Rodgers ‘excited’ to welcome Suarez back into Liverpool fold

The boss is delighted his star forward is available again after serving a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, and is in line to feature against Manchester United

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is “excited” to have Luis Suarez available for selection once again after the striker served a 10-match ban.

The Uruguayan is expected to play a part in the Capital One Cup third-round clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

After opening the season with three 1-0 victories, a 2-2 draw with Swansea City and 1-0 defeat to Southampton has stifled Liverpool’s progress of late, and Rodgers is delighted to be able to pick his star forward once again.

“We are all just so happy he is back in,” Rodgers told talkSPORT. “We have been on a great run without him and that is a great credit to the players that have been available but now he comes back we are getting a £50 million, £60m striker into the team, and that is exciting for us.

“We have had a good start, but this is a player that can come in and make a difference for us.”

Rodgers is also keen to move on from Suarez’s previous controversies at Anfield, and called on critics to measure the 26-year-old on his on-field displays.

“All you can do now is judge him on his performances on the field,” he added. “For the many millions of supporters around the world, the measure and test for Luis is on the field.

“One thing I have learnt about the Liverpool supporters here is that whilst the player wears the shirt, they are behind him.

“I had a guy in here during the week, 85 years of age, telling me about the great traditions of the club. He has been sat on the Kop for many years, hardly missed a game, and he said to me, ‘Brendan, the one thing with Liverpool supporters is, when the boys stick on the shirt, we will back them, but what they have got to show is that commitment.’ You will see that from Suarez because he can’t play any other way.

“His way to say sorry or make any contribution back to the supporters is to play with his heart 100 per cent and score goals and make this team successful, and I’m confident that will happen.”

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