• Premier League

Gerrard: Liverpool can't afford to lose Suarez

Steven Gerrard has suggested Liverpool must keep hold of Luis Suarez if they are to turn their abundant promise into silverware in the coming years.

Suarez was in tears after Liverpool squandered a 3-0 lead with 11 minutes to go at Crystal Palace on Monday night to boost Manchester City's title hopes.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are one point behind Liverpool, who are still top of the table, but have a superior goal difference and two matches to play.

Suarez has been brilliant for his side this season, scoring 31 league goals and deservedly winning both the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year awards.

At the club's own inaugural awards dinner he claimed another hat-trick for the season with three trophies for goal of the season, players' player of the year and player of the year, voted for by fans.

With persistent interest from Real Madrid, Gerrard believes it is vital Suarez, who signed a new contract in December, remains at Anfield.

Luis Suarez was inconsolable as he left the pitch at Selhurst Park © Getty Images

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"There is some disappointment looming around but if this fella stays around for a few more years I think there will be some really big nights," Gerrard told Sky Sports at the awards night.

"Luis seems to be cleaning up at the moment, he's won everything, and we are lucky to have such a world-class talent like Luis playing here with us and helping us to great things and be successful.

"He is out there by a big distance [as the best player I have played with] and that is no disrespect to all the players I've played with, there has been some top talent for club and country, but this fella can do the lot, he is different to most footballers.

"I don't have to mention his talent, you can see it out there, and he is a winner who is doesn't give up."

Gerrard has also refused to give up hope of winning the Premier League title despite City holding the advantage ahead of the season's climax.

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Manuel Pellegrini's side are set to host Aston Villa on Wednesday and will go two points clear with a victory.

Rodgers lambasted his players for their comic book collapse at Selhurst Park but Gerrard has not yet given up on ending the club's 24-year wait for a league title.

"We've made huge strides as a team. We'll continue to fight until the end," Gerrard added. "There's no doubt about it - to bring Champions League football back is an unbelievable achievement because the standard of the league is so big and [it's] so difficult to achieve.

"We'll have to wait and see as to how the final couple of games pan out. We'll keep our fingers crossed but the plan is to go and beat Newcastle and, if it's not to be, we keep fighting again next year."

Following Liverpool's vital win over City last month, Gerrard was captured by television cameras telling his team-mates to forget the victory and to "go again" at Norwich.

They won at Carrow Road, before a costly slip from Gerrard gifted rivals Chelsea victory at Anfield. When asked about his "go again" quip, which has become somewhat of a catchphrase for Liverpool's season, Gerrard jokingly referenced his mistake against Jose Mourinho's side.

"I think being a player for this club, it's the biggest message when you sign professional forms," Gerrard said of the phrase. "The message is you never get too high when you win a big award or a big trophy or you never get too down when one slips away, literally slips away.

"You continue to fight game by game. But for me, I stand here very proud of my team-mates with a huge belief that, if this group of players tick together and we can make the right couple of additions to strengthen in the summer, the future is bright for this club - there's no doubt about it."

Steven Gerrard made a joke reference to his costly slip against Chelsea © Getty Images

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