Soccer

Suarez says he will be at Liverpool next season

Uruguayan not expecting to win Player of the Year, admits he ‘loves’ watching all-rounder Bale play football

Liverpool's Luis Suarez says he wants to remain at Liverpool for now. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
Liverpool's Luis Suarez says he wants to remain at Liverpool for now. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
Sun Apr 21 2013 - 13:08

Luis Suarez has reiterated that he is happy at Liverpool and says he intends to see out his long-term deal at Anfield.

Liverpool have regularly had to play down reports this season that Suarez could be set to move on at the end of the season, with Brendan Rodgers'men again set to go without Champions League football next term.

Suarez also insists that he has given no thought to leaving in the summer and expects to stay with the club until his contract expires in 2017, although he recognises that it would be wrong to rule out anything.

"I'll be here next season, yes. Not only am I playing for Liverpool, I am playing in one of the best leagues in the world," he said in the Sunday Times. "I am very happy (at Liverpool) and I want to see out my contract, though in football you never know quite what's ahead."

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Clarifying his comment, Suarez added: "A club can decide they don't want you, even though you want to stay. In football things never turn out the way you plan."

Suarez has scored 29 goals this season to earn a nomination on the six-man shortlist for PFA Player of the Year award, but he accepts that his style of play may have put off some people off voting for him.

He said: "If I played against a forward who winds me up every game, tries to get on my nerves and drive me mad...it's difficult to vote for someone who does that. It's hard to vote for a player who's shouting at you all game and trying to wind you up. But I also think you have to look and evaluate from a footballing perspective.

"Player of the year was never an aim at the start of the season or something I dream about. It's something I'd always remember, but I'm not going mad to win it."

Suarez says he would have preferred to help Liverpool win a trophy and score fewer goals, adding: "Yes, 100 times more. I've got very much a group mentality."

Suarez believes Tottenham star Gareth Bale, who has recently had a spell on the sidelines due to injury, is deserving of the Player of the Year accolade.

"I love watching him, his change of pace, his spectacular goals, his strength of shot. He even scores with his head," said the Uruguayan. "He's a totally all-round player and I think that it's a shame for football he's been out these last few weeks."