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It took around a quarter of an hour for Luis Suarez to truly announce himself as a Liverpool player.

Signed on a Monday, the Uruguayan was scoring by the Wednesday. Sixteen minutes into his debut, Suarez was wheeling away in front of the Kop, leaving defenders and goalkeeper floundering in his wake.

It was to become a familiar sight over the next three-and-a-half years. Suarez hit the ground running at Anfield following his January move, his relationship with supporters established immediately, and remaining strong through all the ups and downs which followed.

Now, at Barcelona, he is searching for the approval which came so naturally to him on Merseyside. It is not coming as easily as he might have thought.

Luis Suarez's time at Liverpool FC in pictures

Nou dawn - or false dawn?

Of course it would be wrong, not to mention horribly premature, to suggest that his dream move is not working out, that the grass is not necessarily greener in Catalonia.

Snap judgements may be the done thing, these days, but Suarez is the kind of player who can make you look very stupid, very quickly. Especially when he’s got Lionel Messi, Neymar and co backing him up.

It is easy to point to the fact that Suarez’s goalscoring ratio has dipped. He has five goals in his first 18 appearances. In his first 18 games last season, he managed 22.

It’s an unfair comparison, of course. Suarez was not adjusting to a new life at a new club last season, and was unquestionably the focal point of his team. Liverpool’s play was geared towards getting the best out of their talisman.

Suarez and the stats...

A more apt comparison, perhaps, would be his first 18 games after joining the Reds in 2011. He managed seven goals in that time, albeit in a markedly lesser side.

There is no doubt, watching Suarez play for Barcelona, that he is still adapting, still learning. Barca’s is a precise, patient way of playing; pass, pass, pass then a quick change of pace and bam! Suarez is, at times, its polar opposite, looking to force the issue every time with his instinctive touches, ambitious flicks and risky passes. He is not always in tune.

He still influences games, mind. He assisted a goal for Neymar four minutes into his debut against Real Madrid, and he netted a crucial goal in the recent league win over Atletico Madrid. Last week, he laid on a valuable equaliser for Neymar as Atleti were seen off in the Copa del Rey, and he set up Messi’s winner against Villarreal on Sunday, despite missing a clutch of openings himself.

His intensity and sheer will to win will be valuable additions to a squad which has been accused of letting its levels drop over the past couple of seasons.

Luis and you - pictures taken of Suarez out and about in Liverpool

“What does Suarez add? A lot,” said coach Luis Enrique this weekend. “It’s crucial to have someone to push back the centre backs. The goals will come.”

Still, Barcelona have won 14 of Suarez’s 18 games so far, progressing to the last four of the Copa del Rey, the last 16 of the Champions League and remaining on Real Madrid’s coat-tails in the league.

“He’ll end up with good numbers,” Enrique added. “He just needs to strengthen the things he’s doing well.”

A giant step - even for the greats

It is not easy to take Camp Nou by storm.

Even fine players have found it hard – Zlatan Ibrahimovic lasted just a season, Thierry Henry never truly recreated his Arsenal form despite some great moments, while Neymar failed to hit double figures in the league during his debut campaign.

None of those players arrived at the club serving a four-month ban from “all football activity” either.

In the meantime, it has taken six months for Liverpool to show signs that they might, just might, be able to cope without Suarez. His departure left a void, which was widened by Daniel Sturridge’s injury issues and the club’s inability to add another forward of sufficient quality during the summer.

At least now they look back to something like the side they did with him in it. Quick, dangerous, hungry.

Make no mistake, though, they’d give anything to have him back.

If Barcelona fans don’t appreciate him, Liverpool fans will.