Luis Suarez was a force of nature at Liverpool mercurial, brilliant, and utterly relentless. Few saw that up close like former Reds defender Martin Kelly.
The Whiston-born right-back, has now confirmed he has retired, remembers the Uruguayan turning even a Sunday training session into a battlefield.
It takes a special kind of mentality to survive at Anfield, and Kelly had it in spades. From joining the Reds Academy at eight to making 62 first-team appearances, he experienced Liverpool at one of its most chaotic and unforgettable periods from Rafa Benítez’s final season, through Kenny Dalglish’s return, to Brendan Rodgers’ near-title campaign in 2013/14.
Speaking to The Athletic, Kelly offered a rare glimpse into what it was like training with Suárez during those relentless years.
“He did something I’d never seen before,” Kelly recalled. “He would play 90 minutes on a Saturday and then train on a Sunday with us lads who hadn’t featured he didn’t want to just do recovery.
“At one point, we squared up to each other and he was laughing at me, saying: ‘Kelly, you’re crazy.’ I said: ‘Just stop kicking me. Why are you kicking me?’ He was always so game — that will to win.”
It was a snapshot of what made Suárez so special and so intense. Even in a casual session, he treated every ball like a cup final. That hunger drove him to score 82 goals in 133 appearances for Liverpool, nearly delivering the Reds their first Premier League title in 2013/14 with 31 goals in 33 matches.
Kelly also recalls the heartbreak of that season’s dramatic collapse at Selhurst Park, when Liverpool squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Crystal Palace.
“Luis [Suárez] was in tears and I felt so sorry for him because he had given so much for the team,” Kelly told the Liverpool Echo. “Everyone had worked so hard to put the club in a position to win the title.
“There had been so many highs during the season, and there was a real sense of togetherness in the squad. But with that result, everyone knew it was over. Palace burst the bubble and brought Liverpool crashing back down to earth.”
Ironically, Kelly would join Palace that summer a move that raised eyebrows on Merseyside. The atmosphere at Selhurst Park left a lasting impression.
“The noise the Palace fans made that night was incredible, and it was one of the major reasons why I decided to come here,” he said. “The only other grounds where I’ve experienced an atmosphere like that are Anfield and Goodison. Selhurst Park was bouncing. When I heard Palace were interested, I thought back to that night and what it would be like to play in front of those supporters all the time.”
Kelly went on to make 148 appearances for Palace across eight seasons before short spells with West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic. His final professional game came at Wigan, where a man-of-the-match debut was cruelly overshadowed by a serious knee injury a stark reminder of the setbacks that punctuated his career.
Injuries were an unfortunate theme. A torn ACL against Manchester United in 2012 halted his momentum at Liverpool just as he was establishing himself under Dalglish. Yet even through the disappointments, his pride at representing the club never wavered.
“I’ve never actually announced it, but yeah, I’ve retired,” he said. “Playing for Liverpool meant everything. When I pulled on that shirt, I gave everything.”
Kelly’s 62 games in red brought one major honour the 2012 League Cup and a single England cap that lasted six minutes and 53 seconds. But numbers only tell part of the story. For Kelly, it was about living the dream, growing up in the shadow of Anfield, and embracing every challenge including training sessions with someone like Luis Suárez.
Now holding a UEFA B Licence, Kelly is preparing for a future in coaching. His reflections are honest, humble, and full of perspective a reminder of what defines Liverpool: intensity, competitiveness, and pride in the badge.
“You learn so much coming through at Liverpool,” he reflected. “The standards, the competitiveness, the togetherness. Those things stay with you.”
It wasn’t always about trophies or headlines. For Kelly, the memories of Melwood, of grueling sessions and a certain Uruguayan who wouldn’t stop kicking him, will be remembered forever.
