Rodgers rejects talk of Suarez pact

Brendan Rodgers has denied any knowledge of an agreement with Luis Suarez which would allow the striker to leave Liverpool at the end of this season, should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

The Anfield side successfully staved off interest from Arsenal in the summer and there were suggestions Suarez had been persuaded to stay for another season to help Liverpool attain Champions League football, on the proviso that he could leave if they were to fail.

However, Reds manager Rodgers denied that was the case.

He told several national newspapers: "There never was that before and there never was that this summer. I didn't sit in on the conversations but as I understand it there is no agreement of any kind.

"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.

"There will be a number of dependencies on that but the most important thing is that the player is happy."

Suarez has been in impressive form since returning from a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

The Uruguayan has now scored 51 league goals in 84 appearances and is also the Premier League's leading scorer with 13 in just nine games, following four in Wednesday's 5-1 defeat of Norwich.