The Liverpool boss is adamant that his former charge should have been nominated for the prestigious prize – despite the Uruguayan’s four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini

Brendan Rodgers insists there is no justification for Luis Suarez’s omission from Fifa’s 23-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d’Or.

Suarez led Liverpool to the brink of a first Premier League title since 1990 last season, scoring 31 goals and earning a blockbuster €94 million move to Barcelona in the summer.

The 27-year-old’s summer was overshadowed by the punishment he received for biting Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder during Uruguay’s World Cup clash with Italy – the third such offence of his controversial career – but Rodgers believes his former star still deserved recognition for his achievements on the pitch.

“I can’t think of a reason why Luis shouldn’t be on the shortlist,” the Liverpool boss told reporters. “Certainly, football-wise, he should be on there. I can only think that it is because of the bite that he isn’t being considered – and I don’t believe that’s fair.

“If you are judging it on football – and that’s surely what it is because it is called the Golden Ball, not the Golden Ball and Mouth.

“If anyone in the world names the five best players at the moment they would probably say Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Suarez and Bale. How can four be in it and one not? It means the Ballon d’Or isn’t about football.

“I don’t know the histories of all the players on the short-list, but I’m sure that some of them have been guilty of misdemeanours somewhere along the way. Luis Suarez is an incredible talent. What a player.

“I don’t know whether it is a political decision, but if you are basing the Ballon d’Or on football then he should be on the short-list – and he would have a great chance of winning it.”

The former England captain has suggested he could leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, but his manager is intent on keeping the 34-year-old midfielder at Anfield

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Steven Gerrard will be offered a new contract by the club.

The Reds skipper revealed earlier this week that he would be prepared to leave Anfield if he is not offered an extension, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

But Rodgers quashed speculation over the former England captain’s future after Liverpool’s 1-0 loss at Newcastle on Saturday.

“It is quite straightforward,” the Northern Irishman told reporters. “I had a meeting with Steven’s representative about a week ago.

“I want him at the club and part of everything we are trying to do.

“I relayed that information to the ownership and I am sure they will go away with that and organise a deal with Steven’s representatives.”

Gerrard has been a mainstay for Liverpool this term, playing in every Premier League match this season and racking up over 480 Premier League appearances in total for the club.

Ayoze Perez’s second-half strike condemned the Reds to a fourth Premier League defeat of the season ahead of their trip to the Spanish capital

Brendan Rodgers insists he is feeling no added pressure ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

The Reds’ poor start to the season continued today as they fell to a 1-0 Premier League loss at Newcastle.
Ayoze Perez grabbed the only goal, leaving Rodgers much to ponder ahead of the trip to Santiago Benabeu for a crucial Champions League clash.

“They are all good games. We cannot complain; we worked very hard over a couple of years to get to this level and playing Real Madrid in the Bernabeu is a wonderful game for us and we are still in with a chance of qualifying. We know it’s a big ask against probably the best side in the world,” the Liverpool boss said.

“There are pressures every game and there is always that expectancy at Liverpool, which is probably the case at only a few clubs.

“It’s there every game but we understand and accept that. We will go into that match on Tuesday and the players will have the confidence back.

“We will get back to working well on the training field and hopefully we will get a good result.”