Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says the Reds could open contract talks with Luis Suarez if his current form continues.
Suarez currently has two and a half years left on his present deal.
The Uruguayan has been in superb form this season with 13 goals in his nine league starts, which included four goals against Norwich in midweek.
Suarez's form, though, came off the back of a turbulent summer which saw him ask for a move away from the club, and Liverpool turned down an offer from rivals Arsenal amid claims there was a 'gentleman's agreement' that would allow the striker to leave if a Champions League club made a bid.
Liverpool denied any such deal was in place and have never budged in their determination to keep him.
After completing a lengthy domestic ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, which saw him miss the start of the season, Suarez has shown his best form in a Liverpool shirt, and he has played a major role in the club mounting a title challenge.
"There never was that (gentleman's agreement) before, and there never was this summer," Liverpool manager Rodgers insists.
"The contract was what it was.
"We want him to stay and, with his contract running for two and a half years, I am sure there will be something between now and the end of the season to keep him here.
"The most important thing is that the player is happy. I didn't sit in on the conversations last summer but, as I understand it, there is no agreement of any kind.
"I think all parties are fairly comfortable at the moment. We made our feelings known in the summer and it is where it is.
"The only concentration now for us and Luis is to keep him playing at that level, and the rest takes care of itself."
Rodgers refuses to believe that Liverpool will have to finish in a Champions League spot to keep hold of Suarez.
"Is his future here linked with the Champions League? It is linked with him being the best player he can be, playing at the highest level he can," he said.
"He has two and a half years left on his contract, so there will be another two years to go in the summer. That's all there is to be said. But I just have a feeling, an inkling (that he may stay), and it is based on where he is in his life and conversations with him.
"His behaviour, mannerisms and performance levels tell me he is very happy being with Liverpool and in the Premier League. That gives me confidence."
Skipper Steven Gerrard - who has played alongside some great players over the course of a distinguished career - believes Suarez is now proving that he deserves a billing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the finest performers on the planet on the back of his star performance in midweek.
He told Liverpool's official website: "You have seen a world-class performance, probably one of the best individual performances I've seen at Anfield - and I've been playing here a long time.
"Having worked with him every single day, it's probably less of a surprise to me as it is to the supporters. I've been pushing his corner for a long time that he is up there with the best in the world.
"I think he's getting so close to the main two, Ronaldo and Messi. If he keeps going, I think he can catch them.
"His fourth goal was average and it was a 30-yard free-kick, so I think that sums his performance up."
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says the Reds could open contract talks with Luis Suarez if his current form continues.
Suarez currently has two and a half years left on his present deal.
The Uruguayan has been in superb form this season with 13 goals in his nine league starts, which included four goals against Norwich in midweek.
Suarez's form, though, came off the back of a turbulent summer which saw him ask for a move away from the club, and Liverpool turned down an offer from rivals Arsenal amid claims there was a 'gentleman's agreement' that would allow the striker to leave if a Champions League club made a bid.
Liverpool denied any such deal was in place and have never budged in their determination to keep him.
After completing a lengthy domestic ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, which saw him miss the start of the season, Suarez has shown his best form in a Liverpool shirt, and he has played a major role in the club mounting a title challenge.
"There never was that (gentleman's agreement) before, and there never was this summer," Liverpool manager Rodgers insists.
"The contract was what it was.
"We want him to stay and, with his contract running for two and a half years, I am sure there will be something between now and the end of the season to keep him here.
"The most important thing is that the player is happy. I didn't sit in on the conversations last summer but, as I understand it, there is no agreement of any kind.
"I think all parties are fairly comfortable at the moment. We made our feelings known in the summer and it is where it is.
"The only concentration now for us and Luis is to keep him playing at that level, and the rest takes care of itself."
Rodgers refuses to believe that Liverpool will have to finish in a Champions League spot to keep hold of Suarez.
"Is his future here linked with the Champions League? It is linked with him being the best player he can be, playing at the highest level he can," he said.
"He has two and a half years left on his contract, so there will be another two years to go in the summer. That's all there is to be said. But I just have a feeling, an inkling (that he may stay), and it is based on where he is in his life and conversations with him.
"His behaviour, mannerisms and performance levels tell me he is very happy being with Liverpool and in the Premier League. That gives me confidence."
Skipper Steven Gerrard - who has played alongside some great players over the course of a distinguished career - believes Suarez is now proving that he deserves a billing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the finest performers on the planet on the back of his star performance in midweek.
He told Liverpool's official website: "You have seen a world-class performance, probably one of the best individual performances I've seen at Anfield - and I've been playing here a long time.
"Having worked with him every single day, it's probably less of a surprise to me as it is to the supporters. I've been pushing his corner for a long time that he is up there with the best in the world.
"I think he's getting so close to the main two, Ronaldo and Messi. If he keeps going, I think he can catch them.
"His fourth goal was average and it was a 30-yard free-kick, so I think that sums his performance up."
Sporting Lisbon have apparently told Sky Sports they would be interested in taking back defender Tiago Ilori from Liverpool on a loan deal.
The 20-year-old Portuguese centre-back joined the Reds on the final day of the summer transfer window, but has yet to feature for the first-team and only made a handful of appearances for the Liverpool Under-21s.
Sky Sports claim a source at Sporting Lisbon told them, “We have decided to study this subject but it depends on the Reds and formally we have not received any communication.”
Meanwhile Reds boss Brendan Rodgers says he is not set to allow Raheem Sterling to go out on-loan when the transfer window reopens in January.
England U21 winger Sterling has been linked with a number of Championship clubs to gain experience, but following him scoring Liverpool’s fifth in Wednesday night’s 5-1 victory over Norwich, Rodgers ruled out any exit for the 18-year-old.
Rodgers is quoted on ESPN as saying, “Raheem has been in the squad, he has featured in a lot of games and he has started the last two so certainly at this moment in time, we wouldn’t be considering it [a loan move].”
“He is still only a very young player. I thought his finish was excellent, that probably gets lost amid Luis’ goals, but we have just encouraged the front players to take more of a risk and get in the box. It was a wonderful finish off his left foot.
“His pressing was very good, [with] his strength on the ball and he knows he has to add the numbers to his game in goals and assists. He scored a terrific goal and I am delighted for him.”
Sporting Lisbon have apparently told Sky Sports they would be interested in taking back defender Tiago Ilori from Liverpool on a loan deal.
The 20-year-old Portuguese centre-back joined the Reds on the final day of the summer transfer window, but has yet to feature for the first-team and only made a handful of appearances for the Liverpool Under-21s.
Sky Sports claim a source at Sporting Lisbon told them, “We have decided to study this subject but it depends on the Reds and formally we have not received any communication.”
Meanwhile Reds boss Brendan Rodgers says he is not set to allow Raheem Sterling to go out on-loan when the transfer window reopens in January.
England U21 winger Sterling has been linked with a number of Championship clubs to gain experience, but following him scoring Liverpool’s fifth in Wednesday night’s 5-1 victory over Norwich, Rodgers ruled out any exit for the 18-year-old.
Rodgers is quoted on ESPN as saying, “Raheem has been in the squad, he has featured in a lot of games and he has started the last two so certainly at this moment in time, we wouldn’t be considering it [a loan move].”
“He is still only a very young player. I thought his finish was excellent, that probably gets lost amid Luis’ goals, but we have just encouraged the front players to take more of a risk and get in the box. It was a wonderful finish off his left foot.
“His pressing was very good, [with] his strength on the ball and he knows he has to add the numbers to his game in goals and assists. He scored a terrific goal and I am delighted for him.”
Tributes have poured in from Liverpool and football fans for the late former South African president Nelson Manela, who died on Thursday, aged 95.
Freedom campaigner Mr Mandela spent 27 years in prison before leading South Africa’s during transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s.
Mr Mandela had been suffering from a long-term lung infection.
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves,” President Jacob Zuma is quoted by the BBC as saying.
“Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell.”
Mr Mandela met Liverpool players at a United Bank Soccer Festival friendly match at Ellis Park Stadium in May 1994.
Tributes have poured in from Liverpool and football fans for the late former South African president Nelson Manela, who died on Thursday, aged 95.
Freedom campaigner Mr Mandela spent 27 years in prison before leading South Africa’s during transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s.
Mr Mandela had been suffering from a long-term lung infection.
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves,” President Jacob Zuma is quoted by the BBC as saying.
“Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell.”
Mr Mandela met Liverpool players at a United Bank Soccer Festival friendly match at Ellis Park Stadium in May 1994.
Liverpool have taken 17 year old Joaquín Fernández on a 10-day trial from La Liga side Almeria, Scott Taylor provides the lowdown on the Spaniard.
The aspect that will intrigue most Liverpool fans is that he plays in a defensive midfield position, a position that the club has expressed the desire to strengthen and the addition of Joaquín will strengthen the squad in years to come, that’s if the Reds decide to sign him permanently.
The midfielder currently plays for Almeria B, but is currently suspended for the Spanish side, so Liverpool saw his suspension as a blessing in disguise and gave him a trial now, as he will inevitably miss his side’s next game against Albacete.
Joaquín was always due to have a trial with Liverpool as it was part of a clause that saw Under 21 winger Suso go in the other direction and join Almeria on loan for the duration of the 2013/14 season, but the club and Joaquín has decided that this period of time will be the best time to come to Melwood. This is because he will be able to keep his fitness up and more discreetly he will be able to train in very cold weather conditions, something that is rare in his home nation which may help him develop physically.
Joaquín is currently training with the Under 18s at the academy in Kirkby, but will be under the watchful eye of first team manager Brendan Rodgers, as him and Under 18 manager Neil Critchley will together make a decision on whether to permanently sign the promising youngster or whether it is in the best wishes of the club not to sign him.
Having Spanish academy players Sergi Canos and Pedro Chirivella training with him will help him settle in better, as he has played alongside them for both Spain at Under 16s and Under 17s level.
