Luis Suarez has revealed that Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard played a huge role in persuading the Uruguayan international to continue with Brendan Rodger’ side.
The former Ajax man had urged to leave the Merseyside club in the summer, which had seen him been constantly linked with a move away from Anfield. Arsene Wenger was keen on signing Suarez and Arsenal had made multiple bids for the striker, which was turned down by Liverpool chiefs.
The Reds were keen on keeping Suarez at the club and were successful in retaining their last season’s top scorer beyond the summer. The South American has admitted that the England skipper and Liverpool fans motivated him to continue at the Merseyside.
“His [Gerrard] attitude was an extra boost for me to take the decision to stay in Liverpool; both he and the fans of Liverpool influenced much for that,” Suarez said.
“I do not know if he prayed but what he said is what he feels because he was talking to me all the time. Gerrard, for me, is a legend in Liverpool and a great team-mate that helped me a lot.”
“I admire him for the great player he is worldwide. For me he will always be a benchmark and at club level he is the best player I have played with in my career, as a person and as a footballer,” the striker added.
Meanwhile, Gerrard had admitted to waking up with fear of losing Suarez all throughout the summer.
“Every day, I was waking up hoping nothing would happen and he would still be here. Nobody tried harder than me to keep him at Anfield and he knows exactly what I think of him. When you have a player as good as Luis, you know the big clubs are going to want him,” Gerrard told the Mirror.
Suarez missed Liverpool’s fixtures after receiving 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. However, the Uruguayan striker served his suspension and has bagged three goals in two Premier League games for Rodgers’ side.
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