Luis Suárez has hailed Liverpool's supporters as crucial to his rehabilitation this season. The 26-year-old admitted his Liverpool career would have been over had the fans not welcomed him back into the Anfield fold following a series of high-profile controversies.

The striker started the season late after being banned for 10 matches for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, while he also tried to engineer a move out of the club in the summer following Arsenal's ill-fated £40m plus £1 bid.

The Salto-born forward collected the 2013 Player of the Year award at Monday's William Hill Football Supporters' Federation Awards at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and thanking the Liverpool faithful for warming to him again this season, Suárez rated "coming back to play at Anfield" as his 2013 highlight.

He said: "After so many difficult moments for me I was able to win the supporters back, and that was unbelievable when I came back to play. They helped me, and that was important for me, for my confidence, and for my family, because they are together with me in this. It's very special for me (the award) because my hard work on the pitch is recognised. Everybody knows about my problems and my difficult year, but after that I forgot everything and have been able to get back on the pitch.

"Liverpool are starting to reach their potential and we can play our best on the pitch. It's very important that we stay together, we keep going, this is very important. If Liverpool don't have these players I cannot continue my level, because it's too much. They know I am important, so they try everything to stay together, that's important for me, but it's more important for the club."

Suárez will face a host of Liverpool team-mates when his Uruguay side take on England in World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

After the World Cup draw, Suárez revealed Steven Gerrard texted joking that England were "lucky" to face Uruguay.

Banter aside, Suárez knows how tough it will be to reach the knockout stages of the summer extravaganza.

He said: "Before the draw I hoped we would not face England. But when it said we would face England it was unbelievable for me.

"Stevie sent a message to me saying: 'We are so lucky,' and we were laughing because it's so funny. But now we are concentrating on the league and Liverpool.

"I think it's more difficult at the World Cup, it will be very, very difficult. Italy, Uruguay, England: they all have good players.

"But I think in the World Cup if you want to win, then in every game you must concentrate, and you must focus against every country."