Rodgers praises 'great performance'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to discuss Luis Suarez's future after the victory over Stoke but did say he was happy with the way the situation had been "resolved".

The Uruguayan was in the stands with his family as a Daniel Sturridge goal and a late penalty save by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet gave Liverpool a winning start to the season at Anfield.

Suarez had earlier appeared on the pitch to wave to fans while wearing a Liverpool tracksuit.

"He is a part of our team, part of our club," Rodgers said.

"But I won't be saying anything on Luis Suarez, purely out of respect to the players that are here working hard. The only thing I will say is that I am very satisfied with the way everything has been resolved. We as a club are looking to the future and moving forward."

Suarez appeared at Anfield having brokered a truce with Liverpool by pledging to commit himself to the cause for as long as he remains at the club.

Luis Suarez is mobbed by Liverpool fans ahead of the game against Stoke

It is understood that he stopped short of offering either Rodgers or his team-mates a full apology but the Uruguayan's meeting with Rodgers did take the heat out of the situation and saw him invited back to train with the first-team squad.

Without Suarez, Liverpool saw off Stoke 1-0 but wasted a host of chances to win more comfortably. "At the minute the concentration is on the players that are here," Rodgers added.

"But that was a great performance from us. I thought the quality of passing and movement was very good and the defensive steel was excellent."

Rodgers admitted that his side's failure to put away their chances had left him fearing the worst when Liverpool conceded a late penalty, which Mignolet then saved from Jonathan Walters.

"You are always fearful that you have played ever so well and end up drawing the game. But we showed the spirit within the group. I am delighted with the players," he said.

"Mignolet is a top keeper. He will go on and become one of the greats here. He has had experience at a big club like Sunderland.

"When they got the penalty I was making sure with the goalkeepeing coach that he knew which way he was going and he said he knows exactly as he has done his work."

The Suarez situation has overshadowed Liverpool's preparations for the new season, with the striker accusing the club of reneging on a verbal promise to sell him this summer in a newspaper interview.

Rodgers said he had been delighted with the way his players had put the issue to one side against Stoke.

"So much was written about us this summer but the players have shown a focus on getting results. That was a terrific result for us," he added.

Despite this uneasy peace, Suarez could still leave Anfield before the transfer window closes, with Arsenal, who have two bids rejected for him, still interested. The striker remains banned for a further six matches for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season.