Rodgers 'can't put price on Suarez'

08 December 2013 07:16

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he cannot put a price on what Luis Suarez is worth but admits most clubs in the world would want him in their side.

The Uruguay international scored one and will lay claim to a second - credited as a Joey O'Brien own goal after a deflection off the defender - as West Ham were beaten 4-1 at Anfield.

After his four goals against Norwich in midweek, Rodgers joked the 26-year-old was worth £40,000,002 - in reference to Arsenal's failed summer bid of £40,000,001 - but in all seriousness he cannot put into figures the striker's financial value.

His worth to Liverpool is plain to see as he has scored 26 - 27 if he is awarded the own goal - in his last 25 league matches.

Suarez's late intervention in the last 10 minutes prevented a nervy finish after Martin Skrtel's own goal had given the Hammers a sniff following an own goal from Guy Demel and Mamadou Sakho's first for the club - although that was also disputed by Skrtel, who thinks he got the final touch.

"I don't think you can put a price on him and I wouldn't want to," said Rodgers.

"He has two-and-a-half years here and if you look at his consistency in his game and how he is playing, at this moment in time he is up there with the best players in the world.

"Whatever price people put on that then that is what people do, but at the moment it is not of interest to me or him."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said in the week Sergio Aguero was better but Rodgers, obviously, disagreed.

The Reds boss said: "Most teams in the world would want Luis Suarez. I think Aguero is a wonderful player as well but I wouldn't swap Suarez for anyone.

"I get the chance to work with him every day and what he gives is a relentless desire.

"When you have that, you don't want to let him go. It hasn't always been smooth sailing of course but it never is.

"We have a strong relationship. He is a very humble man. There has been a lot said about him but beneath it all he is a real good guy who is a true professional.

"His will and desire oversteps the mark the odd time, which has got him in trouble, but if you are talking about tactical and technical ability he is up there with the world's best and he is a brilliant player to have."

The only downside to the day was captain Steven Gerrard limping off with an injury which may yet keep him out for a few weeks.

"I think we just need to assess that in the next day or so. Hopefully it is just a strain," said Rodgers.

Hammers manager Sam Allardyce felt the scoreline was a harsh reflection on his side.

"I think we showed in the first half that we didn't deserve to be 1-0 down," he said.

"The game at this level is 90-95 minutes long not 45. For me we didn't recover from that (second) goal going into the start of the second half and that was the disappointing thing.

"We could have taken a lot of encouragement from the first half and the chance from Modibo Maiga that was well saved (by Simon Mignolet) is one you want to go in when you come to the big boys, but I couldn't criticise as it was a super save off a very good header.

"The second goal killed us for a while, got Liverpool right up for it."

Allardyce was unhappy his captain Kevin Nolan was sent off for raking his studs down the calf of Jordan Henderson late on, yet Jon Flanagan escaped for a tackle on Stewart Downing.

"Kevin Nolan shouldn't have lost his cool but obviously he did and Stewart Downing is in hospital having his Achilles and calf stitched up from a nasty challenge from Flanagan," he said.

Source: PA