Rodgers pays no attention to Suarez claims

Manager Brendan Rodgers brushed off concerns about Luis Suarez's future by claiming comments made on international duty have no relevance to Liverpool.

Ahead of World Cup qualifiers last week the 26-year-old gave an interview in his homeland which appeared to suggest he would listen to offers from Champions League clubs.

The Reds' managing director Ian Ayre was quick to dismiss the comments as getting lost in translation but Rodgers claims he paid them no attention.

"I haven't spoken to Luis yet. He was back late yesterday [Thursday] and we just ran the medical team over him and he trained this morning [Friday]," he said.

"All I am aware of is we have an outstanding player who has given everything for the club and he is very happy here.

"Every time he goes away, there is always something.

"I always say to players I have a simple rule: when you are with Liverpool just talk about Liverpool and when you are away with your international team concentrate on your international team so there is no drama.

"So what he says when he is with Uruguay is of no great relevance to Liverpool."

Suarez patently did not follow his manager's rule while in South America and although Rodgers flippantly dismissed the comments there is no misapprehension that what was said was, indeed, relevant to Liverpool.

But the club remain confident they can keep hold of their prize asset - currently the Barclays Premier League's leading goalscorer - in the face of interest from Europe's elite.

What may go some way to assuaging any concerns Suarez may have - aside from Champions League qualification - may be the progress made in enhancing the Reds' chances of making a top-four bid next season.

Liverpool's interest in Ajax midfielder Christian Eriksen has been known for some time and the Dutch club's technical director Marc Overmars only served to strengthen those links.

"We have the list of the scouts of foreign clubs who have been here recently and Liverpool have been a regular visitor," he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Rodgers tried to play down those comments but with the 21-year-old Eriksen, one of Europe's hottest prospects, out of contract in just over a year the club will be looking at him as a summer target.

"If you read what he says he says we've had scouts at the game - but we could have been watching any of them, we could have been watching players from the other team," said the Reds boss.

"We will be looking at good players but I won't speculate on anything."

One area where he must strengthen is in central defence with the impending retirement of veteran Jamie Carragher at the end of the season.

The 35-year-old was brought back into the side in January, having played a bit-part role for most of the campaign, as Rodgers felt his back four needed some leadership qualities.

His absence with a shin injury was noticed in the surprise 3-1 defeat at Southampton almost a fortnight ago and the Liverpool manager knows it is a position which needs to be filled in the summer.

However, despite having the established duo of Denmark captain Daniel Agger and Slovakia international Martin Skrtel, in addition to the likes of Uruguay centre-back Sebastian Coates, Andre Wisdom - who broke through from the reserves - and the expected return to fitness of knee-injury victim Martin Kelly next season, Rodgers is looking to bring in another defender.

Wales captain Ashley Williams, who performed so well for Rodgers at former club Swansea, has been heavily linked and it seems certain reinforcements will be brought in.

"We are going to be light in that area so between now and the end of the season we have to assess," he added.

"That is the one area of the field we haven't brought anyone in.

"Naturally we are going to lose Jamie. There is no player who is ever irreplaceable but he is a big loss because you can see his experience and how he leads the line.

"You need someone in there who is vocal and organises the line and he does that remarkably well.

"I also have really good players here - Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel - and between now and the end of the season we know we need to strengthen the group and that is what we will look to do.

"If it is not something we have in the group then we may need that type of character in there who can organise and lead."

Carragher has returned to full fitness after a shin injury kept him out at St Mary's but he admits the defeat to Southampton has ended their slim chances of sneaking into the top four.

Prior to that loss the Reds had won three successive league matches, the last against fourth-placed Tottenham, which had put Champions League qualification tantalisingly just within their grasp.

However, losing to Southampton left Liverpool seventh, nine points behind Spurs, and that has put an end to the optimism.

"Before the Southampton game fourth place was in the back of our minds but that has been put to bed," Carragher told LFCTV.

"Liverpool needs European football. It is a club that is synonymous with European football and we are a big name in European football so we always need to be in there.

"Unfortunately we came a cropper and that is a disaster before the before the international break because it stays with you and you can't get it out of your system."