'Disrespectful' Suarez slapped down by Rodgers

A furious Brendan Rodgers has responded strongly to the claims made by Luis Suarez last night that the Reds' boss had lied to him over allowing him to leave the club if Champions League qualification wasn't achieved.

Speaking after the 4-1 win over Valerenga in Oslo, Rodgers fired back at the wantaway frontman: “There were no promises made - categorically none - and no promises broken.  The club and his representatives had several conversations and he knew exactly where he was at."

“Obviously the remarks I've read are bitterly disappointing - but my job is bigger than that. My job is to fight and protect the club. The conversations I've had with him, he knows I've had and they will remain private."

Rodgers also promised the striker would be dealt with, adding; “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.

“I really, really feel sorry for the supporters, people that have sung his name. We have travelled the world over the course of this pre-season. 85,00 fans were singing Luis' name in Jakarta. It was the same in Australia, in Thailand and at Steven Gerrard's testimonial.

“This has come out on Wednesday morning and obviously my concentration has been on this game and on the players that are here.  I will deal with the rest when I get home. It won't be on Thursday because I have got the Premier League managers' meeting but it will be over the next 48 hours.”

Whilst Rodgers is adamant that the club do not wish to sell the player, he warned Suarez that there will be no way back into the first team for him unless he apologises for the disresect he has shown the club and his team-mates. “At this moment things have been said that are derogatory against the football club and his team-mates and the supporters. There's a few bridges to cross before that can happen (play for Liverpool again). It's about the respect, that's the only thing we look for.

“This is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, you can't disrespect it. That's something I will ensure (an apology) before anything happens in the future. That bridge will need to be crossed.

"I understand that every coach and every player wants to work at the highest level. I understand his ambition, but this is a club that is historically been one of the very best in the world. We can get right back up there and fight to be there.

"What we are trying to do is get the correct value for a player. The reality is we don't want to sell Luis Suarez, it's as simple as that.

“He is important for what we are trying to do. There have been a couple of offers but no promises broken - that's the reality.”