The 40-year-old says the offer of £40m plus £1 for the Uruguay international was “derisory” and admits he was forced to be tough on the striker following his comments in the summer

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims he laughed at Arsenal’s bid of £40 million plus £1 for Luis Suarez.

Arsene Wenger’s side had prioritised the signing of the Uruguay international during the summer transfer window and believed they had triggered a release clause in the striker’s contract when they submitted an offer in excess of £40m.

Rodgers insists Arsenal stood no chance of prising the 26-year-old away from Anfield and labelled the club’s bid as “derogatory”.

“To be honest, we laughed. We were away at the time on the pre-season tour when I saw the bid in writing,” Rodgers told reporters.

“I think Arsenal were ill-advised on that, to say the least.

“Arsenal as a football club always had great integrity historically and so, when that bid came through, I can only say it was one of the worst pieces of information they ever received.

“It was never going to succeed. At the time we certainly saw the bid as derogatory. The two clubs have historically had class, it has been the hallmark of both, but whether it was £40m and one pound or £40m and one penny, our fight was always to keep him here because he is a top player.”

Suarez was ordered to train alone in August after the striker claimed the club had broke their promise of allowing him a move away from Anfield if Champions League football was not secured.

“I’m sure all the players are looking to the manager in a situation like that to see what happens,” said Rodgers.

“It cannot fester and be allowed to become a cancer within the group.

“No matter how difficult the situation was, we were leading up to our first game of the season having had a brilliant pre-season and nothing could be allowed to stand in the way of our preparation for that.

“My job is to protect the club and it was important during that time that the power of the club was seen.”

The goalkeeper believes the strike duo’s performances have been vital in all areas of the pitch for Brendan Rodgers’ side and has refused to talk up the club’s title chances

EXCLUSIVE
By Tom Maston

Given the headline-grabbing displays of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in recent weeks, Simon Mignolet’s swift integration at Anfield may have been overlooked by many.

The Belgium goalkeeper has conceded just eight goals in his side’s nine Premier League matches, keeping three clean sheets in the process, which has pushed Brendan Rodgers’ men into third spot behind Chelsea and Arsenal.

But the summer arrival from Sunderland believes the form of both Suarez and Sturridge, who have scored 14 goals between them this term, has been vital to Liverpool’s system at both ends of the pitch.

Speaking at the launch of Battlefield 4, Mignolet said: “They are a very good partnership. The goals they score and the quality they show week in, week out just shows how good they are.

LIVERPOOL’S ‘SAS’
THIS SEASON’S PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
SUAREZ		STURRIDGE
4	APPS	9
6	GOALS	8
1	ASSISTS	2

“Hopefully they can keep creating chances and score goals because then we know we just have to keep it tight and they will score the goals at the other end of the pitch.

“They’re doing really well at the moment and working really hard together. The amount of work they do to win the ball back can sometimes be more important as we play as a team.

“If they keep scoring like they are doing then it can only help us win games.”

Liverpool’s excellent start to the campaign has seen the club installed by some as contenders to secure their first league title since 1990.

But Mignolet, who was only two-years-old at the time of that success, has played down any early expectations.

“There’s no point talking about contending for the league at the moment,” he said.

“The season still has a long way to go and after the international break in November until February there are a lot of important games to be played.

“It’s more important just to concentrate on each game and see where the points we have picked up leave us.

“We’re pleased with how things are going. We’ve had a good start and the only thing we want to do is keep building on that.

“We need to keep doing the things we’ve been doing, starting with Saturday against Arsenal. We’ll try and do our best again. We are confident and motivated to keep our good form going.”

Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsene Wenger’s league leaders represents arguably the toughest test Mignolet and his team-mates have faced this season.

The Gunners are unbeaten in eight league matches and have dazzled with a number of eye-catching displays but the Liverpool goalkeeper insists his side will only focus on showcasing their own style of play.

““Arsenal have had a good start,” Mignolet continued.

“The likes of [Aaron] Ramsey and [Mesut] Ozil are doing well for them so we know they have a lot of quality in their team. For us it’s more about making sure we do the things we want to do and get ourselves prepared for the game. We’re focussed on getting the result we want out of the game.

“It’s an opportunity to play the top team and get the right result out of the game.”

As well as proving to be a proficient shot-stopper, Mignolet has been actively encouraged to display his distribution strengths by Rodgers, a skill which the 25-year-old brings from his time with the Belgium national team.

“When you arrive at any new club you always try do the job that is asked of you,” Mignolet explained.

“The gaffer wants us to play in a certain style where we play from the back and the ‘keeper has to start that. Therefore in the first couple of weeks you have to get used to it.

“I had some experience of it playing for the Belgian national team, where we play a similar style of football. It’s something I enjoy and is working for me.”

As well as starring in what promises to be an exciting campaign for Liverpool, Mignolet is also set to form part of the Belgium squad who will be present at next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

Marc Wilmots’ side have been tipped to reach the latter stages after qualifying as a seeded team, but as with his club’s prospects, Mignolet is refusing to get carried away with Belgium’s World Cup expectations.

He added: “It’s been 12 years since we qualified so we’re very pleased that we managed to get to Brazil. Now we want to prepare ourselves with the friendlies before the World Cup and then do well once it comes along.

“We avoid Germany, Spain Brazil and other big teams, but on the other hand you just have to look at the teams in the play-offs and see that every team in the World Cup are going to be a good side. We’ll see after the draw which teams we’ll come up against.”

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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.”