Rodgers Right to Criticise Luis Suarez, Now Liverpool Must Be Firm on Transfer

Rumours have circulated all summer long regarding a move away from Liverpool for Luis Suarez, but as those rumours have failed to materialise into something more tangible, the forward took matters into his own hands recently with more interviews given to the English press.

Fair to say, it doesn't appear to have gone down terribly well with those at the club, particularly manager Brendan Rodgers, who has responded with his own strong words.

It's an unsavoury moment for all concerned, but as far as Liverpool as a club goes, the manager will be seen to be completely right with his recent riposte—and it will now be down to the club as a whole to stand firm and continue with their stance on Suarez's possible transfer.

Suarez's ever-changing complaint

In case you hadn't noticed, Liverpool forward Luis Suarez no longer wishes to continue playing for the club.

He was quoted various times over the summer by such outlets as the Daily Mirror as saying he wanted out of Anfield, stating that he was "not prepared to keep enduring the English press." He also said he had not "been judged as a player but based on other things," and that Liverpool "knows what I think and what I want."

The club might have known, but sympathy was not immediately forthcoming, so Suarez's appeal recently turned toward Champions League football after a bid from Arsenal was rejected.

As per Sid Lowe in the Guardian, Suarez gave an interview two days ago stating why he now wanted to depart:

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It is not as if I am asking to move to a local rival. And I would not consider moving to a club outside the Champions League...My priority is Champions League football. This is about me doing what is right for my career at this moment in time. I feel I have done enough to be playing in the Champions League at this stage of my career. Now there is an option for me to do that and I want very much to take it. I went a long time at Ajax without playing many games in the Champions League. I am ambitious, I want to be there.

"

And, finally, there was the apparent issue of a "broken promise" to consider, with Suarez apparently feeling he's been cheated out of an easy move. As per Neil Jones in the Liverpool Echo:

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I am being accused of showing a lack of loyalty but last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we did not qualify for the Champions League the following season then I would be allowed to go. They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that. And it is not just something verbal with the coach but something that is written in the contract. I’m not going to another club to hurt Liverpool.

"

So which is it? The English media—whom Suarez then gave exclusive interviews to when it was convenient—the Champions League or merely the fulfilment of a promise? Is Suarez hell-bent on joining Arsenal in particular, or any club playing in Europe's top competition?

If it's Champions League that Suarez wants, he's running at least some small risk in wanting to move to North London.

The Gunners made it into the competition by the smallest of margins last season; a single point was their margin of error ahead of Tottenham, who came fifth. Moving on to this summer, Spurs have strengthened significantly with the signings of Roberto Soldado and Paulinho, while Arsenal's sole incoming deal has been Yaya Sanogo, a young French striker who is unlikely to greatly impact the first team this term.

Chelsea, ahead of Arsenal in third last season, have likewise spent significant funds on attacking options, as indeed have Liverpool.

So are Arsenal offering Suarez some kind of guarantee that they'll retain their slender position in the top four next year?

Why Rodgers' response was right

So to Brendan Rodgers and his response, as per James Pearce at The Liverpool Echo.

Firstly, the boss refuted the idea that any promises were broken to Suarez—"There were no promises made - categorically none - and no promises broken"—and confirmed that he would be disciplining the forward. Rodgers' disappointment in Suarez was evident in his reaction, having put a significant portion of his own input on the team last season at the feet of the Uruguayan.

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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. 

He had an opportunity to leave last summer but he believed in the philosophy of what we are trying to do, to improve him as a player. He's never had a better season than what he had last year. We have made his game flourish. We can understand if he wants to play in the Champions League – but that doesn't mean we've broken any promise. Last season we based our team around his qualities and last season I made some big calls in moving players on in order for his game to flourish.           

"

There has been some discussion amongst fans over whether Rodgers should have made such comment in public, but get right down to the bones of the situation and it is one of boss and employee. Rodgers is in charge of Suarez, and the player should be expected to be disciplined.

