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Luis Suarez says he owes a debt of gratitude to Liverpool fans for helping him produce the best form of his career as he insisted: “I know I can achieve my dreams here.”

In an exclusive interview, the Uruguayan striker spoke candidly about life with the Reds and his hopes for the future.

Suarez has lit up the Premier League with his scintillating performances so far this season.

He has plundered 23 goals in just 21 league games and is on course to claim the Golden Boot and be crowned Player of the Year.

However, the 27-year-old insists his burning ambition is to help Brendan Rodgers’ side bring Champions League football back to Anfield.

Suarez wants to reward those supporters who stood by him after the events of last summer when he came close to leaving the club.

“The fans have helped me so much,” Suarez said.

“Everyone knows that I had some difficult times last summer.

“But they have always supported me and always had confidence in me. I really feel that support in my heart.

“I think this has been the best season of my career so far. It’s my job to score goals and create goals, and help the team.

“When you have really good team-mates and a manager who believes in you then it helps so much with your job.

“For me, stepping on to the pitch knowing I have the confidence of the supporters means everything to me as a player. They help me to give my best.”

Suarez felt that support more than ever on his Anfield comeback last October.

The visit of Crystal Palace was the frontman’s first competitive appearance on home turf since he served his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic six months earlier.

He emerged from the tunnel before kick-off with his newborn son Benjamin and his three-year-old daughter Delfina.

“That was a special day for me,” he said. “I know in England it’s not normal to take your children on to the pitch like that but it’s normal in Uruguay.

“I wanted to show the Liverpool fans my family and I wanted everyone to know I was so happy with life both on and off the pitch.

“It was my first game back at Anfield and I wanted my children to share that moment.

“It was an emotional moment for me. To come back and play at Anfield after so long was brilliant.”

Since then Suarez hasn’t looked back. He has been the driving force behind Liverpool’s sustained push for a top-four finish. The only headlines he has generated have been for his breathtaking ability.

He has picked up just four yellow cards all season having heeded the advice of wife Sofia, who had warned she would stop attending matches if his on-field behaviour didn’t improve.

“My wife is so happy now too,” Suarez said.

“I try to keep my cool on the pitch with referees and defenders. I try not to get involved in arguments.

“It is better to just concentrate on helping the team – that is the most important thing. You need to keep a clear mind.

“When I was a kid I listened to the big players. Now I’m a big player in a big team other players come to speak to me.

“It’s a positive for me. I need to be an example.”

Rather than angrily confront officials, Suarez has learned to let things go. He was the victim of an injustice at the Emirates last Sunday when he was clattered to the ground by Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain inside the box.

To Rodgers’ disgust, referee Howard Webb failed to award a penalty and the Reds bowed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat.

“I think everyone could see that it was 100% a penalty but sometimes it’s difficult for the referees,” Suarez said.

“I understand that. Referees are normal people and they can miss things sometimes. It’s the same with players. As a striker sometimes you make a mistake and miss a chance.

“On the pitch you can see one image, on the TV you see another image. Referees don’t get to see the replays. That decision didn’t go our way but we have moved on.”

Cup glory may have eluded Liverpool but Suarez insists that setback will have no impact on their league campaign.

With 12 games remaining the stage is set for a thrilling finale. The fourth-placed Reds are just four points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Swansea City.

Suarez won’t make any bold predictions about the title and admits Liverpool’s main target is nailing down a Champions League spot.

“It was disappointing to lose to Arsenal as we wanted to do well in the FA Cup,” he said. “It was a competition we had a big chance in and we played well.

“But we know that in football not everything goes your way. We have forgotten about that quickly. Our focus is on the next game against Swansea.

“We have 12 games left and let’s see what we can achieve.

“Can we win the title? I’m not sure. I think this season the Premier League is so difficult. Every team can lose games. Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal have been dropping points.

“We are very strong at home and we must keep going like this. As the manager said, we are a chihuahua!

“We must just focus on every game. In football you never know what can happen.

“To be in the Champions League is what we all want. This is our objective – to play in it next season.

“We know we have a small squad. When our best 11 players start we have shown we can do well against any team. But if we have one or two injuries it can become difficult for the manager.

