The Blaugrana had a bid for the Reds star rejected in the summer and, while the Dane confesses that he was interested, he is content to stay at Anfield if he is wanted there

Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger admits that he was tempted to join Barcelona in the close-season.

The Catalan giants had a bid for the Denmark captain turned down over the summer, with Gerardo Martino also looking at David Luiz of Chelsea.

Though Camp Nou is an attractive prospect for Agger, however, he insists that he is happy to stay where he is as long as he remains wanted.

“I think you are always tempted when stuff like that happens,” the defender told The Times. “You would not be human not to be but I keep to my principles.

“If I have a contract here for two or three years and the club want me to stay, then I stay with them because, when I signed that deal, that’s what I told them – that I’d be here for four years. I can’t just turn around and say I don’t want to be here anymore.

“It might have been different if the club had said it was in the best interests of both of us to go our different ways.

“In that case Barcelona would have been the best place to go, without a doubt, but the club came to me and told me they wanted me here.

“I’m not saying I wasn’t tempted, because anyone would be in that situation, but for the club to say that to me was enough. I am happy here and my family is happy here also and that’s a good combination.”

Agger has been restricted to just six Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, in part down to a rib injury sustained in September.

He returned to the starting XI in the club’s 4-0 rout of Fulham before the international break and will hope to retain his place for Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Everton.

We put our necks on the line with our match predictions for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures

After some truly enthralling international fixtures, domestic football is back with a bang this weekend.

The action kicks-off with the fiery Merseyside derby at lunchtime on Saturday. Not always the most aesthetically pleasing encounter, but what it often lacks in flowing football is made up for with full-throttle aggression.

Southampton travel to Arsenal after that in what is arguably the most eye-catching clash of the weekend. Arsene Wenger’s side still lead the way at the top of the table, while Southampton’s fantastic start to the season sees the Saints occupy third. But how will this one go?

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have only lost one of their six away ties in the league, and are unbeaten in three. Since their shock defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day, Arsenal have won every home league fixture since, conceding only twice and scoring on 10 occasions.

Long odds | Don’t rule out Cazorla finding the net from distance this weekend

All in all, it’s looking tight on paper and likely to be decided by fine margins. One of which could be Arsenal’s shooting ability from range. Southampton, despite their impressive defensive record this season, are susceptible from outside the box, with 45 per cent of attempts against them coming from distance. Don’t be surprised to see Santi Cazorla ripple the net this weekend.

The big match this Sunday sees Tottenham travel to Manchester City, with both sides languishing close to mid-table, in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Manchester City’s home form is as impressive as their away results have been dismal, while Tottenham find themselves second only to Arsenal in the away form table. Nonetheless, with City boasting five wins from five on home soil, Spurs will have their work cut out at the Etihad Stadium.

Agueroooo! | City have won all three matches Aguero has played against Spurs

Sergio Aguero is one particular threat which Andre Villas-Boas’ side will do well to suppress. The Argentine has scored 12 goals in City’s last 10 matches in all competitions, and their 1-0 defeat at Sunderland ended a run of scoring in six consecutive matches. Don’t count on him missing out for a second game in a row.

For all of this weekend’s fixtures and predictions, not to mention where we see the matches being won and lost, check out the video at the top of the page!

The Gunners made two bids for the prolific Liverpool striker in the summer, both of which were rejected, and failed to add experienced back-up to the overburdened Oliver Giroud

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla feels it “a pity” that the club failed to sign Luis Suarez during the summer.

Arsene Wenger persued the Liverpool forward over the course of close season and made two official bids for the former Ajax star, both of which were rejected out of hand by the Anfield club.

The failure to land Suarez, or indeed any other striker of note bar the inexperienced Frenchman Yaya Sanogo, has left the current league leaders with just Olivier Giroud and the out-of-sorts Nicklas Bendtner to lead their line until the window reopens in January.

Giroud started the season in electric form but has scored just once in his last seven games for club and country and Cazorla admits having Suarez around would have eased the burden on the former Montpellier man.

“Suarez is incredible. I’d have loved it if he had come; his style would have suited us,” Cazorla told The Guardian. “Arsenal did all they could and he wouldn’t have minded [moving].

“But Liverpool didn’t want to sell, which they’re entirely entitled to do, and he’s playing incredibly again.

“It’s a pity he’s not on our team!”