Nuri Sahin had been expected to spend an entire season at Liverpool, on loan from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
But, after a disappointing start and entirely forgettably spell, the Turkey international has cut his Anfield stay short.
Sahin is not bound for Madrid, though. The midfielder is on his way back to his former club Borussia Dortmund, to be reuinited with Jurgen Klopp, who has watched his once star player toil since leaving Germany.
| Sahin runs back to Borussia Dortmund |
Luis Suárez mete la manito / Getty
The Uruguay international has been in superb form for Brendan Rodgers’ team this season, netting 15 league goals to leave himself one behind league leader Robin van Persie.
However, the 25-year-old striker was once again in the headlines after appearing to handle the ball to score in the Reds’ 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield last Saturday, and Ferguson feels the star may even enjoy the attention.
“I didn’t see the Mansfield game, so it’s difficult to say if it was deliberate [handball] or not,” he told reporters. “But I think [Suarez] is laden with controversy. I don’t know if he enjoys it or not.”
Brendan Rodgers has come out in support of his star forward, and claims he would not swap Suarez for United’s lethal centre-forward Van Persie.
Ferguson suggests all managers will defend their own players in the face of such criticism – but hopes his side do not suffer from yet another controversial incident involving Suarez on Sunday.
He continued: “You’re always going to support your own player. That’s not surprising from Brendan Rodgers. I’ve done it myself. It’s part of your loyalty and protection of the player.
“I just hope we don’t suffer from some of the decisions that went Suarez’s way on Sunday.”
Suarez was banned for eight games by the FA after racially abusing Patrice Evra during a match between the clubs at Anfield in 2011, and caused further controversy for refusing to shake the left-back’s hand last season.
Despite the recent tensions and the historical rivalry between the two clubs, Ferguson hopes the match will be an entertaining game where the players – and not the officials – decide the result.
”We’ve got the two most successful clubs in the country and you hope it’s a good game,” he said. “Over the years they’ve been relatively free from controversy. No sensational decisions have marred the game.
“It is always an immensely important game. It is intense and emotional. Everything you can think of in a derby game will probably be there.”
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he would not confess if he scored a handball winner against Manchester United this Sunday.
His team-mate Luis Suarez was embroiled in another controversy after the ball clearly struck his hand in the lead-up to his goal for Liverpool against Mansfield in the FA Cup last weekend.
The Uruguayan was castigated by sections of the press and public for not openly admitting his offence, but Gerrard has branded anyone calling him a cheat a hyprocrite.
“Look, I’m not going to lie to you – of course I celebrate”, he told The Mirror.
“I can’t sit here and claim I would run to the linesman or referee and say, ‘I’ve hand-balled it’ at Old Trafford.
“What would Wayne Rooney do? What did [then-Manchester United goalkeeper] Roy Carroll do years ago when the ball was four yards over the line [in a match at Old Trafford against Tottenham]?
“I never saw Alex Ferguson or Carroll run to the referee or linesman and say it was over the line, did you?”
Suarez is no stranger to controversy, especially at Old Trafford, but Gerrard believes Liverpool need to concentrate on the match, which he described as still the biggest rivalry in football.
“It is massive, and still the biggest game for both clubs,” he explained.
“They are obviously above us in league titles, but we’ve still got more European Cups than them – so the rivalry is not going anywhere for a long time.
“Manchester City have their new owners and stuff, but Alex Ferguson was quoted last year saying Liverpool is still their biggest game – and that’s not changed [on] this side either.”