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Brendan Rodgers has accused Luis Suarez of showing “a total lack of respect” to Liverpool Football Club as the disgraced striker was banished to training on his own.

The Anfield boss rubbished Suarez's claims that he promised him he could leave this summer if the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League.

And Rodgers insists the Uruguayan has no grounds to take legal action over the disputed clause in his contract which Suarez believes should enable him to join Arsenal for £40million plus £1.

The ECHO understands that Liverpool's owners remain absolutely adamant that Suarez will not be sold to the Gunners, regardless of whether they increase their offer over the coming weeks.

Luis Suarez transfer saga in quotes

Rodgers has vowed to take “strong and decisive action” against Suarez following his outspoken attack on the club.

“There were no promises made - categorically none - and no promises broken,” Rodgers said.

“The club and his representatives had several conversations and he knew exactly where he was at.

"I think Luis knows the support he's had at the football club and that's something that's been unswerving throughout the whole of last season.

“Obviously the remarks I've read are bitterly disappointing - but my job is bigger than that.

“My job is to fight and protect the club. The conversations I've had with him, he knows I've had and they will remain private.

“I will take strong, decisive action, absolutely. There has been total disrespect of the club - this is a lack of respect of a club that has given him everything. Absolutely everything.

“I really, really feel sorry for the supporters, people that have sung his name. We have travelled the world over the course of this pre-season. 85,00 fans were singing Luis' name in Jakarta. It was the same in Australia, in Thailand and at Steven Gerrard's testimonial.

“I don't believe there is a clause in his contract that says he can leave for any sort of price.”

Video: LFC fans on the Suarez saga

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The decision to make Suarez train on his own away from the first team squad isn't due to the interview he gave earlier this week.

Instead it's punishment for what Rodgers deems to be the poor attitude he has shown during friendly matches and training sessions recently.

The ECHO understands he hasn't been fined for his verbal attack on the club but he has been reprimanded.

“I will ensure that whatever does come out will retain the respect and dignity of the football club, which is paramount,” said Rodgers, following tonight's 4-1 win over Valerenga in Oslo.

“I'm not going to go through the conversations he had with the football club. It's been fairly simple. With Luis I said quite clearly what we wanted to do and what the plan was. The plan was to make him the focal point of the team.

"He had an opportunity to leave last summer but he believed in the philosophy of what we are trying to do, to improve him as a player. He's never had a better season than what he had last year.



"We have made his game flourish. We can understand if he wants to play in the Champions League – but that doesn't mean we've broken any promise.

“Last season we based our team around his qualities and last season I made some big calls in moving players on in order for his game to flourish.

“This has come out on Wednesday morning and obviously my concentration has been on this game and on the players that are here.

“I will deal with the rest when I get home. It won't be on Thursday because I have got the Premier League managers' meeting but it will be over the next 48 hours.”

Luis Suarez's Liverpool FC story so far

Rodgers insists Suarez's behaviour changes little about the club's position on his future. They will only consider bids which are representative of his market value – in excess of £50million.

But the manager admits Suarez could only play for Liverpool again if he apologies to the supporters for his conduct.

Asked if there was a way back for the Uruguayan, he said: “We first of all need to assess where it's at. At this moment things have been said that are derogatory against the football club and his team-mates and the supporters.

“There's a few bridges to cross before that can happen (play for Liverpool again). It's about the respect, that's the only thing we look for.

“This is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, you can't disrespect it. That's something I will ensure (an apology) before anything happens in the future. That bridge will need to be crossed.

"I understand that every coach and every player wants to work at the highest level. I understand his ambition, but this is a club that is historically been one of the very best in the world. We can get right back up there and fight to be there.

"What we are trying to do is get the correct value for a player. The reality is we don't want to sell Luis Suarez, it's as simple as that.

“He is important for what we are trying to do. There have been a couple of offers but no promises broken - that's the reality.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool dismissed reports that they have received a £17million bid from Barcelona for centre-back Daniel Agger. The Reds have no intention of selling the Dane.

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