Sublime Suarez is just one star leading Liverpool's title charge this season

The forward is likely to break Premier League records but his efforts should not overshadow the contributions made by his team-mates to create Brendan Rodgers' "collective" side

ANALYSIS
By Chris Davie

Where would Liverpool be without Luis Suarez? It's a question the club have no need to be concerned with until the summer, at the earliest, but one most cynics have been only too eager answer as the Uruguayan edges his side closer to a first league title in 24 years. 

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, whose team were narrowly beaten at Anfield earlier this month, felt Liverpool would not even be Champions League contenders, let alone title frontrunners, if it wasn’t for their leading marksman. "Without Suarez, they would probably be in mid-table," was the 46-year-old's assessment.

But is Suarez really carrying the Liverpool's title push by himself?

Suarez has scored 29 goals in 29 Premier League matches this season and is only two away from equalling the joint record held by Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo for the most goals scored in a 38-game campaign.

Another landmark will be equalled if Suarez carries on creating. He's registered 12 assists so far and is on course to be only the second player, after Andy Cole in 1993-94, to top both the goals and assists charts in the same season.

The 27-year-old's influence at Anfield tallies with his marked improvement since his arrival from Ajax in January, 2011. In his first full season at Liverpool, Suarez posted a chance conversion rate of 10.19 per cent. This term, that figure has more than doubled to 21.32%.

As expected, Suarez’s chances created per match is on the increase as well. The forward averaged just over two chances created per game in the 2011-12 campaign. This year, his average is 2.69.

SUAREZ'S IMPROVED RECORD
SEASON	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
APPS GOALS CONVERSION RATE ASSISTS CHANCES CREATED	31 11 10.19% 3 64	33 23 16.08% 5 90	29 29 21.32% 12 78

Where the statistics are concerned, Suarez's progression mimics Liverpool's rise from a club that finished 12 points behind a Champions League place last season to one that is currently leading the Premier League with four games remaining.

But Suarez shone last term as well. He scored 23 goals, registered five assists, and Liverpool only finished seventh. The season before that under Kenny Dalglish, Suarez was the sole inspiration and eighth place was all the club could muster.

It's evident Liverpool needed a goalscorer to reach the top four and Suarez has stepped up to be just that, but it's too simplistic to attribute the club's ascendancy to the Uruguayan alone. They needed more than that.

Daniel Sturridge's improvement has been fundamental in Liverpool's title pursuit. This is his first full season under Brendan Rodgers and the 24-year-old has already reached the 20-goal milestone - the first time he's done so in his career.

What's more, Sturridge already possesses one of the most coveted attributes of any leading striker - consistency. He's never gone more than three games without a goal and, this season, became only the second player in the Premier League after Ruud van Nistelrooy to score in eight consecutive Premier League games. In comparison, Suarez's best streak has stretched to four matches.

Steven Gerrard also needs to be recognised for his input this term. The 33-year-old has adapted well to a deeper role, while his composure from dead-ball situations is unmatched.

The England captain has 13 goals to his name this season, 10 of which have been penalties, and they have been scored at crucial points in the campaign - the late winner at Fulham in February, two in the 3-0 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford and, most recently, two against West Ham when both Suarez and Sturridge failed to break the deadlock.

This is the first season since 2008-09 in which Gerrard has managed to score over 10 goals in the Premier League, a season which coincided with the last time Liverpool had their eyes on the title as Rafa Benitez's men fell four points short of Manchester United.

While Gerrard's impact can be instantly recognised by his record in front of goal, Jordan Henderson's contribution could be highlighted by his absence in Liverpool's next three matches.

The 23-year-old was sent off late on against Manchester City on Sunday and will now be unavailable until Liverpool's final game of the season against Newcastle United on May 11.

Henderson has emerged as Liverpool's link between defence and attack, and Rodgers' next tactical challenge is to find the balance in his midfield for the next three matches. Elsewhere in the title race, Manuel Pellegrini will need to stifle the damage caused by the loss of Yaya Toure, who is out for two weeks with a groin injury, but it is Rodgers who has the more difficult task.

Other than goals, Yaya Toure has scored 18 this term, 10 of which have been from dead-ball situations, Henderson has outshone the Ivorian across the board. The Liverpool midfielder has created nearly double the amount of chances, and in the defensive department, it is a similar story in terms of the number of tackles and interceptions made.

