The Uruguayan admits the backing of his team-mates and supporters persuaded him to remain at Anfield, and says he is giving no more thought to transfer speculation
Luis Suarez has revealed the support of the Liverpool fans and club captain Steven Gerrard convinced him to stay at Anfield.
The Uruguayan spent most of the summer trying to engineer a move away from Merseyside, with Saturday’s Premier League opponents Arsenal his most determined suitors.
But having been forced to stay, Suarez has returned to the Liverpool side in blistering form, scoring six goals in five matches – including a hat-trick against West Brom last Saturday.
“Steve [Gerrard] spoke a lot to me, he gave me advice and told me what I needed to hear,” he told Sport 890. “When I was separated, he told he didn’t like that and wanted me to be with the group. Today I feel very supported by my team-mates.
“The support of the fans was also very important. I always could walk on the street with no trouble. I was never threatened or anything like that, it was all made up. The people told me to stay.
“I work hard for Liverpool and I will always be thankful to the club.”
Suarez also insisted he is relishing the challenge of facing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and views it as a chance for Liverpool to prove their top-four credentials.
“English football is the best you can find,” he added. “The atmosphere, the stadiums, the people, everything is incredible.
“The game against Arsenal is very important to know where are we. If we can be on top, fighting for the first four places in the table. It is a nice match against a direct opponent.
“The people are enthusiastic about how the team is playing. We are scoring and we are doing well in defence. The victories against Manchester United and Aston Villa, both 1-0, are a good example.
“Last year, those kind of games we used to draw or lose. If we continue this way, we are going to among the first four.”
Despite Liverpool’s firm stance in the summer, some have suggested Suarez will again seek to leave in January or next summer, but the player himself insists he is giving no thought to such matters.
“I don’t want to listen to anything about any rumour,” he insisted. “My agent is in charge of that, there are many inventions and no reality.
“I had a very complicated summer but the nice thing is that I am playing again. I am very happy and what I want is to help the team.”