• Premier League

Liverpool legend questions Suarez commitment

Liverpool legend John Aldridge has accused wantaway striker Luis Suarez of showing a "massive lack of loyalty" to the club, as he continues his campaign to secure a move away from Anfield.

The outspoken Aldridge told BBC radio that Suarez's desperation to leave Liverpool was all the more galling in light of the support the club has given him as he has served two lengthy bans for serious disciplinary issues during his two and a half years at Anfield.

Lifelong Liverpool fan Aldridge was quick to lambaste Suarez for his desire to talk to Arsenal, even though he had previously stated his reason for wanting to leave Anfield was to get away from the bad treatment he was receiving from the English media.

"There's a massive lack of loyalty there and especially after the way Liverpool have stuck by Luis," stated Aldridge. "It's different with Luis Suarez because of the positions he's put Liverpool in over the last couple of years and they've stuck by him.

"The fans have been loyal, the manager's been loyal, his comrades have been loyal, and the hierarchy have been loyal to him. They've done everything in the powers possible to back him up and he's basically put a custard pie in everyone's face."

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Aldridge has been muttering similarly critical views on Suarez's continue stand-off with Liverpool in his weekly column for Ireland's Sunday World newspaper, as he suggested the Uruguayan's infamous bite on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic back in April may have been the start of his attempt to leave Liverpool.

"Many a cynic suggested Luis Suarez's bizarre bite on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic was the Uruguayan's brutal attempt to force a move away from Liverpool and suddenly that argument has been given plenty of credence," he wrote.

"None of us can know for sure whether Suarez was behaving like a nutter or a shrewd businessman when he took a chunk out of Ivanovic's arm, but there will be plenty who now believe this was a ploy to pave the way for a big money move.

"History will now mark Suarez down as another Fernando Torres, a striker who did great things for the club and then did a runner the minute he got the hint of a decent offer from another club. A true Liverpool legend? He will never be that now.

"I felt Suarez owed the club a final year to try and get them back into the Champions League after all they have done for him in his two and a half turbulent years in England, but I should know better than to trust in the loyalty of modern footballers who barely know the meaning of the word."

Aldridge's views echo previous frustrations aired by manager Brendan Rodgers, who earlier this week said: "I know what we are trying to build and grow, so why would you swap Liverpool to go to Arsenal? I am not sure that it adds up, to be honest.

"Look, Arsenal have a wonderful history in their own right - but Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world. We are not in the Champions League and haven't been for a while now, but we have to step up to the challenge now.

"It is difficult for Luis, I understand that. If a team wants you, it can be difficult. I am sure Luis will have seen the sheer size and status of the club here, so we'll just see how it goes. But it is not something we want to run on for too long."

Liverpool have won four major trophies since the Gunners FA Cup win eight years ago, including the UEFA Champions League.

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