	Minutes played	Goals	Assists	Chances created	Tackles won	Tackle success	Interceptions
Fernandinho	2130	4	3	31	65	76.19%	58
Steven Gerrard	2540	13	10	57	59	71.95%	44
Jordan Henderson	3038	4	7	60	57	70.37%	33
James McCarthy	2465	0	3	39	76	75.26%	47
Ramires	2517	1	2	31	64	78.05%	25
Ramsey	1537	8	7	29	57	85.07%	19
Yaya Toure	2619	18	5	32	36	67.92%	19

Henderson has been one of the Premier League's most complete midfielders this season. Where the likes of Ramires, James McCarthy and Fernandinho boast strong defensive numbers but less impressive returns in the attacking third, Henderson has that rare balance between the two.

Where as most other clubs have a clear difference between attacking and defensive-minded midfielders, with Gerrard and Henderson the two are merged, as Rodgers has pointed out numerous times, his emphasis is on the balance of the team, rather than an over-reliance on a single player.

	LIVERPOOL LATEST
8/15	Liverpool are 8/15 favourites with bet365 to win the title

At the back, Liverpool's defence has been far from watertight, and the club's philosophy has been to score their way out of trouble.

And even Martin Skrtel, who's scored more than Kevin Mirallas, Roberto Soldado and Samir Nasri, has chipped in at key moments. The centre-back found the net twice in the 5-1 demolition over Arsenal, struck two against Cardiff after Liverpool had gone 2-0 down and scored the header which capped Liverpool's swift and stunning opening against City on Sunday.

Skrtel, who has netted seven times so far, has already surpassed John Terry's haul of four goals when Chelsea won the title in 2006 under Jose Mourinho. Centre-backs who are on a par with wingers and strikers in terms of goals scored are very uncommon in sides aiming for the Premier League trophy.

Liverpool have simply produced extraordinary efforts from all areas of the pitch.

And each problem has been provided with a solution. Aly Cissokho looked unconvincing at left-back after the season-ending injury to Jose Enrique, so in came Jon Flanagan, who impressed in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in November, missed a month of action due to a hamstring problem, but returned to the team at the end of January and hasn't looked out of place since.

Suarez and Sturridge were not at their brightest against City, so the onus was on Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho to deliver. And the pair did just that in the absence of Liverpool's two regular headline-grabbers.

Once again, Liverpool's success this season has been down to players making their mark when others are off the pace. Both Sterling and Coutinho have created fewer chances than the likes of Eden Hazard and David Silva this season but when they were required in the crucial test against City, neither shirked responsibility.

Rodgers' response to Poyet's prediction was accurate. "It was levelled at us that if we didn't have Luis Suarez's goals, we'd be mid-table, which is probably quite disrespectful to the other players.

"At various times while I've been here, we've had Luis out and won games, we've had Steven out and we've won games, we've had Coutinho out and we've won games, we've had Sturridge out and we've won games, so what we're building here is the collective."

Suarez is just one of many Liverpool players who have taken their game to another level in their bid for the title.

Wenger backs Ozil to win Player of the Season next year

The Frenchman says his summer signing could return to action this weekend after recovering from a hamstring problem and admits he has endured a "jaded period"

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed Mesut Ozil to recapture his best form next year and be in contention to be named player of the season.

The Germany international sparkled after arriving from Real Madrid in the summer but came under criticism earlier this year before being sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Wenger revealed that Ozil could return to action this weekend but also admitted he had looked tired during his first season in the Premier League although he is confident the 25-year-old will be back to his best next season. 

"Ozil had a jaded period but I will put him on the list to be Player of the Season next season," he told reporters.

Arsenal manager also insisted his team have progressed this season, pointing to their spells at the top of the table as evidence. 

"We have moved forward this season, we were 17 or 18 times top of the league," he added. "Every game has a big impact so we just prepare massively well... and hope that results go for you

"We want to come out of the season and think we have given absolutely everything."

Next up for the Gunners is a trip to the KC Stadium to face Hull City, with the two sides also set to face each other in the FA Cup final next month, and Wenger is expecting a tough battle.

"Hull have had a remarkable season and they have done well at home," he said. "Steve Bruce is one of the remarkable managers of the season. The real job of a manager is to take the best out of the potential of the team."

Building Balochistan: Challenges and triumphs for Pakistan Navy

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There are long straight roads and where there isn't arid land, there is the sea. A half-buried stone or rock makes you wonder whether it is a milestone or a headstone for a grave.

There are plenty of graves near the Jinnah Naval Base (JNB) in Ormara that date back to even before the setting up of the base here on June 22, 2000. But now there are also vital signs in the shape of a hospital, school, college and industrial home.

