Suso has explained why memories of Liverpool’s dramatic League Cup final triumph at Wembley in February are spurring him on to try and help them go all the way once again and land more silverware.
The Reds continue their defence of the trophy by playing host to Swansea City at Anfield on Wednesday night in the fourth round of the tournament.
Suso was a spectator when Liverpool defeated Cardiff earlier this year to lift the cup — and now established a first-team regular, he’s determined to experience such success for himself.
“Every competition is important and we want to win some trophies,” the Spaniard told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We will always try — we are Liverpool. We have some of the best players in the world and we need to try to win everything we can.
“When we were there last season, it was a beautiful day. It was really, really nice. If we can repeat that again, it will be fantastic.
“But the final doesn’t matter for now. If we want to get to Wembley, there is a game against Swansea Wednesday — and then it’s Newcastle on Sunday in the league.
“We face both games here at Anfield and we need to show other teams that at Anfield, it is going to be the hardest day for them.”
Liverpool heads into tonight’s game on a four-match unbeaten run, while it has also kept three successive Anfield clean sheets.
It’s a pair of sequences Suso believes are important to continue as the Reds look to maintain momentum.
“We always have to try to win games,” said the 18-year-old. “We have to try to do our best in every game.
“I know it’s not a Premier League game, but we need to keep winning — it doesn’t matter what the competition is.
“We need to try and win every game for ourselves and for the fans, because they deserve it.
“We have been a little bit unlucky with the goals we have conceded, but we’ve played against really good teams with good players.
“We have a good defence, but we — like every team in the world — are still improving.”
For Suso, there will be some familiar faces amongst the Swansea squad that journeys to Anfield this evening.
Not least in the form of close friend Chico Flores, who like Liverpool’s No. 30, hails from the Spanish town of Cadiz.
“They’re doing really well and have some Spanish players in their team,” Suso said.
“I know them — and I know one of them really well [Chico Flores] because he is from the same city as me.
“I speak to him more or less every day. We have a good relationship, but we never talk about football or things like that, just personal stuff.”
One man Liverpool will need to keep a close eye on is playmaker Michu, who has fired seven goals in 10 appearances for Swansea since a summer switch from Rayo Vallecano.
Suso is not surprised by his impact in England.
“Rayo Vallecano are not a big team in Spain, but it doesn’t matter what team you’re at — if you’re a good player, you’re always going to show people you have the capacity to be at a good club or play in the best league, which is the Premier League,” Suso said.
“Being honest, I am not surprised — he is a good player and can score a lot of goals.”
“We need to look at their players, but the most important thing is the team — not individuals,” Suso added.
“They have a similar playing style to us, but we are Liverpool and we don’t need to care about what other teams do — we need to go out onto the pitch and show what we can do.
“Hopefully we can do things properly and win the game.”
Since making his senior bow against Young Boys in September, Suso has notched up seven first-team appearances for Liverpool so far.
He’s still awaiting a first goal for the club, however, and with this evening’s game needing to be decided on the night, how would the teenager feel if he was asked to take a penalty in a shootout?
“I don’t mind,” Suso stated. “I will take one — I’m not afraid.”
