would trigger a £40 million-plus release clause in Suarez’s contract.
Almost four months on it still seems extraordinary that a club of Arsenal’s stature, a player of Suarez’s ambition and an agent of Pere Guardiola’s experience could misinterpret such a key clause. As Liverpool’s principal owner John W Henry tweeted at the time: “What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?”
Henry and Rodgers had resolved not to strengthen a Premier League team's top four prospects at Liverpool's expense by selling Suarez, though Arsenal continued dialogue in the two weeks between their initial £35 million offer and the £40,000,001 nail in that transfer coffin.
Bitter recrimination followed, not only between the two clubs but Suarez and Liverpool, with the striker accusing his manager of breaking a promise over his future and being ordered to train away from the first-team squad until his attitude improved.
It is clear, despite Rodgers' insistence on Thursday that the episode will not add spice to today's fixture, that some resentment lingers.
Great integrity
"I think Arsenal were ill-advised on that bid, to say the least," said Rodgers. Arsenal as a football club always had great integrity historically and so, when that bid came through, I can only say it was one of the worst pieces of information they ever received, from whoever it was.
“It was never going to succeed but of course you do have to chance your arm. At the time we certainly saw the bid as derogatory. The two clubs have historically had class, it has been the hallmark of both clubs, but whether it was £40 million and one pound or £40 million and one pence our fight was always to keep him here because he is a top player.”
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits the bid was "not the most subtle thing we have done but it was not meant to be provocative at all".
He added: “It could be interpreted like that but it was not our purpose. It was one of the transfers that did not work and, in every club, you have two or three but there is no need afterwards to speak about it.”
Derogatory it might have been for a player of Suarez’s quality, albeit a player whose baggage ensured Arsenal were the only club to make an official offer to Liverpool this summer, but the Premier League has been enriched by the bid.
Liverpool kept one world-class star and Arsenal signed a £42.5 million alternative in Mesut Ozil, reversing the talent drain to Spain and ending the moaning over Suarez among their fanbase.
Both clubs have moved on swiftly, the competition at the Premier League summit has increased and in Liverpool’s case it is Suarez who merits a large share of credit.
Liverpool's progress this season commenced before the 26-year-old returned from suspension but, where others would have responded to the club's stance with disruption, Suarez has offered unquestionable commitment and class alongside Daniel Sturridge.
Liverpool are a stronger club and team for, like Carragher 11 years ago, throwing the pound back in Arsenal’s direction. Rodgers said: “As a manager the job is obviously about managing individuals but you have got to protect the club. I’m sure the senior players, indeed all the players, are looking to the manager in a situation like that to see what happens. It cannot fester and be allowed to become a cancer . . .
"As we said, no one was going to be bigger than the club and we had the opportunity to show that we are a big club.
Huge credit
"But you have to give Luis huge credit as well . . . He eventually accepted the situation, got back to his work, rejoined his team-mates and has been outstanding in his work ethic and desire since then."
While Rodgers can proclaim Suarez and Sturridge as the best strike partnership in the league, Wenger remains heavily reliant on one striker, Olivier Giroud, to sustain Arsenal's challenge until the transfer window reopens in January.
The Liverpool manager could not resist one final dig. “It may become difficult if you lose that one striker. I’d think Arsene Wenger will look to get a striker in [in January] and will be hoping and praying that he doesn’t get any injuries. And he’s obviously got . . . Nicklas Bendtner.”
Guardian Service