The smell of antiseptic fills the air at PNS Darmaan Jah, as Amina Bibi argues with one of the staff.

“See my swollen ankles. You expect me to wander around this entire building?” she asks before turning to a sympathetic ear.

“I was born in Manora the year Pakistan and India first went to war. And I was married and brought here to Ormara when we went to battle again. Now I am a tired old woman with nine grownup children and plenty of ailments and conditions, which are getting to bit out of hand for me. I have diabetes and kidney stones along with so many other problems and these people have built such a big hospital here that going from one corridor to the other and climbing up and down the stairs to see one specialist or another or get some or the other test done just might kill me!” she grumbles.

What the woman doesn't realise is that she is one of the lucky few to be living near the JNB. The navy besides building a base in Ormara is also looking to develop the entire area and extend facilities for the local residents.

—Video by author

Darmaan Jah in Balochi means a place for cure and healing,” says Lt Cmdr Rizwan Ahmed, the acting commanding officer at the hospital who also happens to be a surgical specialist here.

“We have a daily patient flow of about 150 to 200 at our OPD. These are all local people coming here from Ormara city, Pasni and Gawadar who are suffering from various problems such as skin and eye diseases and oral health issues as they are addicted to ghutka. Still, we are trying to spread awareness about it, which is slowly showing results. As for the navy patients, we only get 15 to 20 at the most in one day,” he adds.

A view of a shop at the CCWA Industrial Home. —Photo by author

Nearby is the Coastal Command Women Association (CCWA) Industrial Home which also houses a beauty parlour.

The place was set up around two-and-a-half years ago and the centre remains open from 2.30pm to 5.30pm every day.

Not all women who do needlework come here though as the material for the work is provided to them at home where they can work in peace and at their own pace.

Still the centre has those women coming there who are learning a certain craft.

These and the beauty parlour beauticians also include school teachers as the timing suits them as well.

Meanwhile, the end of school bell is about to ring at the Bahria Model School and Cadet College in Ormara. The students are already in the midst of packing their bags. Two teachers in black walk the corridors reminiscing over their journey up till here.

Yasmin Musa, vice principal of the junior section and Bilour Jan, vice principal of the senior section first joined the school after passing their Matric. “We have been with the school for 10 years now. We joined in 2004 after doing our Matric,” says Yasmin.

Yasmin Musa, vice principal of the junior section (L) and Bilour Jan, vice principal of the senior section (R). —Photo by author

“Today, we have both done our Master's and feel proud to be contributing towards the cause of education for our community. We are both originally from Ormara but to do Intermediate we went to Pasni, to do our graduation we headed to Gawadar and we did our Master's from Quetta,” informs Bilour Jan.

“Bahria Model School is a great school if only the children could benefit from it,” says she before going on to explain the biggest issue faced by the students of the school – transport.

“It is a major issue coming in the way of children's education. They travel here from afar. It is two-and-a-half kilometers from here to Ormara city anyway but many live even further away than that. We don't have too many resources but we provide transport for all the female students of the school and for the junior section boys of classes one to five,” says Bilour Jan.

“As for the others, they have to come here and go back on foot or arrange for their own transport,” she adds.

The school is co-education and girls outnumber boys by a 60:40 ratio.

Most of the teachers are also female and they hail from the local community though there are also some senior ones from other parts of the country coming here to train the others. “The standard of the school and college is at par with the Bahria school and college in Karachi.

Girls outnumber boys at Bahria Model School, Ormara. —Photo by author

"We follow the same syllabus though classes nine and ten at the school are affiliated with the Balochistan Board and Intermediate is affiliated with the Federal Board," says the school principal Lt Cmdr Mohammad Iftikhar Khan.

The school also has a CNS Adopt a Child scheme where PN officers, CPOs and sailors contribute some money to sponsor a child's education for one year. “Currently there are some 54 local children in the school who are being sponsored this way but who they are is a secret so that no child feels inferior,” he points out.

Older boys walk back home after attending their academic institution. —Photo by author

Meanwhile in the Cadet College the first year classes for 2014 have already begun. This is the first batch of students at the college and the classes bear the sign 'Pioneer class'.

The next batch will be the promoted class 10 from the school. Commodore Fayyaz Malik, principal of the Cadet College, says that they had 25 seats for Intermediate for which they received 970 applications.

“We took in students from all over Pakistan, from Kashmir to Balochistan. The students know that all will be treated here the same. You can't build an educational institution by just constructing a cement structure. There has to be a foundation, a tradition and a culture of learning,” he points out.

