Suarez punished by Rodgers for lacking respect
LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers will force Luis Suarez to train alone after the wantaway striker accused the Reds of breaking a promise to sell him if they did not qualify for the Champions League.
Suarez yesterday asked the Professional Footballers’ Association to assess the small print on his contract, believing Liverpool’s refusal of a £40m plus £1 bid from Arsenal breached the terms of his deal.
However, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor confirmed a clause in his contract obliges “discussions” not a sale.
And Rodgers will now order Suarez to train away from the other first team players, but still insists the club wishes to hang on to the 26-year-old.
“This is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, you can’t disrespect it,” he said. “I will take strong, decisive action, absolutely. There has been total disrespect of the club. This is a lack of respect of a club that has given him everything, absolutely everything.
“There were no promises made, categorically none, and no promises broken. The reality is we don’t want to sell Luis Suarez it’s as simple as that.
“We have a standard at Liverpool and I will fight for my life to retain it. The Liverpool way is all about being committed to the cause and fighting for the shirt.
“It’s also about dignity and being dignified in how you speak about the club. And it’s about unity.
“If anyone steps outside of those values then I have to deal with it.”
Liverpool won 4-1 away to Valerenga in Oslo yesterday without their Uruguayan talisman thanks to goals from Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Martin Kelly and Raheem Sterling.