The Liverpool boss reveals how the former Barcelona forward would have been a perfect fit for his style of play as the Reds welcome his new club Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has described Alexis Sanchez’s decision to snub the Anfield club over the summer as a “bitter disappointment” ahead of the visit of Arsenal on Sunday.

The Chile international will come up against his summer suitors for the first time since his €41 million move from Barcelona.

Alexis was identified as a ready-made replacement for Luis Suarez at Anfield, and his 14 goals for Arsenal this season have magnified Liverpool’s attacking deficiencies thus far.

“He’s a world class player with outstanding quality and even bigger work rate. He would have been perfect for us,” Rodgers told reporters.

“He made his decision. The best option for him.

“I think if you look at how I ask teams to play speed is critical. Not just with the ball, but the intensity with the pressing.

“When Daniel Sturridge was injured in August I think everyone who knows football should hopefully be able to see that our game has become much deeper because of personnel.

“Sanchez was identified for us as someone who would have been a key signing and really just a roll on to what we had with Luis Suarez.

“So to not get him was obviously bitterly disappointing, but once he was gone that was it. We just had to focus on what we had.”