What the Pakistan Navy has been doing for the area locals in Ormara, they are also extending to other areas in Balochistan where they have a port or unit. Jiwani and Gawadar for example, have model schools, medical facilities with free dispensaries and industrial homes, too, not to mention an FM radio station.

Though these establishments aren't as big as the ones in Ormara they are still something. The doctors working at the medical facilities also organise free medical camps at least thrice a year. And the navy plans to extend these facilities to Pasni and Turbat as well.

China to revive the Silk Route with Pakistan

Islamabad- The maritime trade of Pakistan will get a boost through inter-connectivity as the Chinese government is stepping up plans to revive the Maritime Silk Road.
According to the Chinese Securities Journal, the plan is expected to focus on infrastructure construction of countries along the route, including ports of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. China will coordinate in customs, quality supervision, e-commerce and other facilities to improve the scheme.

Overwhelming response from existing telcos for all offered spectrum licences: PTA chief

The telecom regulator has put on sale 30 mega hertz (MHz) of spectrum in 3G or 2100MHz band and another 20MHz of spectrum in 4G or 1800MHz band. CREATIVE COMMONS

KARACHI: Despite lack of interest from new telecom operators in the spectrum auction, interest from existing telecom operators exceeded, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Tuesday, rubbishing claims made in aReuters report.

“We have received bids for both 3G and 4G spectrum and the overall demand has exceeded the supply,” PTA Chairman Dr Ismail Shah told The Express Tribune without giving further details, but added that he was hopeful of concluding the auction for next-generation mobile licences in the second round scheduled for later in April.

The telecom regulator had put on sale 30 mega hertz (MHz) of spectrum in three 3G licences in the 2,100MHz band and another 20MHz of spectrum in two 4G licences in the 1,800MHz band.

The spectrum auction is scheduled to be completed on April 23.

Four existing telecom operators including Mobilink, Telenor Pakistan, Ufone and Zong had already submitted their bids on Monday. Warid telecom abstained.

The PTA, according to its chief, opened the sealed bids and the response was positive as the four operators combined demanded for more spectrum than what had been put on offer.

Earlier on Tuesday, speculation gathered after a report in British news wire service Reuters reported that Islamabad would raise no more than $850 million from the spectrum auction.

Pakistan could not raise the expected $2 billion from the spectrum auction because of a scant interest in the bidding by telecom operators thus struggle to fund its budget this year, Reuters said in a report that attributed findings to anonymous sources.

The report, which quoted an unnamed official from the finance ministry, further said the finance minister was even considering calling off the auction because of a disappointing response y the bidders on Monday – no new operator bid for the spectrum while there was apparently no competition among the existing players, according to the report.

Immediately after its release, the report got media’s attention and PTA’s offices were flooded with queries from electronic and print media. IT finally took the telecom regulator to issue an official rebuttal of the said report.

PTA spokesperson Khurram Mehran refuted assertions made in the story as incorrect and baseless. The response from four existing cellular mobile operators was very encouraging and satisfactory, he said.

According to Reuters, none of the operators had bid for 4G spectrum. PTA’s chairman, however, confirmed that they received bids for 4G band as well.

While PTA refuted the entire report, a careful study of the same indicated some factual inaccuracies.

For example, Reuters’ report claimed that Mobilink and Zong bid for 10 MHz while Telenor and Ufone both bid for 5MHz, an assertion laughed off by the PTA officials noting the 5MHz band was never even offered.

As per the guidelines of Information Memorandum (IM), the policy document for the spectrum auction, no operator could bid for 5MHz – since the minimum slot for which bid could be submitted was 10 MHz, according to PTA.

“We have not yet offered the 5MHz slot to the bidders,” said Dr. Shah. “We may do this later on only if we are sure the whole spectrum will be sold and the demand exceeds supply. But that option is not available to them at this stage,” he said.

The report quoted a finance ministry official as saying, “There are four available 3G blocks in 1800 MHz. The base price for 10 MHz block is $291 million.”

The 1800MHz band – in Pakistan’s case – has been reserved for 4G technology and not 3G. Moreover, the base price for 10MHz block in 3G band is $295 million, not $291 as mentioned by the report (the $291 million price was offered only for new entrants, and not existing telco operators).

The PTA also denied the presence of any finance ministry official at the submission of bids. “First of all, no bidding happened and secondly the bids were received and processed by PTA only,” it said in an official statement.

“It is deeply regretted that a world renowned news agency like Reuters has run a fabricated story on 3G auction and has failed to seek the version of PTA, the sole body responsible for auction,” Mehran said.

