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Confident Rodgers determined to keep Suarez

Luis Suarez scored an incredible goal against Newcastle © Getty Images

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Brendan Rodgers is "confident" Luis Suarez is committed to the future of Liverpool, and he has told the club's owners they must keep their star assets if the Reds are to emerge as a force once more.

Suarez has been outstanding for Liverpool this season, at times carrying the team as they undergo a transition period under Rodgers. The Uruguayan already has 10 goals to his name and arguably should have scored double that amount.

In the past Liverpool have seen star players such as Fernando Torres leave the club, and with the Reds looking unlikely to secure Champions League football doubts will grow over the future of Suarez.

However, Rodgers claims the striker had the perfect excuse to leave when Kenny Dalglish left in the summer, but Suarez buys into the culture that his current boss is attempting to stamp on the club.

"I have had great support from Luis since I've been here," Rodgers said. "He has really bought into what we are trying to do.

"I am safe in the knowledge that Luis had the chance to go in the summer. There was probably no better time for that, with a new manager coming in.

"Luis could have had an excuse to go but, having spoken to him at length, he committed to stay."

As Liverpool prepare to face Chelsea, they already find themselves 13 points off top spot in the Premier League. Rodgers insists the likes of Suarez must stay if the Merseysiders are to challenge once again.

"Our objective has to be to keep the best players," he said. "Great players will always leave great clubs, that's happened in the past and will in the future.

"It's up to us to add players that can help support Luis and move us on. I wouldn't swap him for anyone. This is a guy whose energy is relentless - he is a defender's nightmare.

"We have one of the best strikers in the world in Luis and we are very grateful for that. He's up there in that one per cent of world class strikers and there's no team in the world that wouldn't want him."

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