The Reds captain insists the wantaway Uruguayan striker is still loved at Anfield but accepts he could leave the club as Arsenal remain intent on taking him to the Emirates

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says the club adores “magician” Luis Suarez but admits that any decision on his future is up to the Uruguay international himself.

The Reds’ top goalscorer is subject to interest from rivals Arsenal, with Goal revealing that the north London club had tabled a bid of £42 million in July.

Speaking after a 2-0 win over Olympiakos in his testimonial match at Anfield, the Reds skipper described Suarez as a “magician” while also explaining how Liverpool fans still adore the Uruguay international.

“We’ve got some wonderful youngsters who are growing each year. I think it’s a big year for Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and we’ve got a young kid who is going to be unbelievable in Jordan Ibe,” he told BT Sport.

“Hopefully we keep our magician No.7 [Suarez] and we can have a crack at winning things this year. That’s what I want to do in my final few years; just compete and challenge for the top honours.

The England international knows the decision is ultimately down to Suarez and his family but he also hopes the adulation the striker recieves from Liverpool fans around the world can also be a deciding factor.

“It’s not down to me [if Suarez stays], it’s down to himself to make a huge decision,” he added. “

It’s all about himself and his family but the people at Liverpool, and even the people on tour all over the world, they absolutely adore him and they’d love nothing more than for him to stay but it’s totally down to him.”