“We are going for the auction according to schedule,” said the chairman, adding the response to the auction was very positive.

Yamaha plant to be set up in Karachi

The plant will provide employment opportunities to 25,000 engineers, technicians and labour in Karachi. PHOTO: dyl.com.pk

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has welcomed an investment, which could be up to $150 million, by Yamaha, a Japanese company, for the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Karachi.

The plant will provide employment opportunities to 25,000 engineers, technicians and labour in Karachi. The chief minister (CM) said while speaking to the country director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kaoru Shiaishi who called on him along with his research analyst Saadia Manzoor at the CM house.

“The transfer of automobile and electronic technology from Japan to Sindh will prove to be an instrumental source for the development and prosperity in the province,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of economic development and offered full administrative support to Japanese companies.

Addressing the delegation, the chief minister said that 2,000 acres of land has been earmarked by the government for the establishment of the Japan Special Economic Zone along with National Highways in Karachi, where all necessary infrastructural facilities would be provided to Japanese companies for their investment.

In addition, the Sindh government has recommended the Federal Board of Investment, through a summary, for declaring the National Industrial Park (NIP) at Bin-Qasim a ‘Special Economic Zone’ to facilitate the Japanese Company for the setting up of the Yamaha manufacturing plant.

Pakistan's long awaited 3G, 4G auction draws disappointing bids

Pakistan is the only major country in the region that still does not offer 3G services. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: A dismal response in this week’s auction for next-generation cellphone spectrum licences means cash-strapped Pakistan will struggle to fund its budget this year, finance and IT ministry officials and telecom industry executives told Reuters.

Pakistan is set to hold long-awaited auctions for 3G and 4G network licences on April 23, a step the government projects will raise $2 billion to boost the country’s foreign reserves.

But officials say there has been scant interest in Monday’s bidding process and estimate Pakistan will raise no more than $850 million.

“The finance minister (Ishaq Dar) is very angry, so much so that he wants to call off the auction if we are so embarrassingly off target,” said an official on his team, who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak officially on the matter.

“This has happened because of an over enthusiastic IT ministry which oversold an undercooked plan to its fiscal managers. It looks like heads may roll on this one.”

Pakistan is the only major country in the region that still does not offer 3G services. Its neighbour, war-ravaged Afghanistan, switched to 3G services in 2012.

There are about 132 million mobile phones in use in Pakistan, a country of 180 million people, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

Pakistan’s telecommunications market was deregulated in 2004 and foreign firms such as Etisalat have invested heavily in recent years.

The finance ministry said in February that Pakistan would sell both the 3G and the more advanced 4G LTE spectrum. Selling just 3G licences could raise $2 billion, and bundling them with 4G spectrum could generate between $4 billion and $5 billion, finance minister Ishaq Dar had estimated.

The 3G spectrum auction was expected to raise Pakistan’s gross domestic product by $8 billion and indirectly create up to 900,000 new jobs, a government-commissioned study by Plum Consulting said.

But when bidding closed at 4 pm on Monday, only four out of five cellular mobile companies operating in Pakistan had submitted bids and no new companies showed interest, sources privy to the bidding told Reuters.

Telecom companies Mobilink and Zong bid for 10 MHz. Telenor and Ufone both bid for 5 MHz.

Warid Telecom Pakistan, owned by the privately-held conglomerate Abu Dhabi Group, did not submit a bid, said a source in the company. Neither did Turkcell and Saudi Telecom Company, two foreign companies who had earlier shown interest.

“There are four available 3G blocks in 1800 MHz: two 10 MHz and two 5 MHz. The base price for 10 MHz block is $291 Million and 5 MHz is $146 million,” said a finance ministry official present at Monday’s bidding.

“The auction is thus expected to go for $863 million, nowhere close to $2 billion.”

Bids for 4G LTE licences were to start at $210 million. No operator has shown any interest.

“It looks like 4G won’t fetch any money,” the finance ministry source said. “The disappointing bids are deepening the budget hole by almost $1.7 billion and are such a big hit the finance minister is ready to postpone the whole auction process.”

Representatives in the finance ministry, the IT ministry and telecom companies taking part in the bid said they were not authorised to officially comment on the issue.

The disappointing response will pile further pressure on embattled Information Technology Minister Anusha Rahman, who is overseeing the auction.

She drew criticism last month after appointing her husband to the Board of Directors at Ufone, one of the companies bidding for licences and partly owned by the government. He later resigned.