Luis Suarez was a hugely controversial figure during his time at Liverpool, although there is no doubt that he delivered for the club on a consistent basis.
While he provided a huge amount of headaches with his conduct on the pitch at times, they were willing to put up with it due to his performances during his spell at Anfield.
Suarez was an incredible player to watch, with his unique style unlike anything the Premier League had seen up to that point. Apparently, Steven Gerrard knew that the club had landed themselves a gem right from the Uruguayan's first training session.
Speaking on The Overlap with Gary Neville, the Aston Villa manager revealed that Luis Suarez was an absolute nightmare to come up against in training, in more ways than one.
Gerrard: He had everything. How long do you've got to describe him?
Neville: Would he be the best player you've played with at Liverpool?
Gerrard: Yeah definitely. I played with some top players, your Alonsos of this world, Mascherano, Torres. Suarez was just different. You felt no matter who you were playing, he was going to win you the game. That was every game no matter who it was.
Neville: Did it hit you straight away how good he was or did it take a bit of time?
Gerrard: Straight away, within the first or second session. It was almost like he trained the way he played. I remember walking off after one of the main session and me and Carra (Jamie Carragher) were like 'oh my god, this fella has got bundles'.
I remember Carra saying to me 'I don't want to play against him every day in training', he was that intense. He could embarrass you, he would even embarrass you with stuff that I don't even think he knew he was doing. He was a ricochet merchant, he would run over you, he would dominate you, bully you.
Of course, those controversial incidents did mar his time in English football.
Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic during a match against Chelsea, also being punished for racially abusing Patrice Evra in a fixture against Manchester United. There was also the time he attempted to force through a move to Arsenal after their infamous £40,000,001 bid in the summer of 2013.
Gerrard revealed that he did try to help his teammate through such issues, although there were times when he took a more hands-off approach.
Neville: What was his character like? Obviously there was that infamous bite incident that was a bit problem for him at the time. What was he like off the pitch?
Gerrard: Look, there were a few incidents that were tough as a friend of Luis.
Neville: Did you say something to him after that game or around that time?
Gerrard: I tried to be a friend to him and advise him, I was a bit older than him and had a bit more experience. When he had the situation with Brendan Rodgers (during the Arsenal saga), I tried to be a bit of a go between.
There are also other situations where you have to back away and let him and his people deal with it themselves. It's not that I didn't want to help him, but sometimes the situation was bigger than it was. The guy and character I know is different to the incidents that he has had, I'm sure he has matured a lot on the back of those experiences.
Luis Suarez has actually been linked with a move to Aston Villa this summer, and when you consider the admiration that Gerrard clearly still holds for him as a player, it would not be a surprise to see him make an approach in the weeks ahead as his contract at Atletico Madrid nears its end.
While he is no longer in his prime, it would be hugely intriguing to see the striker back in the Premier League next season.
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