He has also trained with Suso at Almeria which was also good experience for him before coming to his trial at Liverpool. Although the Reds are interested in Joaquín, Almeria will continue to plan their future with him due to him attending training sessions with the first team.
For more academy updates, be sure to visit my blog and follow me on Twitter @ScottTaylorUK.
Liverpool have taken 17 year old Joaquín Fernández on a 10-day trial from La Liga side Almeria, Scott Taylor provides the lowdown on the Spaniard.
The aspect that will intrigue most Liverpool fans is that he plays in a defensive midfield position, a position that the club has expressed the desire to strengthen and the addition of Joaquín will strengthen the squad in years to come, that’s if the Reds decide to sign him permanently.
The midfielder currently plays for Almeria B, but is currently suspended for the Spanish side, so Liverpool saw his suspension as a blessing in disguise and gave him a trial now, as he will inevitably miss his side’s next game against Albacete.
Joaquín was always due to have a trial with Liverpool as it was part of a clause that saw Under 21 winger Suso go in the other direction and join Almeria on loan for the duration of the 2013/14 season, but the club and Joaquín has decided that this period of time will be the best time to come to Melwood. This is because he will be able to keep his fitness up and more discreetly he will be able to train in very cold weather conditions, something that is rare in his home nation which may help him develop physically.
Joaquín is currently training with the Under 18s at the academy in Kirkby, but will be under the watchful eye of first team manager Brendan Rodgers, as him and Under 18 manager Neil Critchley will together make a decision on whether to permanently sign the promising youngster or whether it is in the best wishes of the club not to sign him.
Having Spanish academy players Sergi Canos and Pedro Chirivella training with him will help him settle in better, as he has played alongside them for both Spain at Under 16s and Under 17s level.
He has also trained with Suso at Almeria which was also good experience for him before coming to his trial at Liverpool. Although the Reds are interested in Joaquín, Almeria will continue to plan their future with him due to him attending training sessions with the first team.
For more academy updates, be sure to visit my blog and follow me on Twitter @ScottTaylorUK.
Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez has the potential to become one of Liverpool's all-time greats.
And the Anfield boss is adamant the striker's current form vindicates his decision to stay with the club when targeted by a number of teams from at home and abroad during the summer.
Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona were all said to be chasing the Uruguay striker, who sat our the first six games of the season after his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic stretched over into the new campaign.
But after his four-goal haul against Norwich, which took his total for the season to 13, Rodgers insists Suarez is loving life at Liverpool and, should he stay, will write his name into the club's folklore.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: "He has the potential to be one of the club's greatest ever players and his decision to stay at the club after a summer of unrest has been vindicated.
"This club has been blessed with many No.7s, like Kenny Dalglish the greatest player Liverpool has ever had, and many others who have been brilliant.
"But I think if Luis Suarez stays here for his career then he is certainly going to challenge them.
"Luis is extremely happy here at Liverpool. We don't want to bring everything up from the past - it was a difficult summer for everyone - but we stood firm as a club and he understood where we were at.
"He knew what our plans were, what our thinking was and that was to keep our best players at the club.
"So hopefully he will feel vindicated for staying and wanting to be here. I think this is the perfect club for him. The whole profile of Liverpool suits him down to the ground.
"Hopefully, over the coming years he can achieve everything he wants to achieve, and that is playing at the highest level. His talent deserves that, this is a club that deserves that and with players like Luis here that will give us a better chance.
"He is loving life here at the moment, you can see that in his game, and as I said he is up there with the top players in the world at the moment."
Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez has the potential to become one of Liverpool's all-time greats.
And the Anfield boss is adamant the striker's current form vindicates his decision to stay with the club when targeted by a number of teams from at home and abroad during the summer.
Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona were all said to be chasing the Uruguay striker, who sat our the first six games of the season after his 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic stretched over into the new campaign.
But after his four-goal haul against Norwich, which took his total for the season to 13, Rodgers insists Suarez is loving life at Liverpool and, should he stay, will write his name into the club's folklore.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: "He has the potential to be one of the club's greatest ever players and his decision to stay at the club after a summer of unrest has been vindicated.
"This club has been blessed with many No.7s, like Kenny Dalglish the greatest player Liverpool has ever had, and many others who have been brilliant.
"But I think if Luis Suarez stays here for his career then he is certainly going to challenge them.
"Luis is extremely happy here at Liverpool. We don't want to bring everything up from the past - it was a difficult summer for everyone - but we stood firm as a club and he understood where we were at.
"He knew what our plans were, what our thinking was and that was to keep our best players at the club.
"So hopefully he will feel vindicated for staying and wanting to be here. I think this is the perfect club for him. The whole profile of Liverpool suits him down to the ground.
"Hopefully, over the coming years he can achieve everything he wants to achieve, and that is playing at the highest level. His talent deserves that, this is a club that deserves that and with players like Luis here that will give us a better chance.
"He is loving life here at the moment, you can see that in his game, and as I said he is up there with the top players in the world at the moment."
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