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Phil Jones names Liverpool cult hero as the toughest Premier League opponent he’s ever had
Manchester United and Liverpool have had their fair share of titanic tussles over the decades, the two sides boasting a fierce rivalry.
Although the Red Devils have been behind the Anfield outfit over the past decade or so, recent results haven’t been especially one-sided.
And even when not at their respective bests, both Manchester United and Liverpool have had some great players who dazzled in the Premier League.
Phil Jones, who played for the Red Devils between 2011 and 2023, has now named a Liverpool icon of the 2010s as the hardest opponent he’s had in the English top flight.
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Phil Jones struggled against Liverpool icon Luis Suarez
Jones was on the latest episode of the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, speaking to host Natalie Pike and iconic Premier League manager Sam Allardyce.
When it came to his toughest Premier League opponent, Jones said Liverpool cult hero Luis Suarez always gave him a hard time.
“In the Premier League I always found it really tough playing against Suarez,” he said.
“He had this knack of 0 and I’m probably doing him a disrespect – of like playing a one-two off your shins and somehow wriggling out with the ball. Oh, it would drive me insane!
“But he was clever with his movement, he wasn’t absolutely lightning-quick but the short, sharp burst he used to have was really good and it was a struggle playing against Suarez.”
When it came to the subject of the toughest player he’s ever played against, Jones opted for Lionel Messi.
Referencing Manchester United’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Barcelona in 2019, he said. “Best player I’ve ever played against was Lionel Messi, he was an absolute joke in that game.
“I’ve gone to nail him in the middle of the pitch, he’s turned me stuck it through my legs I’ve turned around and stuck it back through my legs!”
How Suarez fared at Liverpool
Suarez signed for Liverpool in January 2011, the Reds paying Ajax around £22.7million for his services.
The Uruguay international won the League Cup in his first full season and went on to register 82 goals and 31 assists from 133 appearances for the Reds.
During his time at Liverpool, Suarez won the 2013/14 European Golden Boot, scoring 31 goals as the Reds finished second in the Premier League, two points behind Manchester City.
Suarez, who also won the Premier League Player of the Season award in 2014, joined Barcelona that summer for a reported £65million fee.