Severely.

Rodgers, like his predecessor Kenny Dalglish, stood by Suarez after ridiculous amounts of media coverage were generated by on-pitch events, and Rodgers clearly feels that Suarez's way of paying him back is to effectively tell the world that his manager had lied to him about a move.

Suarez has been quite clear about putting himself first, looking after his career and wanting to be allowed to move on. That's fine—but he is hugely mistaken if he thinks that means the club therefore won't put itself first.

He signed a new, long-term contract just last summer, happily took a pay rise and went on to have the season of his life. Great payback, but the contract wasn't for one year. Suarez has three more years left on his deal, and Rodgers has been exactly correct to demand and continue to demand that Suarez remains a Liverpool player.

Suarez has now been told to train alone after displaying a poor attitude in training and the matches he has figured in since returning from international duty this summer.

If the forward had thought Rodgers would be a pushover when he continually spoke about wanting to leave Liverpool, then Suarez must have had something of a dawning realisation over the past couple of days that the Reds manager is much more shark than sheep.

Liverpool are protecting their asset, their club value and their integrity in ignoring the continuous and wearisome soundbites from last season's top scorer about being allowed to leave without a fight, and it's Brendan Rodgers who is in the front line of that particular battle.

In a war of words, he said vs. he said, only the man who wants to remain at the club will get the backing of the fans.

Liverpool's next steps and the eventual, inevitable exit

Rodgers has shown his hand to be strong, firm and unwavering on an issue which will affect the Reds this season and beyond.

Now Liverpool as a club must do exactly the same to ensure they get the deal which is right for them.

There's little use pretending Suarez will have a complete about-face and sign another new deal—this would be an extraordinary attempt to secure a pay rise, right?—and the only questions remaining to be answered are, who actually wants him, and how much will they pay?

Liverpool simply must stand firm on the price they demand for him and not even contemplate sale until a transfer request is executed.

If Real Madrid are interested, and there is no serious indication they are at present, a high fee of £55-65 million should not be considered extraordinary given the massive fees shelled out for Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Neymar this summer.

Will the Spanish club pay it? It might depend on their success in transfers elsewhere, but they certainly shouldn't be allowed to take him on the cheap. Anything less than Liverpool's current record sale should be summarily dismissed in the same way Arsenal's original £35 million offer was.

And what of Arsenal themselves? Should the Reds sell to a rival at all? Should a Premier League rival premium apply, adding another £5 million on top of the price tag?

Even if Arsenal do want Suarez badly, can they afford to spend all, or most, of their budget on one player, and would Arsene Wenger sanction such a deal?

Many will argue that Suarez shouldn't be used to strengthen a rival for the top places in the league, and there is merit to that train of thought. The Gunners are fast running out of options for top available forwards, and Liverpool want to overtake them in the league standings this season.

Given the performances of both last season, you'd fancy Daniel Sturridge to outscore Olivier Giroud, at least.

John Henry could take a big stand this summer by simply refusing to sell Suarez to Arsenal at any cost, much like Fuham did with the Reds and Clint Dempsey last year. If Suarez asks for a move, officially, then he knows he needs to generate interest from abroad to get his deal.

PSG, Monaco, Juventus, Barcelona, Napoli and Bayern Munich have already signed big-name, big-cost forwards. Only Real Madrid are arguably left, having sold Gonzalo Higuain without a replacement coming in.

It's time for Liverpool to make a precedent, now and for the future, to show that players will not simply walk into the club and back out whenever it so suits them. They've done extremely well to hold their ground over the supposed £40 million release clause; now they have to remain firm and steadfast and secure a groundbreaking income for the team while ridding themselves of a player who has proven troublesome, disloyal and disobedient.

How well the club adhere to that line and stick by their guns might have a significant impact on how much more Rodgers can strengthen his team and push over the line to the Champions League places for next season.

Right where Suarez wanted to be.

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