He said: “We have a very good team playing at a good level and we believe we can get in the Champions League.”

Suarez admits watching this week’s last-16 ties – between Manchester City and Barcelona, and Arsenal and Bayern Munich – whetted his appetite for the prize at stake over the coming months.

Having listened to skipper Steven Gerrard’s stories about famous European nights at Anfield, Suarez is keen to experience them for himself.

“I watched the games on TV this week and when you hear that Champions League music that’s motivation in itself,” he said.

“I want to be there with Liverpool. It’s an unbelievable competition. It’s where we want to be – playing against the top teams in Europe.

“Stevie has told me about Champions League nights at Anfield. He said when you have played Champions League football at Anfield you will never forget it. I want to try it for myself.

“When I arrived here I said it was my dream to play for Liverpool and play Champions League here. I know I can achieve my dreams here.”

I'm not in the same class as King Kenny

Luis Suarez insists he still has much to achieve with Liverpool before he can be compared with Anfield legends Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard.

The Uruguayan’s form this season has re-ignited the debate about the Reds’ greatest ever player.

Suarez has scored 74 goals in 121 appearances for Liverpool since his £22.8m move from Ajax three years ago. He is flattered by comparisons with Dalglish and Gerrard but says they are in a class of their own.

“No, no, I’m not at that level,” Suarez said.

“Kenny is No 1. When he was a player he was just unbelievable. I’ve watched the videos of him.

“Stevie for me is the best player we have here. He has achieved so much.

“He’s our captain and a great leader. In the dressing room he never thinks he’s better than anyone else. For me he’s been one of the best player in the world for a lot of years.

“I think Liverpool have a long history with many great players. I hope one day to be up there with those great players. I’ll try my best to write some history here.”

Suarez has formed a formidable double act with Daniel Sturridge this season. The duo have netted 42 goals between them ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Swansea City at Anfield.

The 27-year-old knows that firepower has been crucial to Liverpool’s pursuit of a Champions League spot.

“I enjoy playing with Daniel and there is a good relationship between us,” he said.

“I think both players love scoring goals. It’s important when you have two or three players like that as it gives more confidence for the team.

“Daniel was scoring goals when I couldn’t play at the start of the season and then when Daniel was out injured I was able to score a lot of goals. It’s important for the team not to be relying on one player.”

Suarez hasn’t added to his 23-goal haul since last month’s 4-0 derby rout of Everton.

His scoring chances have been limited in recent weeks after being asked to operate out wide by Brendan Rodgers but it’s a role he has embraced.

“The team is always more important than any individual,” he said.

“If I don’t score but the team wins I am so happy. Last season I went six games without scoring, now it’s four games but it’s no problem.

“I know I am in another position now and I try my best there. I will work very hard for the team.

“It doesn’t matter who scores the goals. If Daniel or someone else scores I am so happy for them.”

It’s been some transformation for Suarez since the dark days of last year when he was hit with a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

Devastated by the severity of the punishment, he began to plot his Anfield exit. He wrongly believed there was a release clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if a club offered in excess of £40million.

Arsenal had two bids rejected and during a summer-long saga he was banished to train on his own at Melwood.

After finally accepting Liverpool’s refusal to sell him, he returned to Rodgers’ squad and since coming back from suspension in September he has been busy making up for lost time.

Suarez answered any doubts about his commitment to the cause as he grabbed his shot at redemption.

Rodgers rewarded him with the captaincy in December when Gerrard was sidelined by a hamstring injury and the turnaround was complete when Suarez penned a lucrative new deal to keep him at Anfield until 2018.

“It’s amazing how things have changed,” Suarez said.

“It’s been a surprise for me.

“Maybe four or five years ago I was watching Liverpool on TV. To be here and wearing that armband was special.

“So many great players have captained this club. When the manager gave me the armband I was surprised because we have a lot of big players here. It was nice and I was very proud.

“It gave me confidence but the most important thing is everyone working hard for the team.

“I am so happy both on the pitch and outside the pitch. My family are happy also and that’s very important to me.

“Things are going well but I need to keep going. I can never stop. I will keep trying my best.”