The Liverpool manager is not concerned his captain will dwell on the mistake that gifted Demba Ba a vital goal at Anfield and denies it was the defining moment of their season

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is confident Steven Gerrard has the mental resolve to put his Premier League title heartache behind him.

Gerrard came within touching distance of winning the English championship for the first time in 2013-14 with the club he has made over 600 appearances for.  

Rodgers’ men were in the driving seat until a 2-0 defeat against Chelsea last month – a game in which Gerrard’s slip gifted Demba Ba the opening goal at Anfield – handed the initiative back to Manchester City, who were crowned champions last Sunday.

The Liverpool captain’s mistake has resulted in taunts from rival fans but Rodgers is not worried the 33-year-old will dwell for too long on his moment of misfortune.

“I’ve no concerns whatsoever about Steven,” Rodgers told reporters. “I think Steven will go away and when he reflects on what has been personally a brilliant season of football, he has been very unfairly pointed out in terms of his slip.

“It could have happened in the third game, it could have happened in the fourth game, but it certainly wasn’t anywhere near the defining moment of our season. That wasn’t what cost us the league.

“He is a very conscientious boy and he loves Liverpool. He is very hard on himself and he’s his own worst critic but he comes away recognising that he has been involved in a real title run-in and next season he will be better for it.”

The 27-year-old forward scored 31 goals in a stunning campaign at Anfield and insists he is happy at the Premier League club despite the interest of Real Madrid and Barcelona

Luis Suarez underlined his love for Liverpool amid speculation that Real Madrid and Barcelona will compete for his signature this summer.

The Uruguay striker played a key role in an impressive campaign for Brendan Rodgers’ men as they were just pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City, scoring 31 goals and picking up the PFA Player of the Year award in the process.

Suarez signed a new long-term deal in December, but despite reported interest from the Primera Liga giants, the 27-year-old revealed how delighted he was to secure his future at Anfield.

“I signed the contract because I love it here and I’m so happy here,” he told Sky Sports News.

“If you’re not happy here you don’t sign any contract.

“Liverpool’s team for me is one of the best in the world because nobody here in the dressing room thinks ‘I am better than another,’ and the people here inside Melwood work very well.

“I love it here and this mentality I like because maybe in some other dressing rooms I am bigger than you and another bigger, it’s difficult for the team-mates to play together on the pitch in something like that.”

Suarez dismissed reports earlier this week suggesting he would be making a big-money move to Spain for the 2014/15 season, saying: “You know what the press is like, how they speculate, and you try to not take any notice.

“I know what I want. My agent tells me what’s there and what’s not. It’s more speculation than reality.”

The manager says the Uruguay star has challenged him throughout his time at Anfield and praised his relentless work ethic

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers feels working alongside Luis Suarez has improved him as a manager.

The striker, named Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association player of the year, has been a key part of Rodgers’ strong start at the club, scoring 54 league goals over two seasons.

Suarez has endured difficulties in recent years, which include bans for using a racial slur towards Patrice Evra and biting Branislav Ivanovic, but Rodgers feels the the player’s quality has helped him grow as a manager.

“I know for however long I am at Liverpool, whenever I leave I will have become a better manager and a better person because of Luis Suarez and for that I thank him so much,” Rodgers said at the FWA dinner.

“For a young manager like myself coming into a club like Liverpool, I understand the pressures of the club and those pressures include everything that involves managing top players.

“For me, he has challenged me every day of my life, he’s done everything that you would need to do at the top level of the game as a player.

“When I came into Liverpool as manager, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard said to me this was the best player that they had played with.

“I thought about those two and all the great players they’ve played with in their career, so I was really interested to see what his play was like close up.

“He is a winner, his determination is unique, he is absolutely relentless. He is someone that trains every single day of his life. He doesn’t look for an excuse.”