• Premier League

Suarez engineered Barcelona move, says Gerrard

Steven Gerrard says Luis Suarez "engineered" a move away from Liverpool this summer after his bite on Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The former England captain has admitted he knew Suarez would not be returning to Anfield this season when he saw the extraordinary incident during Uruguay's clash with Italy.

LIVE - Transfer deadline day

Radamel Falcao is heading for Old Trafford © AP

• With Manchester United agreeing a loan deal for Radamel Falcao, follow the rest of the Premier League ins and outs on transfer deadline day with our live blog here

Gerrard was hoping Suarez, the Premier League's top scorer last season, would give it another year at Liverpool. But after the striker was handed a four-month ban, Gerrard knew it was only a matter of time before he left Anfield, with Barcelona finally signing him for £75 million.

"I thought he was going to stay, I thought we'd have got another year out of him," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"I was actually already on the floor when I saw the bite because we knew we were going out. It was a double blow, knowing you're going out of the World Cup and knowing you're going to lose your best player.

"I knew there was no way back for him then and I knew he was going to engineer a way out."

Liverpool fans were given a shock when Suarez turned up at the club's Melwood training ground on Monday morning.

However, he was just there to empty his locker and say his goodbyes, and presented Gerrard with a signed Barcelona shirt.

Gerrard posted a picture with his former team-mate to his Instagram account with an accompanying message saying: "He is back bearing gifts emotional saying goodbye to the main man this morning best wishes to a phenomenal player".

Meanwhile, the man Liverpool have replaced Suarez with at Anfield, Mario Balotelli, enjoyed an impressive debut in the 3-0 win at Tottenham, and Gerrard is relishing the prospect of working with him.

"It's an interesting one because he's got a point to prove," said Gerrard.

"Similar to [Daniel] Sturridge, people are waiting to see whether he'll take to Liverpool, whether Liverpool is going to be the right place for him.

"He's certainly got the talent and ability. I've trained with him two or three times and he's got a great touch, he's quick, he's got the movement - he's got everything in the bag.

"We'll have to wait and see if he behaves himself and performs - that's what everyone is waiting for and I'm no different."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd