Is Suarez a flat-track bully? He's scored 23 goals this season but NONE have been against title rivals... he has the chance to change this as Arsenal visit Anfield



The devastating form of maverick marksman Luis Suarez has, quite rightly, been celebrated this season.

Superlatives have been exhausted, thousands of words penned in praise and zeros attached to both his pay packet and market value.

But here is another zero for you – the number of times Suarez has scored against the Premier League's leading sides.

VIDEO: Scroll down to the bottom for Wenger saying he does not regret not signing Suarez

Flying: Liverpool's Luis Suarez is the Premier League's top scorer by some distance with 23 goals

In the air: Suarez shows off his silky skills at a training session for Liverpool ahead of the clash against Arsenal

All guns blazing: Luis Suarez celebrates his goal against Everton but is less prolific against the top four

Crowded out: Suarez (centre) had no such luck against table toppers Arsenal earlier in the season Screamer: Suarez loves playing against Norwich and this screamer was one of four against them at Anfield PUNISHING THE LITTLE GUY

The teams Luis Suarez has scored against this season... Sunderland (14th in the table) 2 Crystal Palace (17th) West Brom (16th) 3 Fulham (20th) 2 Everton (5th) 2 Norwich (15th) 4 West Ham (18th) 2 Tottenham (6th) 2 Cardiff (19th) 2 Hull (13th) Stoke (11th) 2 CAREER RECORD AGAINST TOP FOUR (Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal)

2013-14 – 23 goals, 0 against top four. (Four matches). 2012-13 – 30 goals, 4 against top four. (Eight matches). 2011-12 – 17 goals, 2 against top four. (Eight matches). 2010-11 – 4 goals, 0 against top four. (Three matches). Total: 74 goals for Liverpool, six against top four from 23 matches.

For of the 23 goals he has plundered this term, none have troubled Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal – last season's top four clubs. In fact, just four of his strikes have come against teams currently taking residence in the top half of the table. So is Suarez a flat-track bully? Even beyond this season, the evidence might suggest so. On 74 occasions the Uruguayan has kissed his wrist in celebration and accepted the acclaim from an adoring support. Just six of those goals, however, have come against the aforementioned top four, and that from 23 matches. In contrast, he has 11 against Norwich City alone. And, perhaps most galling from a Scouse perspective, just one against Manchester United, a late consolation at Old Trafford more than two years ago. This season, a sizzling Suarez had scored 10 times in four matches in early December before Liverpool entered a pair of crucial away games at Manchester City and Chelsea, the festive fixtures which would go a long way to determining their title credentials. The No 7 drew a blank on both occasions and Liverpool were beaten, losing ground as we entered the new year. He had done the same at Arsenal earlier in the season and at Manchester United in the League Cup - again Liverpool were losers in both.

Light hearted: Suarez enjoys a joke with his Liverpool team-mates in training ahead of the Arsenal fixture



Glorious return: Suarez made a triumphant Premier League comeback by scoring against Sunderland

Stoked: Suarez points the way after scoring in the 5-3 victory at the Britannia Stadium A bit of a stretch: The Liverpool striker could not find a way past Joe Hart and Manchester City

On Saturday, they face league leaders Arsenal at Anfield. Of course, the exploits of Suarez against the division's lesser lights means his side are still within touching distance of the top three. For touch to become a firm grip, however, Liverpool need to start taking victories against their rivals and, for that to happen, Suarez's influence – and goals – will be key. The opponents, Arsenal, are the same club who tried to wrestle him from Merseyside and down to north London during the summer for £40m-plus-£1. With Suarez, it was said, they would again challenge for a league crown which has evaded them for a decade – they haven't fared too badly without him.

The King of Albion: Suarez leathers the ball in against bottom-half side West Brom in October

Slipping up: Suarez took a tumble against Chelsea in December but did not do much else

Arsenal have, of course, come up short in the games against United, City and Chelsea, but so, too, has Suarez.

It is not often criticism can be aimed in his direction when it comes to on-the-field assessment, but his return in the big matches is one such chink in his goal-plated armour.