Notoriety has its benefits. "I'm used to having fans whistle at me," Luis Suarez said this week. It may be just as well. Past experience could provide a grounding for 90 minutes of whistling, booing, taunting and general vocal disapproval.
To adapt the lyrics of Liverpool's anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, Suarez is not walking through a storm as much as running straight into one. Old Trafford rarely extends a hospitable welcome to visiting Liverpool players but it is likely to be especially intimidating. And yet there may not be too many who are inclined to sympathise with the Uruguayan.
For the majority, this is a blizzard of Suarez's creation. For the minority, who generally have Anfield allegiances, he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
They reject the findings of the independent inquiry who handed him an eight-game suspension after deeming him guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
"He should never have been out in the first place," was a defiant Kenny Dalglish's reaction to the striker's return.
His has been a combative approach. While yesterday he trod a diplomatic path, Dalglish has played to the galleries at Anfield, the defender of all things Liverpool pleasing his public. Suarez was afforded a rapturous reception when he returned as a substitute against Tottenham on Monday.
Liverpool's unapologetic stance is a product of a view that they have nothing to apologise for. United disagree, quietly but pointedly.
"We have kept our counsel, which was the right thing to do," said Sir Alex Ferguson. "We will keep it that way."
The United manger may welcome Tom Cleverley back today, while Ryan Giggs has signed a new one-year contract to take him past his 39th birthday. Each occupied Ferguson's attention more than Suarez.
Claiming not to be bothered if the striker and Evra shake hands before kick-off - and Dalglish has said the Uruguayan is willing to - he added: "It's not an issue."
Yet Evra's reception at Anfield a fortnight ago remains one. The Frenchman was booed relentlessly, something Liverpool fans claimed was because of their dislike of the left-back, rather than his ethnicity. Dalglish dismissed it at the time as "a bit of banter". Nevertheless, Suarez ought to expect reciprocal treatment, if not worse.
"I have to tell them, they are going to spur me on if they whistle at me," the Uruguayan said. It is a likely possibility. Not that it will necessarily subdue him: infamy and impact can go hand in hand and United have prior warning of his ability.
If the low point of Suarez's Liverpool career came against United - October's meeting, where his use of the word "negro" to Evra prompted the ban - so did the high watermark.
March's meeting illustrated that he could also mistreat the United defence in altogether more admirable fashion.
An irresistible performance of incessant running resulted in a 3-1 victory when, even thought Dirk Kuyt got all the Liverpool goals, Suarez was the tormentor in chief.
No game has done more to cement his status as a Liverpool hero; none, perhaps, has epitomised his on-field excellence in England so concisely.
It was a display of coruscating brilliance, lacking only the finishing touch. Amid the headlines he has generated, it is easy to forget Suarez has only scored five league goals this season.
On an afternoon when his every touch is likely to provoke an audible reaction, anonymity is not an option. Even if it were, the chances are he would eschew it.
His comeback was only four minutes old when the latest flashpoint arrived: Suarez was cautioned for kicking Scott Parker in the stomach, an offence the watching Wayne Rooney tweeted he thought merited a red card.
So he remains a controversy magnet: often accused of diving, proved to have bitten an opponent during his Ajax days and, in his country's colours, happy to handle the ball on his own line to prevent their elimination from the World Cup.
He is eulogised at Anfield and vilified elsewhere, found guilty by the FA and the court of public opinion of racial abuse.
"Luis Suarez," sang the Tottenham fans. "We know what you are."
A year into his time in England, greater knowledge of Suarez has simply polarised opinions about him. Anfield's idol is Old Trafford's enemy.
sports@thenational.ae
4.45pm, Abu Dhabi Sports 3 & 5
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
'Cheb%20Khaled'
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
