Suarez should repay fans’ faith, says Rodgers

Manager Brendan Rodgers has urged want-away striker Luis Suarez to repay the faith placed in him by supporters after Liverpool’s emotional 2-0 win on their pre-season tour in Australia. Suarez, along with the Liverpool team, was idolised by the biggest crowd of 95,446 to watch a soccer game in Australia as the Reds downed two-time A-League champions Melbourne Victory with a goal in each half at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

A huge roar greeted him sitting among the substitutes when his face was shown on the big screen before he made his way on to the pitch in the 72nd minute. Suarez is a 40 million pound ($61 million) transfer target of Arsenal and has made it clear he is keen to move to a team playing Champions League football.

Rodgers, who was overcome by the emotional welcome Australia’s massed Liverpool fans gave his team, said Suarez would have been left with an indelible memory of how much support he continues to receive from the club.

Questioned by reporters on Suarez’s future, Rodgers said: “There’s nothing new to report. He’s very much a Liverpool player and over the course of the next couple of weeks we’ve got to get him up to speed. “The support he has received from the supporters and the people of the city of Liverpool has been unrivalled. In this period of time he’s missed a lot of games for the club through various reasons,” he added. “The people have stood by him, like a son and really looked after him.

“Whatever happens in the coming weeks that will be in his mind because it’s something you can never forget.” Reports say there is a clause in the contract Suarez signed last August that obliges the club to consider a bid in excess of 40 million pounds and inform the player of developments. Arsenal is expected to offer another bid for him to make a statement of intent.