Liverpool's players oozed confidence in the post-Luis Suarez era as they began their final countdown to the start of the Premier League season.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick and Lionel Messi bagged a brace as Barcelona thrashed bottom side Cordoba 8-0 on Saturday to move a step closer to their fifth La Liga title in seven years.
Having exhausted most superlatives to describe Luis Suarez, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers settled for "remarkable" when the Uruguayan equalled Anfield great Robbie Fowler's Premier League scoring record on Saturday.
A lethal finish from Luis Suarez gave Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in a typically frantic 'Clasico' on Sunday as they stretched their lead over their rivals at the top of La Liga to four points.
Check out the top footballers of the weekend.
Ghana's dreams of becoming the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final will depend on their ability to keep at bay the formidable attacking duo which has propelled Uruguay into the quarters. The Ghanaians carry the hopes of a continent hosting its first World Cup, but any burden of expectation is far out weighed by the need to keep a close check on the ability of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez when they meet in their quarter-final tie in Johannesburg.
Uruguay are enjoying their best World Cup in 40 years and the way they overcame a spirited South Korea with a Luis Suarez double suggested their ambitions can stretch at least as far as the semi-finals.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Luis Suarez to shun suitors Arsenal, saying a move to their Premier League rivals would not represent a step up for the unsettled Uruguayan.
Uruguay forward Luis Suarez faces a lengthy ban after Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini accused him of biting during the South Americans' 1-0 Group D victory on Tuesday, overshadowing a day of emotional extremes at the World Cup.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Ten-man Premier League leaders Leicester City lost at title-chasing Arsenal, while La Liga pacesetters Barcelona crushed Celta Vigo and Juventus took over from Napoli at the top of Serie A by edging their rivals.
'As far as strike force is concerned, you don't look any further than Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in the English Premier League,' former England and Liverpool great Robbie Fowler tells Manu Shankar.
Messi or Suarez should win World Cup if not Spain, says Luis Enrique
Fresh from propelling Barcelona to their fifth trophy of 2015, their prolific strikes are now seeking to break the Spanish record of goals in a calendar year when they play Real Betis on Wednesday.
Portugal have denied midfielder Raul Meireles was making an insulting gesture toward the referee after teammate Pepe was sent off against Germany on Monday, saying he was simply passing on tactical instructions from coach Paulo Bento.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Argentina and Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Uruguay and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, Brazil and Chelsea's Oscar Suarez were a few Latin American stars who lit up football stadiums across Europe over the weekend.
Italy must find a way to shut down Uruguay striker Luis Suarez when the teams clash at the Dunas arena on Tuesday in a World Cup showdown which will decide who goes through to the last 16.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is to have surgery on his knee on Thursday morning, just over three weeks before the start of the World Cup, according to local media reports.
Opinion in Uruguay, a country of around three million people sandwiched between soccer powerhouses Argentina and Brazil, was divided over Luis Suarez's latest antics.
The Sturgeon Moon is named after the sturgeon fish by the Algonquin tribe of north east USA.
Uruguay's Luis Suarez risked his reputation in his country's interest at the World Cup. Many diplomats and leaders often face the same dilemma, say T Nandakumar.
Ajax Amsterdam's Uruguay forward Luis Suarez hit six goals in a 14-1 thrashing of amateurs WHC Wezep in the Dutch Cup fourth round on Wednesday.
Manchester City suffered from deja vu as Luis Suarez's double gave Barcelona a 2-1 first leg lead in a Champions League last 16 tie at the Etihad although Lionel Messi's late penalty miss left the door ajar on Tuesday.
Controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes he is picked on by the British media but admits that he did dive earlier this season in a Premier League match.
Diego Maradona blasted FIFA's ban on Uruguay striker Luis Suarez as "criminal" and said world soccer's governing body might as well handcuff the striker and lock him up in Guantanamo prison.
Luis Suarez's spectacular season for Liverpool went a long way to restoring his tarnished image among English fans but the Uruguayan will again be public enemy No 1 for a game that could decide World Cup Group D.
"We need to be emotionally strong and break our backs in this match. Of course, if Germany is knocked out, it would be a major thing and we would be proud to be responsible for that."
Luis Suarez has matured since his 10 match ban for biting and is thriving on the leadership role he has been handed by the club says manager Brendan Rogers.
Messi stretched Barca's lead by finishing off a brilliant move with Luis Suarez in the 50th minute and the Uruguayan joined his close friend and strike partner on 15 league goals by robbing an Eibar defender and finishing inside the near post in the 68th.
Striker Luis Suarez scored twice as 2010 World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay beat Peru 2-1 on Friday to improve their chances of reaching the Brazil finals next year.
FIFA also opened proceedings against the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) over potential breaches of fair play rules.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes his team are back to their sizzling form of last season after a superb victory over Tottenham defied those who predicted a gloomy outlook in the post-Luis Suarez era.
Luis Suarez's 'wild nature' was on display as he tried to win a penalty with an 'acrobatic swimming pool jump' that deserved a yellow card for simulation, according to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
IMAGES from the La Liga matches played on Tuesday
Two late goals in two minutes from Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez gave European champions Barcelona a dramatic 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Luis Suarez returned for Uruguay for the first time since his infamous World Cup biting incident and scored in a 1-1 friendly draw against Saudi Arabia.
Images from the EPL matches played across England on Sunday.
Barca looked set for a third consecutive league draw as they created scant opportunities but they were presented with the advantage of an extra man when Villarreal midfielder Daniel Raba was given a straight red card for a wild, studs-up challenge on Sergio Busquets on the hour mark.
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